TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | m a r c h 2 0 1 8 12 Q | Has the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo always been such a star-studded event? A | The first show that was held in 1932, according to most records, sounded like it was a cattle show. And there were impromptu rodeos. I came across a newspaper clipping for an ad featuring a vaudeville performer—singing and dancing and what not. The organizers knew early on what value entertainment had. It wasn't until 1942 that we really hit upon our current format of combining a star entertainer with a rodeo. That year we had Gene Autry, 'The Singing Cowboy.' He was the very first star entertainer to perform here. That was significant for two reasons. One, he was an incredible star at that time ... so he sold out his shows. But he was also a rodeo stock contractor, so he gave the show, which was really struggling finan- cially at that time, a really good deal on the rodeo stock—the bulls and the horses that are used in the rodeo. I pulled the financials, and the gross revenue between 1941 and 1942 grew 40 percent because of Gene Autry. From that point on, we have paired rodeo with star entertainers to draw people in and sell tickets. Q | In light of mass shootings around the world, how is the rodeo preparing for a mass trauma event and what would you say to those who may be anxious to attend? A | We work very closely with the police department and the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Houston FBI, as well. They are constantly monitoring any threat assessments for any direct threats, and then we consult with them on our grounds security. We have made some enhancements this year com- pared to last year, primarily in the area of fencing around our carnival to make sure that it is more secure. We have added personnel, we have added lighting. The sheriff's office provides "eye in the sky," where offi- cers are elevated to do surveillance. In the world that we live in today, we all have to think about safety before we attend. But on the other side of that, we still need to live our Spotlight CHANGE YOUR LIFE h c c s . e d u / c o l e m a n HCC_TMCPulse1/2pagAdReplace.indd 1 2/5/18 2:17 PM lives and go out and enjoy inter- acting within our communities. It is really a balance, I think. When it gets right down to it, we are in the experience business. If we provide everyone who comes to our grounds with a great experience, we will be successful—whether they are a livestock exhibitor, a rodeo contes- tant, a star entertainer or the general public. But you can't have a great experience unless you feel safe and secure in the environment, so that is an absolute priority for us. Q | What will the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo look like 20 or 30 years from now? A | Because of the tremendous support both from the volunteer standpoint and the community at large, the show just has tremendous potential. We tend to outgrow facil- ities as soon as they are completed because of the demand for the product and for the experience. That's our biggest challenge. We are constantly looking at ways to add space and program space more effectively for those who come to the grounds. Last fall, we purchased the remainder of the AstroWorld prop- erty, so now we own 102 acres across 610. We did that because, looking forward, we want to grow our impact for those who come to our grounds to be entertained and to be exposed to agriculture. But we also want to grow our educational impact. There is additional need out there for edu- cational support. If we are able to grow our event while still providing a great experience, we will be able to grow our support of education and agriculture. Joel Cowley was interviewed by Pulse writer Britni N. Riley. This interview was edited for clarity and length. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo runs through March 18 at NRG Center, 2 NRG Park. Information: 832-667-1000 or rodeohouston.com. Last fall, we purchased the remainder of the AstroWorld property, so now we own 102 acres across 610.

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