KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
February 8, 2020
By Natalie Cook Clark
The 77th annual Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo starts this week. The event provides opportunities for the students to develop and showcase their talents in a diverse range of events. Enjoy a carnival, livestock, and support students as they compete for scholarship opportunities in a historic Katy pastime.
Katy FFA Hosts Several Attractions
This year, the Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show & Katy Rodeo will host a number of attractions including the Special Rodeo, animal shows, rodeo performances, a carnival and auction sales. The events take place at the Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center at 5825 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road. This will mark the third year at the newest FFA complex.
“For an entire year, our Katy ISD FFA students have worked tirelessly in perfecting their projects and now it’s time to showcase their hard work before the community,” says Director of Career & Technical Education Dr. Sarah Martin.
For 77 years the surrounding Katy community has supported the FFA students in their hard work by spending money at the auction and barn sale, plus add-on donations.
“Events such as the Katy ISD Annual Livestock Show become the building blocks for students aspiring to grow into future veterinarians, engineers, agricultural teachers among other industry professions,” says Martin.
Katy FFA Livestock Show and Katy Rodeo Schedule
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
4 p.m. Swine Weigh-in
5 p.m. Rabbit Show
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
9 a.m. Special Rodeo
3 – 4 p.m Steer, Goats and Lambs Weigh-in
5 p.m. Broiler Show
Thursday, February 13, 2020
8 a.m. Swine Show
1 p.m. Steer Show
7 p.m. Rodeo Performance
Friday, February 14, 2020
7:30 a.m. Goat Show
10 a.m. Lamb Show
1 p.m. Auction Sale Meeting
7 p.m. Rodeo Performance
Saturday, February 15, 2020
7 a.m. Barn Sale
9:30 a.m. Parade
11 a.m. Buyer’s Luncheon (by invitation only)
1 p.m. Auction
7 p.m. Rodeo Performance
A Historic Katy Tradition
In 1942, the director of the Texas Education Agency, J.D. Marshall, hired L.D. Robinson to take over as the vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisory in Katy. At the time, the program was in danger of being discontinued by the state, and Marshall knew that immediate action needed to be taken. When Robinson got there, he saw an opportunity to make Katy's agriculture science program great. To most, it seemed like an impossible dream. What no one realized was that it was destined to become the first program of its kind in the United States, and arguably the best in the country to date.
A Katy Man’s Vision Robinson's plan for the program was grandiose by all accounts, and included an FFA chapter agricultural science farm, local livestock show and rodeo, and a lighted arena; which at the time, wasn't known to exist anywhere else in the country.
With the help of some of his students, he built a scale model replica of an FFA chapter farm, livestock barns, a show barn, feedlots and pens, and a lighted rodeo arena. He presented the model at the first Katy FFA Father and Son Banquet, to the Katy ISD school board, and State officials including J.D. Marshall. It was emphasized that the program would be self-supporting and would not cost the school district one cent - another long shot. The district gave him the go-ahead.
Katy ISD FFA Today Robinson’s dedication paved the way for the continued success and growth of Katy’s FFA program. Today, the Katy ISD FFA programs have grown from one to eight and are in each of the high schools with more than 1000 active student participants and growing. Robinson, who was the only agriculture teacher and FFA Adviser until he retired, has been replaced by over twenty Ag teachers.
The rodeo is still one of the largest local rodeos in the country. Each year, approximately $20,000 or more of rodeo proceeds is returned to the FFA program, students and charitable civic groups.
Adult tickets for ages 11 and up are $10 a night and children’s tickets are $5 a night. Visit the Katy Rodeo website for more information.