KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
February 15, 2023
By Natalie Cook Clark
The Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show and Katy Rodeo celebrate 80 years of providing student opportunities while entertaining the Katy community. This year’s schedule includes some new events as well as community favorites such as the carnival and parade.
Photo courtesy of Katy ISD
It’s rodeo time Katy! While Katy residents love going to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that starts later this month, this week is all about the Katy Rodeo. For 80 years, Katy ISD FFA and the Katy Rodeo Committee have partnered to bring together a livestock show and rodeo that provides opportunities for students while entertaining the Katy community.
This Katy tradition is happening now through Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Young Agricultural Sciences Center and W.E. Billy Morgan Rodeo Arena (5801 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road.) Students will compete in categories including steers, goats, lambs, hogs, broilers and rabbits.
“This year, we will be celebrating eight decades of agricultural success in the Katy ISD school community. Four hundred and seventy-seven FFA students, with the support of their agriculture teachers and families, have put a tremendous amount of time and effort into their animal projects,” says David Laird, Katy ISD FFA Events Coordinator.
The public can support Katy ISD FFA students through auction and barn sale purchases, along with add-on donations via in-person or online.
Katy Students of All Levels Participate in the Rodeo
Katy students from kindergartners to high school FFA students are involved in the Katy Rodeo. Kindergartner Nora Webb from McElwain Elementary will participate in her first event this year in the Mutton Bustin competition.
“I’m excited to get to perform in the rodeo in front of my family and friends,” says Nora Webb, age 5.
Photo courtesy of Katy ISD
Ticket Information
Tickets are for sale online for the Katy Rodeo on February 16, 17, and 18. Adults are $15 and children are $7. Children ages 3 and under are free. The evening shows start at 7:00 p.m. All children are free on Thursday night.
Each night the show starts with the historic Katy Cowgirls.
Carnival and Parade
Katy families can also enjoy the popular Carnival. The Carnival opens tomorrow through Saturday. Thursday and Friday hours start at 6:00 p.m. and it opens at 12:00 p.m.
Wristband tickets are $30 and can be bought at the Carnival.
The Katy Rodeo Parade will be Saturday at 9:30. The historic Katy Cowgirls will be performing in the parade as they also celebrate 80 years of serving the Katy community.
The Katy Cowgirls
New Programs This Year
This year the District will add the Best Buddies Grand Drive and the Katy ISD Art Show. Both begin at 1:00 p.m. today.
The best buddies Grand drive is an opportunity for each KISD FFA chapter to partner with their campus Best Buddies organization to give special needs students the opportunity to participate in the Katy ISD Livestock Show. The Best Buddy students will meet with their FFA Buddy to learn what it is like to raise and show a goat or lamb.
At 1:00 p.m. today, the buddies will have an opportunity to show the FFA members goat or lamb in the first ever Katy ISD Best Buddies Grand Drive.
“We are very excited about the opportunities this event will create for the Katy ISD FFA members and the Katy ISD Best Buddies Programs,” says Cinco Ranch HS Ag Teacher Rachel Wendt. “We believe that the lessons taught to the students through program will have a positive, lifelong impact for both the FFA member and their buddy.”
Katy ISD hopes to make a positive impact on all students and the Katy community. For the first time the Katy ISD Livestock Show will be reaching across curriculum to create the Katy ISD Livestock Show Rodeo Art Exhibition. 100 art pieces from elementary, middle school, and high school students went through prejudging before being selected for the exhibition. Judging is today at 1:00 p.m. and students will be awarded ribbons for placing in each age division. The District is excited to build this new partnership with the Fine Arts Department.
Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo Schedule
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
1 p.m. Best Buddies Grand Drive
1 p.m. Art Show Judging Begins
3 p.m. Broiler Show
3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Goats and Lambs Weigh-in
8 p.m. Barn Closing
Thursday, February 16, 2023
8 a.m. Swine Show
8 a.m. Online Barn Sale Opens for Broilers
1 p.m. Steer Show*
5 p.m. Art Awards
7 p.m. Rodeo Performance
8 p.m. Barn Closing
Friday, February 17, 2023
8 a.m. Online Barn Sale Opens for Steers and Swine
8 a.m. Goat Show
10 a.m. Lamb Show*
(Online Barn Sale for Goats and Lambs will open approximately one hour after each show respectively)
1 p.m. Auction Sale Meeting* (Mandatory for All Auction Participants)
7 p.m. Rodeo Performance
8 p.m. Barn Closing
Saturday, February 18, 2023
9:30 a.m. Katy Rodeo Parade
11 a.m. Buyers’ Luncheon Invitation Only
1 p.m. Auction (Barn Sale closes one hour after the conclusion of the auction)
7 p.m. Rodeo Performance.
This is a great opportunity for newcomers and longtime residents to support Katy students.
“We are excited to honor the tradition of Katy ISD FFA and the people who have made this program one of the best in the State of Texas,” says Laird.
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