Upcoming Livestock Show To Feature National Broadcast
Upcoming Livestock Show To Feature National Broadcast
The Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show is gearing up for its 85th annual edition with the March 2024 version featuring a first in the show’s history.
The livestock show’s rodeo, which its organizers describe as being among the best in Texas, will be broadcast on a national television network. Luis Saldana, the RGV Livestock Show’s executive director and general manager, made that announcement at a Sept. 28 press conference. Saldana didn’t divulge which network will broadcast the Mercedes-based rodeo, saying final details are being worked out in preparation for March 7-17, 2024 show.
The national television broadcast would give Mercedes added exposure as the city that for decades has hosted the largest multi-days event in the RGV.
“Being around this long, it’s an institution, it’s our heritage, and we’re so proud to be part of the community of Mercedes,’’ said Saldana of the city that has hosted the show from its inception in the late 1930s. “We are the Rio Grande Valley’s event.’’
Other highlights previewed at the late September press conference include:
- The livestock show is adding another night of extreme bull riding, which Saldana said is one of the rodeo’s more popular events.
- Another strong musical act lineup is coming. It includes a wide variety of country, pop, rock and Tejano. There will be two Saturdays of entertainment featuring Tejano music with Ram Herrera being one of the of the headlining acts. Saldana said a Taylor Swift cover band, Red, will also be on the livestock show’s musical bill. Red is promoted as America’s top Swift cover band and features Lauren Corzine.
- Construction will start soon on a permanent musical pavilion on the show grounds. Saldana said the new facility will give the RGV Livestock Show an added strength to draw more top artists.
- There will be corporate promotion packages that will give small-to-mid-size businesses the opportunity to buy livestock show tickets in bulk to give to their employees.
“It’s always great to give people throughout our communities the opportunity to come out and enjoy the livestock show with their families and friends,’’ Saldana said.
New Logo & Busy Calendar
The 85th edition of the RGV Livestock Show is being promoted as a Diamond anniversary of the iconic event.
A special edition logo was designed for the 85th and shows the Texas map outline with a diamond pinpointing its location in Mercedes. The letters R-G-V run vertically over the image. Saldana also unveiled a new RGV Livestock Show logo which features the Valley’s signature palm tree look with farm crops. It’s befitting for an event whose origins and core purpose continues to be agricultural education and farm-and-ranch projects.
Saldana and his staff are highlighting livestock show history on the organization’s website and social media sites. Each week, there are flashback and “guess the year’’ photos in which images of yesteryears are shown. Online readers are asked to name those pictured or guess the year of photos. The series of photos has drawn considerable online interest, with many readers commenting on the historic images.
Saldana alluded to the livestock show’s history throughout his comments, saying the event’s organizers in 1940 raised $350 in proceeds for area farming youth. In 2022, the livestock show generated $1.7 million to benefit RGV youth in sales of their livestock and other animals they’ve raised in addition to granting scholarships and awards.
Beyond the big March show, Saldana highlighted how the livestock show grounds are used year-round for concerts and horse shows in addition to special events such as the recent Fall Fest & Horror on Texas Avenue, which featured a Halloween theme. In December, a Neon Christmas RGVLS Gala and Citrus & Vegetable Show are among the events on a busy holiday calendar.
Ric Cavazos
