Rodeo

Cowboy Diaries: Nikki Steffes -- Future Dentist?

True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough dirt on his boots to call him ... More >>

App of the Week: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo App

App: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Platform: iPhone, Android Website: Apple Store, Android Store Cost: Free One of the growing trends in app development is the use of location-based apps for very specific events. It started with large concerts like Austin City Limits and spread to big conference ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Cory Solomon -- Ditched His Hoop Hopes for Cattle Dreams

True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough dirt on his boots to call him ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Kaley Bass -- Strike a Pose

True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough dirt on his boots to call him ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Nick Guy -- Doesn't Want to Break a Leg, in the Literal Sense, Again

True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough dirt on his boots to call him ... More >>

Steely-Eyed Mounted Cowboys Killing Balloons -- Here's The Video

There's nothing more Western than a determined cowboy on horseback shooting a pistol. The Mounted Shooting competition has quickly gained a lot of fans at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, with its thundering hooves, echoing gunshots and balloon explosions. Here's video of this year's event by A ... More >>

Help Us Find the Worst Barbecue in Houston

It's generally agreed upon that unless you have a fancy-pants tent ticket for the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest (a.k.a. The Cookoff), the three-day-long 'cue contest isn't worth the price of admission. A poor, benighted visitor to Houston may think that The Cookoff -- and official kick-off ... More >>

Fried Red Velvet Cake and Pterodactyl Wings: Over-the-Top Eating at the Rodeo

"That looks like a pterodactyl wing," laughed Harry Miller, a committeeman on the Commercial Exhibits Committee, as he regarded a giant slab of unidentifiable meat that was making its way to a judging table. Miller emcees the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo's Gold Buckle Foodie Awards competition eac ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Kanin Asay -- A Bucking Bull is His Podium

True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough dirt on his boots to call him ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Caleb Mitchell -- Tomball High Grad Still Hearts Houston

True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough dirt on his boots to call him ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Rhen Richard -- He and His Bro Look to Make It All the Way

True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough dirt on his boots to call him ... More >>

Annise Parker Tells You How to Get Around Houston During Spring Break

Mayor Annise Parker announced two things today: 1) Houston is a big Spring Break destination, which we admit we never really realized; and 2) She wants you to use specific routes to get to some tourist hotspots during this time. Again, we didn't realize there were Spring Break tourist hotspots in t ... More >>

Look Who Showed Up At The Rodeo Cookoff

Country stars Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton both dropped by the World's Championship BBQ Contest at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Thursday night, reports KHOU. Rocks Off has no idea what they were doing in town, besides both of them probably love good barbecue. That we know of, neither of the ... More >>

Cowboy Douglas Duncan Returns Home This Weekend for PBR Event

Alvin native Douglas Duncan owning "Back Bender" in 2011.​Before Douglas Duncan started stockpiling top 5 and top 10 finishes on the Professional Bull Riding circuit, the 24-year-old cowboy was riding sheep in Alvin. Duncan -- who grew up on a small ranch on Sandpoint/County Road 812 (his gra ... More >>

Alabama

Rounding It Up

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo brings a stellar 2012 lineup.

Long Riders

Black cowboys didn't get to the big show in Houston by the most direct route, but they made it all the same.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: These Are the Maps You Need

It's coming. Soon you will be able to inhale the sweet smell of dung, fried food and amusement-ride grease as you enjoy the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It's easy to get lost or, more likely, miss something at the Rodeo -- you can be forgiven for thinking there's not much more to it than the M ... More >>

Cover Story: How Black Riders Made Their Way to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Jamie Francies, Jr. grew up in West Houston, for the most part flying under the radar of the local Ku Klux Klan operating in the middle of the 20th century. As a kid, he did see the victim of a lynching where Post Oak crosses Buffalo Bayou and he had to go to colored school in the segregated times. ... More >>

One More Hour To Vote In First Rodeo Rockstar Contest

It does not seem possible that the rodeo is almost here, but Rocks Off saw a trail ride on the news this morning, so it must be true. If we were a TV instead of newspaper reporter, we would definitely lobby for the trail-ride assignment. But besides trail rides, cookoffs, mutton-busting, the parade ... More >>

Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Garden

Go Texans: Andre Johnson & J.J. Watt Are Rodeo Parade Grand Marshals

Houston has a "Go Texan" day every year before the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Parade, but this year it should feature an extra "s" -- two Texans will be Grand Marshals for the downtown event. Andre Johnson and J.J. Watt will be there, the HLSR announced today. "There is no better way to celebr ... More >>

What Do Wine and Saddles Have In Common? The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

​Over the course of a weekend, volunteers with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo wash 20,000 wine glasses in two days. It's just one of the staggering statistics behind the annual International Wine Competition, the contest that leads to the Rodeo Uncorked! Wine Show and to a few lucky wineri ... More >>

Rodeo Houston Announces First Four Performers

Photo by Marco TorresZac Brown Band will be on the list of Rodeo Houston 2012 performers.​Yeehaw. It's not even December, but it's apparently time to talk rodeo. This is Texas, after all, and boots are in season, even if in Houston you're more likely to see Prada than cowboy despite what north ... More >>

George Strait's Top 20 Songs Of All Time: Nos. 10-6

Before we proceed to today's portion of the George Strait countdown - catch up with Nos. 20-16 and 15-11 - here are a few interesting tidbits about King George. It is "fact-finding Friday," after all. Strait has been a spokesperson for Resistol hats, Justin boots, Wrangler jeans, Chevy trucks and ... More >>

Mike Hamby: HPD Fires Veteran Cop Who Threw Tear Gas in Rodeo BBQ Dispute

Michael Hamby: Serious barbecuer​Michael Hamby takes his barbecuin' seriously, especially when it's at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. This year he took things a little too seriously, and when a rival barbecue team got into a dispute with him, he tossed a tear-gas cannister into their ten ... More >>

Brian Greenhouse: Hi-Miler Roller Coaster Death Ruled an Accident

Jeff BalkeThe Hi-Miler, subject of a wrongful-death lawsuit.​The death of the man who was thrown from the Hi-Miler roller coaster during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has been ruled an accident. Brian Greenhouse, 46, fell 28 feet to his death in March, resulting in lawsuits that keep t ... More >>

Angola Prison Rodeo Recap and Sweet Access to Cover-Story Subject John Kinsel

Steve JansenA poor sap about to get stomped upon (middle, underneath the bull) during Saturday's Angola Prison Rodeo.​Hair Balls attended this past weekend's Angola Prison Rodeo and all we got to say is that the event is super weird. The longest continuous prison rodeo, which began in 1964 at ... More >>

Lawsuit Filed Against Rodeo After Man Dies On Roller Coaster

Photo by Jeff BalkeThe Hi-Miler claimed a life at the rodeo.​The death of 46-year-old Brian Greenhouse, who plummeted from the Hi-Miler roller coaster on closing night of the rodeo last Sunday, is the centerpiece of a lawsuit filed late yesterday in Harris County court. The wrongful death laws ... More >>

True Grit

The Houston Rodeo's cowboys and cowgirls hang tough and keep on riding.

Top Five Cowboy Moments at RodeoHouston

Mandy OaklanderBobby Mote, bareback rider.​We've spent the past few weeks inhaling the smell of urine-soaked haybales, watching cowboy balls get trampled by bulls, and fielding accusations that we only picked the sexy cowboys to interview. (We didn't. All cowboys are, by definition, sexy.) But ... More >>

Rodeo Houston a Bit Too Highfalutin for the Wall Street Journal

Cowboys don't drink wine? Thems fightin' words.​The Wall Street Journal on Friday ran a story about the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo containing two things we thought we would never see. First, we never thought anyone would accuse the rodeo of being erudite. Second, we never imagined it w ... More >>

Man Dies from Roller Coaster Fall at Rodeo Houston

Photo by Jeff BalkeThe HiMiler taken at last year's rodeo carnival.​A man fell 28 feet to his death from the HiMiler roller coaster in the waning moments of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo season. The 46-year-old was given CPR at the scene before being taken to the hospital, where he wa ... More >>

Rodeo Houston Sets Attendance Records

Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and RodeoBrad Paisley brought 'em in Saturday night.​The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo set an attendance record this year with 2,262,834 total visitors including a single-night record of 150,948. That same night, the rodeo recorded its third high ... More >>

Last Night: Jason Aldean At RodeoHouston

Photos courtesy of Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo​Jason Aldean Reliant Stadium March 20, 2011 You can tell everything you need to know about Jason Aldean by looking at his steel guitarist's forearms Sunday. First, he had a steel guitarist. Of the handful of Rodeo acts Aftermath saw this year ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Isaac Diaz -- Brokeback Floridian

Mandy OaklanderIsaac Diaz, saddle bronc​​True cowboys and cowgirls are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will ... More >>

Last Night: Zac Brown Band At RodeoHouston

Photos courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo​Zac Brown Band Reliant Stadium March 17, 2011 Only the Zac Brown Band could write an upbeat song about falling in love with a woman as she's walking away from you. Sure, we've all been there - falling for someone of the opposite sex who ha ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Dusty Tuckness -- Bullfighters Are More Athlete Than Clown

Mandy OaklanderDusty Tuckness, bullfighter​True cowboys and cowgirls are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will ... More >>

Last Night: Miranda Lambert At RodeoHouston

Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo​Miranda Lambert Reliant Stadium March 16, 2011 Shucks, ma. Our lil' ol' East Texas gal done all growed up. Sugar and spice and definitely everything nice, unless you piss her off, Miranda Lambert is a different kind of crossover act. A r ... More >>

Cowgirl Diaries: Tana Renick -- Tames Wild Manes by Day, Wild Mares by Night

Mandy OaklanderTana Renick, barrel racer​True cowboys and cowgirls are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will sp ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Bee Jay Scott -- Prays for a Good Bareback Bucking

Mandy OaklanderBee Jay Scott, bareback​True cowboys and cowgirls are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spot ... More >>

Last Night: Kid Rock At RodeoHouston

Photos by Marco Torres​Kid Rock Reliant Stadium March 14, 2011 First things first: Yes, Aftermath got to Reliant Stadium with plenty of time to spare Monday. One embarrassing screw-up per Rodeo season is more than enough, thank you very much. Besides, no way were we gonna miss Kid Rock's Rod ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Clayton Savage -- Stepped On "Down There" by a Bull

Clayton Savage, bull rider​True cowboys and cowgirls are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one pe ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Steven Peebles -- Clearing The Bad Cowboy Name

Mandy OaklanderSteven Peebles, bareback​True cowboys and cowgirls are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spo ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Casey Colletti -- Bareback Riding Does Not Squeeze Horses' Balls

Mandy OaklanderCasey Colletti, bareback​​True cowboys and cowgirls are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Tyson Durfey -- Roped Sedated Calves At Age Four

Mandy OaklanderTyson Durfey, Tie-down roper​​True cowboys and cowgirls are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls w ... More >>

Rocks Off's Fantasy RodeoHouston Lineup

Photos courtesy of Houston Livestock Show & RodeoGeorge Strait in 1996​If you walk through Reliant Center, hanging from the ceiling are banners listing almost every musical performer RodeoHouston has hosted since the '60s. The names reflect the hallowed history of country and fleeting fancies ... More >>

Cowboy Diaries: Yvan Jayne -- Gave Up His French Accent To Be A Cowboy

Mandy OaklanderYvan Jayne, bareback​True cowboys and cowgirls are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlig ... More >>

Cowgirl Diaries: Jill Moody -- Horse Once Skewered By Barbed-Wire Fence, But the Show Goes On

Jill Moody, barrel racer​​True cowboys and cowgirls are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they'll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one p ... More >>

Meat Sundaes and Deep-Fried Moon Pies: It's Rodeo Season!

Photos by Katharine ShilcuttPulled pork sundaes at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. For more photos, check out our slideshow.​Hot beef sundaes are nothing new; in fact, we wrote about them back in March 2009, when the popular meat-and-potatoes parfait was taking to the streets of Nebraska ... More >>