My History with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

Growing up in Ft. Bend County in the early 80’s, FFA or Future a Farmers of America was a pretty common after school activity for many of my friends and family. Two of my three nephews raised swine livestock to show at the Fort Bend County Fair. They learned the responsibility of taking care of another living creature and the benefit of receiving money for it at auction.

However, after feeding, nurturing and caring for it, sending it to slaughter was a pretty painful experience for most FFA kids.

Luckily for both, my dad was the high bidder so their swine’s lives were spared.

In the late nineties, I even served on the HLSR Lamb Auction Committee. As a rookie member, we traveled out to the sift at the Ft. Bend County Fair Grounds. This is where they separate the men from the boys per say.

The livestock was judged and only a select few made it on to the Astrohall at the Astrodome with the hopes of bringing in the Grand Champion Title.

Last years 2015 Champion Lamb sold for a world record $260,000.

Approximately 32,000 volunteers serving on 100 different committees gather for two to three weeks in late February.

Since 1932, the HLSR has raised over $400 million in scholarship money for approximately 16,000 youth in Texas. Texans from all over the state come to participate.

Some are real Cowboys, others are what we call “big hat, no cattle.”

The adventure begins with the World Champion BBQ Cookoff including 225 teams competing in categories including Grand Champion Brisket, Ribs, Chicken and BBQ and more. My husband Rob has been a member of the Tumble Inn Team for 20 years.

In anticipation of the Houston rodeo season, I have a few Vintage Contessa style rodeo suggestions to include TEXTURE, JUXTAPOSITION, BLING, POP OF COLOR & A FAB BAG in your rodeo attire.

TEXTURE was represented in my coat with a mixture of saddle leather & Fur, meeting the texture of the Chanel dress. The layering of textures gave dimension to the overall neutral look.

The JUXTAPOSITION of styling a Chanel Dress for a rodeo look was my way of styling high style with a country girl inspired look.

My BLING was in the form of a Louis Vuitton bag repurposed into a necklace accompanied with Vintage Chanel Earrings.

A few years ago I had the honor of working with the Center for Contemporary Craft.

My POP OF COLOR were Vintage Glasses and a background of an Orange Wall.

Remember when selecting your ensemble, consider your landscape can become as much a part of your look as what you wear.

If you are presenting or giving a speech, consider your background.

My FAB BAG took the form of a casual , usable, yet chic.

Please follow my Instagram on Thursday night for more rodeo looks at the HLSR World Champion Rodeo Cookoff, and don’t forget to visit the Houston Rodeo starting March 1st, 2016!