Junior exhibitors rope in $9.3M in livestock premiums
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has awarded $9.3 million to roughly 10,000 junior exhibitors who were unable to show their livestock this year.
Many of the competitive events scheduled for March were canceled because of COVID-19 — four months later, rodeo officials are making good on their promise to fulfill a $27 million educational commitment.
Junior exhibitors are receiving the following premiums: market steer, $1,225; market barrow, $950; market poultry, $500; breeding beef heifer, $400; dairy heifer, $400.
Junior commercial steer, junior market lamb and goat, and school art auction exhibitors will receive premiums based on competition points earned before the rodeo shut down 12 days early.
“It’s a little less than what we had last year because they’re usually paid based on where they placed,” said Chris Boleman, rodeo president and CEO. “But we wanted to give every child some amount back to help offset their costs, to help with food and daily care.”
In March, volunteers and officials hosted the rodeo’s first online auction; registered buyers raised an astounding $8 million in just 33 hours benefiting the rodeo’s Educational Fund.
Boleman, who stepped into his role in May, said he knew that supporters would rise to the occasion.
“When you work with 35,000 volunteers who are as committed to the mission as ours are, nothing surprises me,” he said. “They understand the importance of what this means to our young people. That’s what makes this place so unique.”
Last week, Boleman joined fellow officials in announcing the 644 students who received one of RodeoHouston’s $20,000 educational scholarships toward the four-year, undergraduate degree of their choosing. In total, more than $12 million will be distributed.
Nearly half of 2020’s scholarship recipients are first-generation college students. Their families and friends typically celebrate with an annual barbecue banquet held at NRG Park, though because of the coronavirus pandemic, that isn’t possible this summer.
Boleman hopes that’s not the case next year. He and his team are working on the 2021 RodeoHouston — and they’re planning for a live, in-person event.
“Safety is going to be of the highest importance, but we’re optimistic,” he said. “The good news is that we still have a lot of time. We’re going to come out of this. And we look forward to seeing the Houston community back at the rodeo.”