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 second largest livestock exhibition (behind only the American Royal in Kansas City) as well as one of the world's largest rodeo events, 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.

It has drawn some of the world's biggest stars and music legends: Elvis Presley, Selena, Gloria Estefan, George Strait, Jessica Simpson, and Enrique and Julio Iglesias, to name a few.

Image:Reliant Stadium Houston Rodeo.jpg

In 2006, the artists were as follows:

Feb. 28th      George Strait
Mar. 1st       Trisha Yearwood
Mar. 2nd       Sheryl Crow

Soon after Sheryl Crow was diagnosed with cancer and was replaced with friend Melissa Etheridge

Mar. 3rd       Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and Raven
Mar. 4th       Martina McBride
Mar. 5th       Clay Walker
Mar. 6th       Robert Earl Keen and Cross Canadian Ragweed
Mar. 7th       John Fogerty
Mar. 8th       Toby Keith
Mar. 9th       Maroon 5
Mar. 10th      Pat Green
Mar. 11th      Lee Ann Womack
Mar. 12th      Jay Perez and Ramon Ayala
Mar. 13th      LeAnn Rimes
Mar. 14th      Larry the Cable Guy
Mar. 14th      Cory Morrow
Mar. 15th      Alan Jackson
Mar. 16th      Hilary Duff
Mar. 17th      Lonestar
Mar. 18th      Brooks and Dunn
Mar. 19th      Gretchen Wilson

[edit] 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 universities and colleges in Texas; 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 retroactive to all students currently on scholarship.
1993: Latin superstar Selena breaks attendance record at the Astrodome by drawing a crowd of over 67,000 fans. Held record for nine consecutive years.
1994: Broadcast via pay-per-view television.
1995: Latin superstar Selena holds famed Astrodome concert with over 64,000 fans.
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 Rodeo 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.
2005: Performance lineup included Brooks and Dunn, Clay Walker, Duelo, El Grupo Mazz, and Jeff Foxworthy.