Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Boycott

" I started my 1st livestock project to raise money for college when I was only 12 years old, but over the next 6 years, I had lost money on every project. This year, at the 2009 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, I lost several thousand dollars."

Buyers set the bidding on the floor of the auction, and I was fortunate enough to be in the top 10% of my category during judging. So, why did my steer sell for only $900.00?

Other students invested several thousand dollars to bring a yearling steer to the livestock show, most of them Seniors in High School trying to raise money for next years college tuition, but from the number of entries eliminated that lost money, figures run into $millions wasted on animal projects this year.

Other organizations like LULAC, PRCA & PBRA have members urging a boycott of HLSR, and we've worked with news stories for them, but Media Center Director Suzanne Brack said our organizations weren't "big enough" to make any difference with their 50,000/evening attendance during their 3 week event. Well, NFL athletes made organizational changes about hard concrete floors before (handler) was even born. If Rodeo athletes boycott next year, then maybe they could get some changes, too. The handlers think they risk their lives on that concrete.

So, how about you? Do you think your big enough to support a boycott of any particular evening at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo?

Most students sold restaurant quality grain fed prime livestock projects at bids so low, that they felt swindled. Even Sheriff Adrian Garcia declined an invitation as co-marshal of this year's Rodeo Parade in consideration of minority protests about inequality.

Sen. Mario Gallegos introduced a bill to regulate the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo's non-profit organization. So, (the contestant) asks, where is all the money they're raising going to anyway? It certainly has not been going to help me pay for my college education.

For more media coverage of the boycotts, you can visit some of the perspective news releases at the following web sites and browse archives of other articles:

http://www.click2houston.com/news/18818758/details.html

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=5983928

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/6285183.html

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6024009

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Houston
• Livestock
• Show
• Rodeo
• Boycott

[StationNT5Bmedia]

The bull placed in the top 10 and won other trophy's, yet sold for only $900. The calf roper repeated a phenomenal tie record, while others scratched their runs because of horses slipping into the concrete walls on the dirt filled concrete floors. The bull fighters we call "rodeo clowns" joined the PBRA members boycott, also joined by members of the women's WPRA when barrel racing contestants scratched their runs for lose dirt.

[StationNT5Bmedia]

The bull rider was injured later with life threating gores, but wasn't eligible for insurance assistance under Texas law that prevents liable in equestrian and rodeo sports. With the 1300+ animal projects entered in 2009, a total loss would've been near $9million dollars. Some parents of children in FFA ironically don't consider this a waste of money, but a learning experience. Most parents are hoping their child will earn money for college.

[2010BarrelQueen]

As a livestock show exhibitor myself I can TELL you it IS a GAMBLE. You are not guaranteed a nice check. You personally must not have worked hard enough to place.The fact that you lost money is your own fault not any livestock show's/judges/or feed brand's fault. If you didn't make "enough" money to suit your greed the first time you should have quit. People like you make me sick. You think its everyone elses fault, but your own.

[beaelliott]

What... No honor amongst thieves? Strange, you're all stealing animal lives, yet you can't stand the thought of being short changed yourself... Perhaps this might inspire some empathy and you can forgo your "use" of animals altogether. Can't really expect fairness... Unless you extend it as well. Just a thought...

[FFAlumn]

HLSR isn't recommended for FFA. We've lost money in every category. Their media trys to make a heritage out of it, but provide lots of perks for ABC & HCN. That's why they don't support boycott

[c8stropics]

Houston Rhinestone BBQ lol