Livestock Show

Established as the Houston Fat Stock Show in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ has grown to more than 30,000 entries. The Houston Livestock Show is organized by three categories of competitions: Junior Show, Open Show and Youth Show.

The Show is not only the largest livestock show, but also sets world records at the junior market show auctions.

2023 OPEN SHOW

LLAMA AND ALPACA

2023 JUNIOR SHOW

Fall Events

Archery Contest

Archery Registration opened September 1, 2023 and will close October 24, 2023. Registration does not have a cap for this year and additional shoot times will be added as we go based on the response.

Ag Mechanics Trailer Build-Off

  • Date: October 19, 2023
  • Location: 11645 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77045
  • Register September 7 at 8 a.m. – September 15 (or until all spots are full)
  • Register here

We ask that the full contest rules are reviewed in the Fall Edition of the Exhibitor Handbook before registering.

Junior Show

Each year, the Houston Livestock Show draws thousands of Texas 4-H and FFA exhibitors to compete at the world's largest livestock show. These students bring various species of livestock — from rabbits and poultry to goats and steers — each hoping to take home the coveted title of Houston champion. Each exhibitor works several months to prepare for competition among the finest junior livestock the state of Texas has to offer.

2024 Updates and Reminders

Competitions

  • Breeding Beef Heifers
  • Breeding Gilts
  • Breeding Sheep
  • Dairy Cattle
  • Market Barrows
  • Market Broilers
  • Market Goats
  • Market Lambs
  • Market Steers
  • Market Turkeys

Online entry for Junior Shows will open this fall. Please refer to the Exhibitor Handbook for entry deadlines for each show/contest. Information for 2024 will be posted when available.

Calf Scramble

  • Visit the Calf Scramble Page here

Team Judging Contests

We ask that the full contest rules are reviewed in the Fall Edition of the Exhibitor Handbook before registering.

Ranching & Wildlife

Open & Youth Show

From across the U.S. and Texas, exhibitors of all ages come to the Houston Livestock Show each spring for a chance at a championship title. Also included in the open show are youth-only competitions, which allow youngsters the chance to exhibit at the largest livestock show in the world and experience the show ring from an early age.

Competitions

  • Beef Cattle
  • Breeding Rabbits*
  • Dairy Cattle
  • Dairy and Boer Goats*
  • Llamas and Alpacas*
  • Meat Pen Rabbits*
  • Rabbits and Cavies
  • Sheep and Goats
  • Sheep Dog Trials
  • Specialty Cattle*

* Includes youth classes

Entry information for 2024 will be posted when available.

Livestock Care

The care of livestock is of the utmost importance to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It is important for all Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo exhibitors to be conscientious stewards of the livestock that they raise, care for and exhibit each year at the Rodeo. Treating these animals with care and respect is an important part of exhibitors’ daily practices. Applying good animal welfare practices leads to great productivity, not only in the show ring, but also, in the case of market animals, to high quality, safe products in the food chain.

The Rodeo has put rules in place to enforce these good practices with its exhibitors. It is the responsibility of all exhibitors to provide humane care of animals.

The Rodeo will disqualify and remove any exhibitor deemed to be in violation of this basic principle of animal husbandry. In accordance with Section 42.09, as defined in the Texas Health and Safety code, any exhibitor found in violation of these principles is subject to disqualification and a $10,000 fine.

Residue Avoidance Program

In cooperation with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association and with the approval of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo developed a residue avoidance program in 1989 for all junior market animals.

Selected animals are tested extensively, and any animal testing positive will be disqualified. The Show continually aims to assure consumers that their animal purchases from the market auctions are safe, wholesome products, free from any substance residue.

How Junior Market Auctions Work

Based upon placing, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo establishes a guaranteed minimum payment for each exhibitor who qualifies for a junior market auction. The Show also sets a cap amount above the guaranteed minimum for each auction lot. When bidding exceeds the cap amount, the additional funds go into the Show’s Educational Fund to be used for scholarship and grant recipients. Amounts bid between the guaranteed minimum and the cap are accumulated in the bonus pool, and are used to cover any lots that did not bring the guaranteed amount, as well as auction expenses and auction committees’ operations.

Additional Premiums

Lamb & Goat
Poultry
Swine
Steer
2015
$1,194.19
$342.51
$1,113.95
$3,788.80
2016
$812.40
$747.96
$657.87
$3,457.95
2017
$1,161.73
$272.39
$582.80
$2,766.77
2018
$1,003.50
$795.86
$855.97
$3,263.05
2019
$976.34
$960.65
$953.56
$4,484.87

The following payout distribution shows the guaranteed payment and the cap amount for each exhibitor placing. Each auction is conducted by a dedicated committee of volunteers who pre-sell a majority of the lots to ensure that each exhibitor receives a minimum guaranteed amount, regardless of whether or not a bid is received on every lot. Guaranteed premiums are set at a level to maximize the fundraising ability of each auction committee while ensuring that exhibitors receive a premium over market value. Auction committees actually begin pre-selling lots in the fall of the year with the goal of raising the total guaranteed premium in advance of the auction.

Barrows

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
Grand Champion $40,000
Reserve Grand Champion 25,000
Breed Champions 10,000
Reserve Breed Champions 7,500
Division Champions 5,000
Reserve Division Champions 4,000
1st Place 3,000
2nd Place 2,700
3rd Place 2,500
4th Place 2,300
5th-12th Place 2,200

Broilers

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
Grand Champion $30,000
Reserve Grand Champion 15,000
2nd-10th Place 6,000
11th-15th Place 3,000
16th-25th Place 2,500
26th-50th Place 2,400
51st-75th Place 2,300
76th-100th Place 2,200

Goats

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
Grand Champion $30,000
Reserve Grand Champion 20,000
Division Champions 10,000
Reserve Division Champions 7,500
1st Place 6,000
2nd Place 5,000
3rd Place 4,000
4th Place 3,200
5th Place 2,800
6th Place 2,500
7th-19th Place 2,300

Lambs

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
Grand Champion $40,000
Reserve Grand Champion 25,000
Breed Champions 10,000
Reserve Breed Champions 7,500
1st Place 6,000
2nd Place 5,000
3rd Place 4,000
4th Place 3,200
5h Place 2,800
6th Place 2,500
7th-19th Place 2,300

Steers

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
Grand Champion $75,000
Reserve Grand Champion 40,000
Breed Champions 20,000
Reserve Breed Champions 17,500
1st Place 12,500
2nd Place 10,000
3rd Place 9,500
4th Place 9,000
5th-12th Place 8,500

Turkeys

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
Grand Champion $30,000
Reserve Grand Champion 15,000
2nd-12th Place 5,000
13th-24th Place 3,500
25th-36th Place 2,500
37th-50th Place 2,200

RESULTS

Search for results by contest, date or keywords. Please allow for at least a day after the contest for results to be posted.

Photos

Order your Houston Livestock Show photos through Next Level Images.

Thanks to United Airlines!

United Airlines recognizes the hard work of the following junior show champions with airline tickets to travel to a place of their choice.

  • Breed Champions in the Junior Breeding Beef Heifer Show
  • Supreme Champion Gilt
  • Reserve Supreme Champion Gilt
  • Supreme Champion Ewe
  • Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe

sponsored by:

CONTACT US

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
NRG Center
3 NRG Park
Houston, Texas 77054

Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 832.667.1125 
Fax: 832.6671140

CONNECT

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