36,000 Volunteers Power Houston's Beloved Annual Rodeo

Imagine coordinating 36,000 volunteers who show up year after year, some for 40 years or more, because they just can't stay away.

That's exactly what happens every spring at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This massive community tradition relies entirely on volunteers working across 109 different committees, from Agriculture Education to the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.

The 2026 rodeo, running March 2-22 at NRG Park, still has about 100 volunteer spots open on two committees: facility services and recycling. Every other committee already has waiting lists of eager Houstonians ready to join.

David Stone knows the magnetic pull firsthand. He started volunteering 19 years ago with his wife after donating to the calf scramble committee. "When I first started it was about meeting the kids and having a good time," he said. "Then you get out there and you meet so many people who are there for the same reason. They all become family."

Stone now works with 1,100 people on the barbecue committee and still knows most of their names. He's watched volunteers earn service pins for 30, 35, even 40 consecutive years of service.

The addiction makes sense when you see what volunteers help create. Since launching in 1932, the rodeo has raised over $630 million funding scholarships for Texas students. Every volunteer contributes to that mission, whether they're directing guests, managing recycling, or running the famous barbecue contest.

The Ripple Effect

The volunteer community creates waves far beyond the 21 days of rodeo festivities. Stone said every single committee considers themselves family, with volunteers forming friendships that last year-round.

Sandra Rodriguez, a membership coordinator, explained that summer is the best time to apply since committees reopen their waiting lists after the rodeo year ends on April 30. The August Committee Showcase draws huge crowds of potential volunteers eager to find their perfect fit.

Anyone over 21 in good standing can apply through a simple online process. Annual membership costs $50 and opens the door to volunteer opportunities, plus perks like access to Corral Club locations and a quarterly magazine subscription.

For $500, Life Members get the same benefits plus admission to livestock shows, exhibits, the carnival, and that championship barbecue contest. But neither membership guarantees a committee spot, showing just how competitive volunteer positions have become.

Thousands of Houstonians return year after year, proof that giving back feels even better than watching the show.