By David Tepera, March 4, 2026
Yee Haw, it’s that time of year to be cowboys and cowgirls. I’m fortunate to be born and raised in the great state of Texas. Houston hosts one of the largest livestock shows and rodeo in the world. There will be over 2.5 million visitors, 35,000 volunteers, along with a variety of entertainment for all.
Typically, the rodeo competition features 8-events, with around 10 athletes per category. The bull riding has the highest number of injuries among all rodeo events. Imagine trying to hang on for 8-seconds on the back of an unpredictable 2,000-pound bull. Just know, most of those riders are around 5’6” and weigh 150 pounds. But, they are extremely strong and have no fear. That’s where the term “cowboy up” came from.
Bull riding is considered one of the most physically violent sports. The riders training is built around explosive strength, grip, balance, and durability. I’ve seen their training regimen and it’s nothing compared to my body building experience. It is not for the average.
The winner of each event will be awarded $65, 000, along with a custom saddle and belt buckle. There are other financial winnings along the way to the championship round. The total purse payout for all eight events is over $2.5 million.
Of course, we can’t forget the Livestock Show which routinely features over 30,000 entries. The Rodeo has pledged a record $30 million to education, of that, $15 million are dedicated to scholarships state wide to Texas students.
Now, there can’t be a rodeo without a good-ole Bar-B-Que contest. The main categories are brisket, ribs, chicken, and Dutch oven dessert. It’s common for up to 250 teams to compete in the cook-off. The contest is judged on taste, texture, and presentation. I think it’s time to get a bar-b-que stain on my white t-shirt. Only you Tim McGraw fans will get that joke.
Listen, the world is moving fast and our culture is forever changing. I was fortunate to have relatives who owned farms and crops. I got to spend summers throwing hay, milking cows, fetching eggs, and gathering vegetables from the garden.
Our youth has lost this opportunity at no fault of theirs, but the rodeo comes each year to give some of that experience back. If you can, take your kids to see and touch farm animals to explain the culture of Texas.
Really, I think we all enjoy dressing up like a cowboy or cowgirl. See ya’ll at the rodeo. Yee Haw!