Houston Rodeo

Houston is a thriving metropolis full of diverse cultures, but every year the city takes some time to celebrate its heritage with the Rodeo. It’s a bit difficult to explain the excitement surrounding the Rodeo without having witnessed it firsthand, but for the month of March everyone in Houston goes cowboy crazy. Rodeo Houston is the world’s largest livestock exhibition and rodeo event (well, at least that’s what the rodeo website says) that started back in the 1930s. Every year, Rodeo season is kicked off with Go Texan Day. On the last Friday of February, a parade of over 5,000 trail riders rolls into Houston. These modern cowboys travel for days in their chuck wagons (Oregon Trail style wagons) camping out along the way until they reach Houston and then have a bonfire party in one of the city’s parks. On Go Texan Day, the whole city is encouraged to wear cowboy hats and boots. This actually happens everyday. People in Texas don’t need an excuse to wear cowboy boots and hats to work.

Caught up in all the Rodeo excitement, a few of us decided to embrace Texan culture and see what the Rodeo was all about. Vicky, Mary, and I got to the Rodeo a little early so we had time to check out the livestock show. We saw a prize winning Angora sheep and Texas Longhorn. Then we ventured over to the birthing center. We saw piglets, lambs, and cute bunnies of every breed. There were large tractors on display, Texan BBQ and wine to sample, and a center for buying arts and crafts.

The actual Rodeo consisted of steer wrestling, bareback riding, bull riding, barrel racing, cattle wrangling, and chuck wagon racing. The best events, though, were the Calf Scramble and Mutton Bustin’.

For the calf scramble, a bunch of middle school kids were let loose in a ring with a herd of calves. They had to try to tackle the calves and drag them into a ring. This is quite entertaining since it was a stamped of kids trying to jump on calves, but just getting dragged around in the dirt instead. Mutton Bustin’ is where 5 year olds with football helmets ride bareback on sheep. Most end up face down in the dirt crying at the end of it.

The night ended with a concert (we saw Brad Paisley) and an over the top display of American pride. Overall, the Rodeo lived up to all its hype, and left me wanting to buy a pair of boots.

Paz,
Stephanie