Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, with attendance approaching nearly two million visitors per year, is the world's largest livestock exhibition as well as the world's largest rodeo event, and requires the support of sixteen thousand volunteers.
The three-week long event is held at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas and features bull riding, livestock judging, concerts, a parade, a carnival, trail rides, barbecue and wine competitions, shopping, sales, and auctions.
Timeline
- 1931
- First established as The Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition.
- 1932
- First Show is held at the Democratic Convention Hall.
- 1938
- Moved to new location: Sam Houston Coliseum.
- 1942
- First star entertainer: Gene Autry, "the Singing Cowboy"; calf scramble event added to the Show's rodeo.
- 1952
- First trail ride (Salt Grass Trail Ride) commences from Brenham, Texas.
- 1957
- First major educational scholarship ($2,000) awarded to Ben Dickerson.
- 1961
- Name changes to Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
- 1966
- New location: Astrodome complex; Astrohall built for Livestock Exposition.
- 1970
- Research program launched committing $100,000 annually in support of research studies at various Texas colleges and universities; Elvis Presley sets attendance record of 43,614.
- 1974
- The first World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.
- 1975
- The Astroarena is completed.
- 1977
- Four-year scholarships increased from $4,000 to $6,000.
- 1983
- Four-year scholarships increased from $6,000 to $8,000.
- 1989
- Scholarship program expands to Houston metropolitan area.
- 1992
- Four-year scholarships upgraded from $8,000 to $10,000 retoractive to all students currently on scholarship.
- 1994
- Broadcast via pay-per-view television.
- 1996
- George Strait breaks attendance record with 62,936 in the show's 30th year at the Astrodome complex.
- 1997
- Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence is created as a 3-year pilot program with $4.6 million in funding; websites www.hlsr.com and www.rodeohouston.com introduced.
- 1998
- Number of 4-H and FFA scholarships increased to 60 per program, totaling 120 four-year $10,000 awards.
- 1999
- Number of 4-H and FFA scholarships increased to 70 per program, totaling 140 four-year $10,000 awards; Opportunity Scholarships awarded based on financial need and academic excellence.
- 2000
- Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence extended another 3 years with another $4.6 million; Reliant Energy acquires naming rights for the Astrodomain; renamed Reliant Park includes the Reliant Astrodome, Reliant Arena, Reliant Hall, Reliant Center and Reliant Stadium.
- 2001
- Largest presentation of scholarships to date, with 300 four-year $10,000 awards through the Metropolitan, Opportunity and School Art scholarship programs, totaling $3 million.
- 2002
- George Strait sets paid attendance record for any event in the Reliant Astrodome with 68,266; Reliant Hall is demolished.
- 2003
- New location: Reliant Stadium and Reliant Center; paid attendance of 70,405 for Go Tejano Day; Carruth Plaza, a Western sculpture garden named in honor of past president and chairman, Allen H. "Buddy" Carruth, completed at Reliant Park.
External link
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Homepage (http://www.hlsr.com/)