The history behind the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

HOUSTON – Houston’s biggest spectacle is returning to town next month: The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Hundreds of thousands look forward to this Western event for its yummy fried food, exhilarating carnival rides, and show-stopping talent. But how exactly did this tradition come about?

Well, it all started in 1932, when a group of men met at the Texas State Hotel, which is known today as the Club Quarters Hotel, to discuss the preservation of the state’s cattle industry.

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The cattle industry was struggling because of the economic downturn of the Great Depression, heavily influencing the downward demand for beef.

The rodeo, initially founded as the Houston Fat Stock and Livestock Exposition, was intended to revitalize the cattle industry in Texas.

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The President of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Dr. Chris Boleman, spoke to KPRC 2′s Isa Gonzalez-Montilla about the history of this beloved event and why it’s so significant to Houstonian culture.