News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail, May 24
The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo announced on May 21 that it is donating $9 million to help education for the 2021 school year. The money is raised through events and the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and is given in the form of scholarships, grants, endowments, junior livestock auctions, student western art auction, calf scramble program and show premiums, a press release said. “We are thrilled to help future generations of Texas youth achieve their educational goals,” said Cody Davenport, executive director & CEO of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in the press release. “The Rodeo and our over 6,000 volunteers work diligently to generate funds for the youth of Texas, as it is at the core of our organization and mission. This educational commitment would not be possible without the support of our community, sponsors and patrons that visit us each year.” This past year, the organization helped to educate more than 12,000 Texas students. Since 1984, the rodeo has committed more than $232 million in the cause, the press release said.
After being canceled in 2021, the next Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will take place Feb. 28 to March 20, 2022. The 21-day event will celebrate the rodeo’s 90th anniversary. Country music icon George Strait will perform on the final night, marking his 31st performance at the Rodeo. To date, Strait has entertained more than 1.7 million RODEOHOUSTON fans. “What better way to celebrate the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s 90th anniversary than with a special, concert-only performance by the ‘King of Country’ music himself,” rodeo president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a press release. “After a couple of particularly challenging years, our thousands of dedicated volunteers simply can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the rodeo grounds for a Texas-sized celebration of Western heritage that will be well worth the wait.” Individual tickets for Strait’s concert-only performance go on sale to the public Thursday, June 24. A limit of four tickets per person will be permitted. The remaining 2022 RODEOHOUSTON entertainment lineup will be announced later.
“A Tribute to Chris LeDoux” opened at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame’s 101 Gallery on May 1, in Colorado Springs, Colo. The exhibit is made up of photographs, memorabilia and other items from the private collection of Bill and Dona Vold Larsen. The exhibit includes photos of LeDoux’s rodeo competition, concert photographs, photos of his artwork and other miscellaneous items. The exhibit includes two original artworks by LeDoux that are pencil drawings. The exhibit will be up through early fall. LeDoux was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2005 and is the only dual inductee in the Hall – inducted in bareback riding and in the notable category. LeDoux won the PRCA bareback riding world championship in 1976 and was an award-winning country music artist. In early summer, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame will add a small exhibit to the gallery showcasing the history of Western heritage and rodeo of the Pikes Peak Region and the city of Colorado Springs to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Colorado Springs on July 31. It will be showcased with the LeDoux exhibit until early August. The Hall will then do a tribute to rodeo clowns to coincide with the rodeo clown reunion the Hall is hosting Aug. 6-8 over the Hall’s 42nd anniversary.
Courtesy of PRCA