[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 39 (Monday, March 18, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E324-E325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 18, 2013

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, when out-of-towners (especially those 
from up North) land in Houston in the month of March, the traditional 
Texas stereotype comes to life. Many Texans sport their Cowboy hats and 
boots year round, but even more so this month, because this is the time 
that we celebrate Texas history. March 2nd is Texas Independence Day 
and on March 6th, we remember the Alamo. March is also the month of the 
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. There is something special about all 
the pomp and circumstance that takes place on the streets of downtown 
Houston. It starts out with the trail

[[Page E325]]

riders and parade through downtown Houston. This year was a little 
different than years past and did not take place on Texas Avenue, but 
to me the old route will always symbolize the rich history of the 
rodeo. Texas Avenue is wider than other streets downtown. This was to 
accommodate the early longhorn cattle drives coming into town headed to 
the rail station.
  There's a long history behind the Houston rodeo. It started in 1931 
when a handful of men had an idea to get together and have a ``Fat 
Stock Show.'' Each year after, the show got a little bit bigger. While 
the show was originally held in the modest confines of the Sam Houston 
Coliseum, it has since had several distinguished homes. I remember the 
first year it moved to the ``Eighth Wonder of the World,'' the 
Astrodome before finding home at Reliant Park, and when the king of 
country music, George Strait, thanked the Astrodome for hosting so many 
amazing years of Houston Rodeo by singing a ``Cowboy Rides Away.'' It 
is amazing to think that in 1931, a few men just wanted to show off 
their livestock and help educate people about agriculture in Texas. 
Today, their simple idea has turned into the world's largest livestock 
exhibition, the world's largest regular-season rodeo, top musical 
performers, and one of Houston's most popular and profitable events. As 
a kid, I remember seeing Roy Rogers and Elvis at the Rodeo Spectacular.
  The Houston Livestock Show provides an impressive economic boost. 
Last year, over 2 million people came to the Houston Rodeo. Aside from 
having a great time at the show, this pilgrimage to the rodeo draws 
people to our great city and boosts the Houston economy. The show alone 
brings in over $320 million and create over 7,000 full time jobs. That 
is something to be proud of.
  The Houston Rodeo's ``founding fathers'' in 1931 also wanted to 
establish a charitable event that provided for the educational and 
scientific advancement of Texas agriculture. They succeeded. Today, 
over its history, the Rodeo has given $330 million to Texas' youth 
through scholarships, research, endowments, calf scramble participants, 
junior show exhibitors, school art participants and other educational 
youth programs. All the work behind the scenes is done by hundreds of 
volunteers.
  A Texas-sized thank you to all of those who make the Houston 
Livestock Show and Rodeo what it is today. The Show is the world's 
largest livestock exhibition, world's largest barbecue cook-off, 
world's richest regular-season rodeo and the entertainment lineup is 
nothing to sneeze at either. This year, some music greats like Tim 
McGraw, Toby Keith and Dierks Bentley just to name a few, performed. 
Whether one is a volunteer, local Go Texan member, youth livestock 
participant, employee, organizer, sponsor or attendee--those 
contributions go well beyond the three weeks of the Rodeo. It's a 
Western celebration for us in Houston, Texas. It's almost like our 
Mardi Gras, just with boots and cowboy hats. The rodeo is truly 
something for everyone. After all, it's our cultural duty ``to Rodeo 
Texas.'' For there is no place like Texas. And that's just the way it 
is.

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