Sharon with Boyd Polhamus at the
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
(Photo by David Clements.)

My Home Away from home

I am proud to say that I am 1/12 Texan! For the month of March since 1994, I reside in Houston, Texas, the home of Reliant Park and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. I have the opportunity to be a small part of a dedicated staff that combines their individual expertise to produce the largest and most prestigious livestock show and rodeo in the world.

Since 1932, the show has focused on the promotion of Agriculture, Education, Entertainment and Western Heritage. Today, over 19,000 volunteers make up 98 committees that provide the work force for rodeo, concerts and entertainment, livestock and horse shows. The Houston Livestock Show is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to funding education, endowments, research and better agricultural practices. Ten million dollars was paid out in scholarships supporting the youth of Texas in 2007 alone. Even more amazing, the event generates over 300 million in economic benefit world wide through agricultural sales and education.

As Color Commentator, representing the women involved in Barrel Racing, I am apart of a three man, one-woman broadcast team. I share announcing duties with Bill Bailey and National Finals Rodeo Announcing Team, Bob Tallman and Boyd Polhamus. Though Bill and Bob are Rodeo Houston icons with over 30 years experience, Boyd and I came on board when David Glodt of ProRodeo Films, Inc., was hired to produce and televise Rodeo Houston. Annually, the Championship Rounds can be viewed on pay per view and each performance is available world wide on CNN 360. Video clips are also available on RodeoUp.com, the official video site of the PRCA.

The Rodeo Houston Super Series was created in 2007 to increase purse money while promoting professional rodeo athletes. Only the 50 top contestants from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association are eligible to compete for their share of the 1.3 million in prize money. The 50 contestants are equally divided into five Super Series events with the top four money earners in each Super Series given the opportunity to move into Semi Finals competition. Riders that do not qualify out of the Semi Finals for the Championship Round are given one additional opportunity to qualify through the Wild Card Round. This exciting concept eventually boils down to a one head competition with the winner taking not only the money they have accumulated through out the elimination rounds but also a $50,000 bonus in each event. Over a million spectators viewed 20 action packed rodeo events and superstars in concert performances.

For the full story, visit the highlight article in Sharon's Current Events.

Plan to make Houston a vacation destination for our 2009 show, March 3-23.

Click here to watch Sharon call the winning run at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, 2008. (Video courtesy Rodeo Houston.)