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THE OAK RIDGE BOYS
CONWAY TWITTY
Page 3B
EDDIE RABBITT LORETTA LYNN
CRYSTAL GAYLE
KENNY ROGERS
CHARLEY PRIDE
Houston
Rodeo to be biggest ever
Breaking records seems to be a tradition at the Houston Live
stock Show and Rodeo, and according to show officials, it has
happened again. The word’s largest livestock show has grown
even bigger.
More than 27,800 livestock entries are expected for the show,
February 21 through March 4, an all-time record. Of these, more
than 15,000 (64 $ ) are from junior exhibitors, 4-H and FFA members
from all over the state. In 1978, the show had 23,739 entries.
For the thousands of professional livestock exhibitors from
throughout the United States, and for the junior exhibitors, the
Houston Show is the culmination of a year’s hard work of preparing
their animals for the toughest of show ring competition.
Their hard work can reap big rewards in Houston. This year,
open show and junior exhibitors will be competing for more than
half a million dollars in prize money and premium auction prices,
which are well above market value.
For more than three-quarters of a million spectators, the ex
hibitors are on center stage in a two-week-long entertainment ex
travaganza that begins when Houston takes a step backwards in
time and returns to the days of the western frontier.
The streets once again belong to the original internal combustion
engine — the horse. Buckboards and stagecoaches wind through
the concrete and steel canyons, and businessmen don western
hats and boots to welcome one of the largest events in the history
of the city.
More than 6,000 trailriders, some journeying from as far away as
400 miles, will join city and state officials as brass bands herald the
annual rodeo parade on Friday, February 23 at 9:15 a.m.
Following the parade, which is naturally the biggest Houston
sees all year, the action moves to the Astrodome complex. Here the
rodeo opens at the Astrodome in a matinee performance at 2 p.m.,
and thousands of quality animals are going through their paces in
the adjoining exposition facilities — the Astrohall and the Horse
Arena.
The livestock show begins earlier in the week, with open show
competition getting under way on February 21. Professional breed
ers and ranch owners from some 35 states will bring in their best
breeding stock to compete in breeding beef, dairy, swine, poultry,
sheep, Angora goat and rabbit shows.
The Houston Livestock Show is a showcase of the livestock
industry, and many cattlemen from Europe, Mexico, Central
America and South America attend the show to get a look at the
best stock.
Horse show activities will fill the 4.3-acre Abercrombie Arena,
adjacent to the Astrohall, where livestock are exhibited. With more
than 2,500 horses entered in the nine shows, the horse show com
petition must run 16 days, beginning February 17, in order to ac
commodate all classes. In addition, the third annual junior horse
judging contest will have 800 contestants competing on February
22.
Junior show exhibitors will take over the 22.3-acre Astrohall for
the second week of the livestock show, with junior judging begin
ning on March 1. Each exhibitor knows he is up against the best in
livestock, with much riding on the decisions of the most experi
enced livestock judges in the nation.
Junior shows include breeding beef heifers, dairy cattle, breed
ing sheep, Angora goats, beef and dairy acramble heifers, com
mercial steers, breeding rabbits, market lambs, market poultry,
market swine and market steers, including a carcass contest.
Besides the premium awards and trophies, exhibitors of market
animals know that a grand championship in their market division in
Houston can translate into the funds for a future cattle herd or a
college diploma.
The Houston show holds the world’s record auction price for four
junior market champions: Grand Champion Steer, $50,000; Grand
Champion Lamb, $19,500; Grand Champion Turkey, $13,005; and
Grand Champion Pen of Broilers, $18,000.
More important, community involvement and civic support from
thousands of individuals and businesses combine to assure junior
exhibitors that their animals selling in the market auctions will bring
premium prices. Show officials estimate that more than one-third of
the market animals entered will make the auction sales.
Thousands of junior exhibitors will also compete in livestock and
dairy judging contests, where their knowledge of animals can win
calf purchase certificates worth $275 toward the purchase of a
purebred registed beef or dairy heifer.
More than just a crowd-pleasing rodeo event, the calf scramble
also offers winning boys the opportunity to win a calf purchase
certificate worth $275. With the top 40 winners of the judging con
tests, calf scramble winners participate in a special year-long pro
gram that stresses education and responsibility. It concludes with
special show ring competition at the 1980 show.
Spectators at the 1979 rodeo, which runs February 23 through
March 4, will again be treated to top flight rodeo competition. Cow
boy champions will be matched against rodeo’s toughest stock,
with the richest purse in American rodeo riding on the outcome.
Twice in the last four years, the record for most money won at a
rodeo has been set and broken at Houston. Last year, Larry Fergu
son walked away with more than $13,000 in Houston rodeo win
nings.
For the final performance of the rodeo on March 4, the top
finalists in each event will compete in the Houston rodeo finals for
additional prize money, trophy saddles and the coveted title of
Houston All-Around Cowboy. In 1978, rodeo contestants split more
that $171,000 in prize money, so rodeo fans can always count on
the top cowboys and barrel racers making a stop in Houston.
Spicing up the rodeo performances is a spectacular lineup of
recording stars (see list opposite page) with something to please
-almost everyone’s musical taste.
of RUSSIAN DANCE
A KALEIDOSCOPE OF DANCERS FROM
THE REPUBLICS OF THE SOVIET UNION
PRESENTED BY MSC OPAS
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 15, 1979
8:15 p.m. RUDDER AUDITORIUM
TICKET PRICES: GENERAL PUBLIC $7.80, $6.35, $5.10
A&M STUDENT/DATE $6.45, $5.30, $4.40 j
, TICKETS AND INFO: MSC BOX OFFICE 845-2916
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