The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a BIG DEAL. It starts the first weekend in March and goes for three weeks, with food, shopping, livestock, an amazing rodeo and top country, pop and R&B performers every night. There's even a carnival that goes all day and night.
Some stats about 2009 at the Rodeo:
This year the Houston Rodeo broke its attendance record, with 1.8 million people. More than $1.4M in prize money was paid out to 258 contestants. And more than 21,000 volunteers made it all happen. It was a truly amazing event.
We've been in the area for two Rodeos (this year is the third one we've technically been able to attend), but we hadn't gone to one yet. So when Jamey's boss gave him his tickets for the Friday night performance, we jumped at the chance to check it out.
Rodeo food is the best. Stacey had barbecue nachos (delicious!). Jamey had fajitas.
If you don't have a hat, no worries! The Rodeo has lots of places for you to buy one...
We checked out the finalists for the Junior Market Steer Grand and Reserve Grand Championships.
The Grand Champion winner was exhibited by Christopher Barton from Jarrel, TX; his steer eventually fetched $300,000.
The actual rodeo was fantastic. We caught the end of the end of the calf roping, the barrel races, and the best part, the bull riding.
It was amazing to see Reliant Center being transformed from a rodeo ring to a concert stage right before our eyes.
While they were making the transformation, we got to see the mutton Busting, where little kids (2 - 5 years old) tried to stay on a sheep for eight seconds. We also watched the Calf Scramble, where teenagers tried to catch and rope calves (on foot) for the chance to buy and raise their own calf over the next year.
The featured performer was the legendary Clint Black.
He can still sing, and he put on a great performance. Even the country-music-mocking Jamey was singing along! The official attendance for the performance was 50,641 and we were happy to be a part of it.
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