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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 78th annual Rodeo Austin was held in the Capital |
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City on March 14 through 28, 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1938, the rodeo started out as the |
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Austin Baby Beef Show; the first event was held on the grounds of |
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the old temporary Capitol and featured 16 calves; today, Rodeo |
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Austin is staged by a nonprofit organization at the spacious Travis |
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County Exposition Center, and the number of participants and array |
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of events have grown tremendously; spanning more than two weeks, |
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the program reflects the rodeo's mission of promoting youth |
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education and preserving the state's western heritage; and |
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WHEREAS, The original focus of Rodeo Austin, the stock show |
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remains a vital part of its extensive schedule; since the rodeo's |
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founding, more than 100,000 students in 4-H and FFA have competed in |
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livestock contests for blue ribbons and the title of grand |
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champion; moreover, the rodeo this year is slated to award over $2.5 |
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million to Texas youth in the form of prizes, livestock proceeds, |
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and scholarships; currently, 130 Rodeo Austin scholarship |
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recipients are attending 17 colleges and universities in the Lone |
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Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, With the motto "Where Weird Meets Western," the |
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rodeo offers myriad other attractions as well, among them a cowboy |
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breakfast, a barbecue cook-off, a gala, and a carnival, along with |
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live music and a ProRodeo; in 2015, Rodeo Austin hosted more than |
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130 live concerts, including an opening night performance by Willie |
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Nelson and encompassing genres ranging from Texas country to punk |
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rock; the rodeo also demonstrated its trailblazing spirit this |
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year, adopting a bracket-style format for its ProRodeo events; |
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renamed the Ride for the Brand Cowboy Tournament, the competition |
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is regarded as one of the top 10 ProRodeos in the country; and |
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WHEREAS, The scale of Rodeo Austin is reflected in the |
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significant contribution it makes to the local economy; drawing |
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over 300,000 visitors each year, this true Austin original has |
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spurred the creation of more than 900 jobs and produces a local |
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economic impact that exceeds $77 million annually; and |
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WHEREAS, For nearly eight decades, Rodeo Austin has brought |
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Central Texans together in a family-friendly environment that is |
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both educational and entertaining, and it is a privilege to |
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recognize this classic Texas tradition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 78th annual Rodeo Austin and |
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extend to the event's organizers sincere best wishes for the |
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future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Rodeo Austin as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |