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Go Texan Day
It's been called a spirit. It's even been referred to as a fever. Very few individuals - if any - can explain it. People in Houston just know that there's something in the air, and they know that it arrives early in February and lasts about a month.
They smell pit-smoked barbecue for miles. They see their friends wearing jeans and boots. And while driving to work, they pass hundreds of men and women on horseback, some even in wagons.
Most Houstonians know exactly what's going on - they've been around it for many years. But "foreigners" might not realize they're being soaked in the Go Texan Spirit.
"Grow beards, wear big hats, boots and spurs. Let's put a little touch of the Wild West into this thing." Those were perhaps the first words spoken that informally established the unique Western flavor of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™.
It was in 1938 when the general manager of the Houston Chamber of Commerce initiated a motion to immerse the city in excitement for the Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition. It wasn't, however, until the mid 1950s that the Go Texan movement was officially launched, as a result of an advertising agency promotion.
In 1954, Archer Romero chaired the first Go Texan Committee, and members of the newly-established group encouraged everyone to wear Western clothes. They also distributed posters and other publicity material.
This Go Texan spirit has expanded throughout the last four decades, partly due to the efforts of the Show's seven Go Texan committees. These committees help publicize the Show through numerous promotional events and Go Texan contests.
Contests
Dominoes Tournament
The Domino Tournament was held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. Two person teams from Go Texan counties and areas compete in a bracket-style competition for the chance to be named tournament Champion.
2009 Results
Grand Champion: Washington County — Lenny Krause and Earl Schwenke
Houston Metro Go Texan
First Place: Channelview/Sheldon — Glenn Wilson and Fred Wilson
Second Place: Brazoria/Southwest — Billy Lowe and Dennis Gaubatz
Third Place: Cypress-Fairbanks — Gary Ritchie and Mike Tesch
Area Go Texan
First Place: Washington County — Lenny Krause and Earl Schwenke
Second Place: Gonzales County — Joseph Krikler and Louis Kuntschik
Third Place: Austin County — Barry Mikeska and Willie Rosinski
Horseshoe Pitching
The Horseshoe Pitching Contest was held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. Two person teams from Go Texan counties and areas compete in a bracket-style competition for the chance to be named tournament champion.
2009 Results
Grand Champion: Lee County — Walter Gersch and Smokey Zoch
Houston Metro Go Texan
First Place: Waller County — Patsy Marburger and Dorthy Bremer
Second Place: NASA/Clear Creek/Friendswood — Mick Lance and Dale Mullenbock
Third Place: Brazoria/Southwest — Mary Groth and Lori Taylor
Area Go Texan
First Place: Lee County — Walter Gersch and Smokey Zoch
Second Place: Wharton County — Carolyn Boehnemann and Julie Grieger
Third Place: Bosque County — Brooks Symank and Ronnie Gascamp
Team Penning
The Team Penning Competition was held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. Three person teams from Go Texan counties and areas compete for the chance to be named tournament champion. In this timed event, teams have to cut from the herd of cattle and then pen three cattle labeled with a specific number as quickly as possible.
2009 Results
Junior Division
Houston Metro Go Texan
First Place: Fort Bend/Stafford — Miles Hickman, Kyle Robinson and Leon Washington
Second Place: Waller County — Cody Allred, Pam Schooley and Chesla Douglas
Third Place: NASA/Clear Creek/Friendswood — Dacey Morgan, Dustin Morgan and Randi Robert
Area Go Texan
First Place: Falls County — Dustin Fox, Jeremy Pruitt and Matt Bell
Second Place: Leon County — Jordan Cannon, Jake Cannon and Steger Cannon
Third Place: Angelina County — Macy Milbert, Morgan Brooks and Kodee Butler
Senior Division
Houston Metro Go Texan
First Place: Liberty County — Terrie Herron, Jennifer Tinney and Westin Raub
Second Place: Crosby/Huffman — Ricky Mellman, Reese Burger and Dee Steck
Third Place: Fort Bend/Stafford — Jim Howell, Jay Hickman and Todd Boyle
Area Go Texan
First Place: Grimes County — Tommy Parker, Jimmy Shimshack and Mark Shimschack
Second Place: Robertson County — Melissa Welch, Michelle Haver and Sharon Pardo
Third Place: Matagorda County — Danny Andel, Clem Aparacio and Tom Vivion
The Top 10 Area Go Texan and Houston Metro Go Texan teams competed in a short run for a trophy saddle.
Senior Team Champion: Cherokee County — Byron Underwood, Grady Underwood and Justin Underwood
Junior Team Champion: Victoria County — Dawson Jacos, Lane Marbach and Allan Parsons
Quilt Contest
Proving that quilting is as much an art as a craft, talented quilters created colorful and unique entries for the Go Texan Quilt Contest. Go Texan quilts are displayed in Reliant Center each year during the three weeks of the Show.
2009 Quilt Contest Results
Best of Show – NASA/Clear Creek/Friendswood
Judges' Choice – NASA/Clear Creek/Friendswood
Judges' Choice – Anderson County
Committee's Choice – Jackson County
Best of Division: Hand-Quilted Pieced – Anderson County
Best of Division: Hand-Quilted Mixed – Walker County
Best of Division: Hand-Quilted Applique – NASA/Clear Creek/Friendswood
Best of Division: Machine-Quilted Pieced – Jackson County
Best of Division: Machine-Quilted Mixed – Tomball/Magnolia/Montgomery
Best of Division: Machine-Quilted Applique – Spring Branch/Memorial
Best of Division: Machine-Quilted Wall Hanging – Bastrop County
Washer Pitching
The Washer Pitching Contest was held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. Two person teams from Go Texan counties and areas compete in a bracket-style competition for the chance to be named tournament champion.
2009 Results
Grand Champion: Brazoria/Southwest — Joe Barrientez and Gabe Barrientez
Houston Metro Go Texan
First Place: Brazoria/Southwest — Joe Barrientez and Gabe Barrientez
Second Place: Channelview/Sheldon — Jarrett Smith and Mark Tidwell
Third Place: NASA/Clear Creek/Friendswood — James Potter and Isaac Corder
Area Go Texan
First Place: McLennan County — Sam Michel and Toby Brink
Second Place: Fayette County — Jacob Kozelsky and Colter Zach
Third Place: San Jacinto County — Ray Herrod and Kenny Fontenot
