Today, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials proudly announce its highest educational commitment in 94 years of $30,353,380, empowering Texas youth and education like never before. This major contribution brings the Rodeo’s total commitment to more than $660 million since 1932.
“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” said Chris Boleman, president and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”
2026 Educational Commitment:
Scholarships……………………………………………………………………. $15,126,000
Junior Show Exhibitors………………………………………………………. $11,273,500
Educational Program Grants………………………………………………… $3,430,880
Graduate Assistantships……………………………………………………….. $523,000
Total………………………………………………………………………………. $30,353,380
Scholarships
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo scholarships include Metropolitan, Texas 4-H, Texas FFA, Achievement and Vocational.
As trade industries grow, so does the need to invest in the education and training of the next generation of skilled workers. In 2026, the Rodeo is proud to expand its vocational initiatives with the new Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship. The scholarship will award one student from each of the Rodeo’s 68 Area Go Texan counties up to $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field. This is in addition to the Rodeo’s $500,000 in vocational scholarships awarded to 10 schools in 2026.
As one of the nation’s largest scholarship providers, the Rodeo has a long history of changing lives through education. Since awarding its first $2,000 scholarship to Ben Dickerson in 1957, the Rodeo has presented nearly 23,000 scholarships totaling $320 million, supporting more than 2,300 students across 80 Texas colleges and universities. Nearly half of previous scholarship recipients were the first in their families to attend college, and more than one-quarter were the first to graduate from high school — a testament to the Rodeo’s impact on expanding opportunity for Texas youth.
Rodeo scholarship applications will be open between Dec. 1, 2025, through Feb. 2, 2026. Funds will be awarded in summer 2026.
Junior Show Exhibitors
The Rodeo supports Texas 4-H and FFA exhibitors who compete in the world’s largest livestock show. Thanks to generous donors, participants who place are awarded a guaranteed premium ranging from $2,600 to $85,000 based on category—the first time this amount has increased for champions since 2002. These exhibitors include those from the junior show who participate in the 2026 Houston Livestock Show, including calf scramble contestants. Since 1932, more than $229 million has been committed to exhibitors through premiums and calf scramble participation.
Educational Program Grants
Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) charities and accredited institutions of higher education that align with the Rodeo’s mission. The Rodeo’s 2026 grant recipients include 82 Texas organizations, nine of which are new, including Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation and University of St. Thomas at Houston. Since the first grant was awarded in 1990, the Rodeo has presented more than $95 million in research, grants and educational programs to more than 100 different organizations and institutions in Texas.
Graduate Assistantships
Funds are awarded to graduate assistantship programs at 11 Texas universities, each responsible for administration and student selection. The awarded universities for 2026 include: Angelo State University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Sul Ross State University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University, East Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, Texas State University, Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M University. Since the 1970s, more than $17 million has been awarded to graduate assistantship programs in Texas.