Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™

From Wikipedia:
“The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™, also called RodeoHouston™, is the world’s largest livestock exhibition as well as the richest regular-season PRCA rodeo event. In 2007, attendance reached a record high of 1.8 million, keeping with an average of almost 2 million attendees a year, which requires the support of more than 21,000 volunteers on nearly 100 committees. Also, 2007 was deemed “the year of the volunteer.” The 20 day event is held at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. It is kicked off by the Downtown Rodeo Roundup held near Houston City Hall, the Downtown Rodeo paradeand the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run – 5k walk & run and the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. The Show features championship Rodeo action including bull riding, livestock judging, concerts, a carnival, pig racing, barbecue and the Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition, shopping, sales and livestock auctions. Traditional trail rides, which start in different areas of Texas and end in Houston, precede the Rodeo events. The City of Houston celebrates this event with Go Texan Days, where residents are encouraged to dress in western wear for the duration of the Show. The rodeo has drawn some of the world’s biggest stars and music legends including Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers,Selena, Elvis Presley, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.”

From the HLS website: “The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ was organized for charitable, educational and scientific purposes to encourage and promote the breeding, raising and marketing of better livestock and farm products at public fairs and to promote and maintain research and educational functions within the livestock industry. It is the general policy of the Show to utilize, in the fiscal year subsequent to which it is earned, the excess of its revenue over expenses for the furtherance of its exempt purpose, including the granting and/or funding of scholarships, educational endowments, agricultural research projects and other similar programs and the funding of related capital additions and improvements. The funds of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo are used exclusively to meet necessary expenses for its upkeep and operation and in furtherance of the exempt purpose of the organization. Since 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed more than $235 million to the youth of Texas. It is the driving force for promoting Western heritage in the nation’s fourth largest city. With the help of 21,000 volunteers, the Show is the world’s largest livestock show and richest regular-season PRCA rodeo, and one of the world’s most significant concert venues.”

You can see their website HERE.