* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. THE [00:00:01] OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON LATINA VOICES AND ITS GUESTS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF HDV TELEVISION OR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. TODAY ON LATINA VOICES SMART TALK, WE WELCOME SOME OF HOUSTON'S SERVANT LEADERS, HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, BRADY CARRUTH, THE RODEO'S, FIRST LADY ZINC CARSON CARRUTH AND RODEO BOARD MEMBER RICHARD GARCIA. CUMULATIVELY INVOLVED FOR OVER 75 YEARS IN THE RODEO, A LABOR OF LOVE TRULY HOUSTON'S HOME TO ONE OF AMERICA'S LARGEST LIVESTOCK SHOWS, SPORTING ATTRACTIONS, AND MOST POIGNANTLY ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDERS. THE RODEO PROMOTES AGRICULTURE, SHOWCASES WESTERN HERITAGE AS WELL AS HAS SURPASSED $575 MILLION IN TOTAL COMMITMENT TO YOUTH AND EDUCATION SINCE 1932. EACH RODEO GENERATING MORE THAN $300 MILLION FOR THE HOUSTON ECONOMY. IT CELEBRATES WHAT MAKES HOUSTON UNIQUE. WITH BLACK HERITAGE DAY, GONO DAY, LITTLE RUSTER RODEO, SENSORY FRIENDLY DAY, ARMED FORCES APPRECIATION DAY AND FIRST RESPONSES DAY AMONG OTHERS. WHILE THE RODEO IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN TEXAS, IT'S REACH IGNORES BORDERS AND TRANSCENDS OCEANS. TO BRING THE EXCITEMENT OF THE RODEO TO LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS WORLDWIDE. PAST RECORDS INCLUDE 2.5 MILLION ATTENDEES DURING THE 24 OR SO DAY EVENT, WELCOMING INVESTORS AND VISITORS FROM 75 COUNTRIES. TRULY REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS. LATINA VOICES, SMART TALK. I AM HOST AND PRODUCER, TEXAS SUPER ALERT, SOPHIA GUE. LATINA VOICES IS ABOUT UNIVERSAL TOPICS FROM A LATINA PERSPECTIVE. LET'S ENGAGE, EDUCATE, AND EMPOWER WITH SOME SMART TALK. AND HERE WE GO. WELCOME ZANE CARRUTH AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR FOR CAPTIVATING BOOKS. YES, ABOUT THE WORLD'S FIRST TOOTH FAIRY WITH LOTS OF ADVENTURES. FIRST LADY OF THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW, A BC WOMAN OF DISTINCTION. WE SHARE THAT RECOGNITION. HBJ JOURNALS, THE HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNALS, WOMAN WHO MEANS BUSINESS AWARD RECIPIENT, ELATED TO HAVE YOU AND EXCITED ABOUT THESE BOOKS. YOU'VE AUTHORED FOUR BOOKS. I WILL TELL YOU, UH, AT LEAST ONE OF THEM IN SPANISH. I WISH I WOULD'VE HAD THIS FOR MY CHILDREN WAY BACK WHEN, BUT GRANDCHILDREN, NOT FOR A LONG TIME. I HOPE THAT THERE YOU GO. AND HERE YOUR LATEST BOOK YOU WANNA TELL ME ABOUT THIS AMAZING BOOK SHE'S GOING TO THE RODEO. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION AND HOW HAS IT BEEN RESPONDED TO? WELL, YOU KNOW, LI BELLA AND HER BEST FRIEND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE RODEO. IT CAME TO TOWN. YES. AND I WROTE THE BOOK BECAUSE I WAS IN A UNIQUE POSITION BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, BRADY'S INVOLVEMENT. I COULD GO BACKSTAGE, I COULD MEET PEOPLE, I COULD SEE THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. AND I THOUGHT THERE'S SO MUCH TO LEARN AND TO, AND TO TEACH THESE KIDS BECAUSE, AND I LEARNED A LOT BECAUSE I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH, OF COURSE, ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE RODEO. BUT IT'S BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED. I THINK THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN MY MOST POPULAR BOOK. WELL, YOU KNOW, HOUSTON, WHY WOULDN'T IT BE? OF COURSE. IT WAS JUST A LOT OF FUN. AND UM, AND I THINK IT TEACHES KIDS A LOT OF THINGS. NO, ABSOLUTELY. AND I THINK IT'S EMPOWERING. AND I WILL ALSO GIVE YOU REAL CREDIT BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, YOU ARE EXCITED, YOU'RE READING THROUGH, BUT THERE'S A REALLY RIVETING PRO PROTAGONIST. AND AT THE END YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON BECAUSE THE BOOK HIGHLIGHTS THE LEGENDARY LEON COFFEE AND WHO HAPPENS TO BE THIS YEAR'S GRAND MARSHALL OF THE 2023 PARADE. AND IT TALKS, HE WAS A BULL RIDER. HE'S NOW THIS FAMOUS CLOWN. HE'S IN THE HALL OF FAME. WHAT WAS THE WHY INCLUDING HIM AND WHAT'S HE LIKE? OH, HE IS WONDERFUL. HE IS. DID I MEET HIM? YEAH, I'LL INTRODUCE SHOOT THE RODEO . WE'LL HAVE TO DO IT. YEAH. HE'S THERE EVERY NIGHT. NO, HE IS JUST AS NICE AS YOU WOULD HOPE THAT HE WOULD BE. YES. AND UH, THE WORD TO DESCRIBE HIM IS THE MAN HAS NO QUIT IN HIM. HE HAS BEEN BEATEN UP, BROKEN BONES, CONCUSSION IN THE HOSPITAL SO MANY TIMES HE PULLS HIMSELF TOGETHER AND HE JUST GETS RIGHT BACK OUT THERE. HE IS NOW KNOWN AS THE BARREL MAN. YES. HE'S NOT A BULLFIGHTER LIKE HE WAS. HE WENT CLOWN BULLFIGHTER. BUT NOW HE'S THE BARREL MAN. AND, UM, HE'S INFAMOUS. HE IS JUST WONDERFUL. AND CROWDS LOVE HIM WHEN HE COMES TO MY BOOK SIGNINGS. YES. WHICH HE DID LAST YEAR. I MEAN, IT WAS JUST LIKE THEY WERE SHOVING ME OUT OF THE WAY TO GET TO LEON. WELL, I CAN IMAGINE. AND I WOULD SAY IT'S THIS, IT'S BECAUSE HE'S DONE ALL OF THOSE. RIGHT. IT'S BECAUSE HE IS BEEN OBVIOUSLY IN THE ARENA, THE BLOOD, SWEAT AND THE TEARS. RIGHT. BUT THEN HE FAILS AND COMES BACK UP, YOU KNOW, LIKE A BIG, UH, LIKE A, A FAMOUS QUOTATION, [00:05:01] BUT INCREDIBLE. AND HOPEFULLY I'LL HAVE THE LUXURY. BUT I REALLY, I COMMEND YOU FOR DOING THIS. IT IS NOT SURPRISING A THE POPULARITY OF ALL OF THEM, BUT PARTICULARLY THE RODEO BECAUSE, UH, HOUSTON IS AN OR IT IS THE PROPHETIC CITY AT THE CUSP OF A CHANGING AMERICA INORDINATELY, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE. AND YOU'VE CREATED JUST THAT BOOK AND BRILLIANT TO HAVE, UH, MADE SURE THAT THE, THE PROTAGONIST WAS LEON. WELL, THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY HONORED TO HAVE YOU AND I HATE TO DO THIS. PLEASE, UH, AS MORE COME IN AS, AS YOU INSPIRED TO WRITE MORE, I'LL HAVE TO SEE THEM. AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE ON LATINO VOICES IN A MOMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AT RODEO HOUSTON, APPROXIMATELY 350 CONTESTANTS COMPETE IN THE 20 DAY TOURNAMENT STYLE COMPETITION THAT CROWNS AN EVENT CHAMPION IN BAREBACK RIDING, BULL RIDING, SADDLE BRONC RIDING STEER WRESTLING TEAM ROPING, TIE DOWN, ROPING WOMEN'S BARREL RACING, AND WOMEN'S BREAKAWAY ROPING. I CANNOT DO ANY OF THIS. THE RODEO IS SUPPORTED BY MORE THAN 35,000 VOLUNTEERS SERVING ON 110 DIFFERENT COMMITTEES, CUMULATIVELY, DEVOTING ABOUT 70 HOURS OF THEIR TIME JOINING US TODAY. ECSTATIC ALSO TO HAVE RODEO'S. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD WHO FIRST BECAME A MEMBER OVER 50 YEARS AGO. HE DOES NOT LOOK THAT OLD HE HAS SERVED, LED AMONG OTHERS. THE LAMB AUCTION COMMITTEE, THE LADIES GO TEXAN, THE LADIES SEASON BOX, SCHOOL ARTS, SPECIAL CHILDREN'S, AND WESTERN ART COMMITTEES WITH UNPARALLELED TIES TO THE RODEO. IT IS CLEARLY A FAMILY LEGACY OF GIVING TIRELESSLY TO THE RODEO AS HIS FATHER ALAN H BUDDY CARRUTH WAS ALSO RODEO PRESIDENT AND SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, INDEED A FAMILY AFFAIR. ETHEL CARRUTH, OF COURSE, THE MOM WAS IN THE ACTION, WAS PAST CHAIRMAN AND PASSIONATE SUPPORTER OF THE RODEO SCHOOL ART COMMITTEE CHAIR. CARRUTH CURRENTLY SERVES AS PRESIDENT OF THE GULF COAST CAPITOL COURT AND IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN GIVING WITH A VENGEANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH VARIOUS PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY ECSTATIC TO HAVE YOU. LET'S START WITH THE BASICS. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TEACH ALL OF US OUR YOUTH, BUT ALL OF US ABOUT WESTERN CULTURE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE? WELL, WESTERN CULTURE OBVIOUSLY IS OUR HISTORY AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF INNER CITY KIDS, URBAN KIDS DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE WESTERN CULTURE WHERE THE CATTLE BUSINESS, AGRICULTURE, WHERE DOES, WHERE DOES THE FOOD IN THE GROCERY STORE COME FROM? YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T JUST SHOW UP AT THE GROCERY STORE, SOMEBODY'S GOTTA GROW IT. SOMEBODY HAS TO RAISE THE CATTLE AND THE, AND THE, AND THE PIGS AND THE LAMBS THAT ALL OUR, UH, FOOD SOURCE COMES FROM. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, WHERE OUR FOOD COMES FROM AND HOW IMPORTANT AGRICULTURE IS TO, TO OUR SOCIETY. YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT. AND IT'S ALSO, I THINK THE WORK ETHIC ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. YOU KNOW, INCLUDING THE CONTEST TO HAVE THE YOUNG, THE YOUTH THAT WILL RAISE THE CATTLE, ET CETERA, OF LONG PERIODS OF, THEY HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS OF HOURS GETTING TO THAT POINT. AND I THINK THAT'S ALSO PITI, UH, OF LESSONS. IT'S GREAT. AND IT TEACHES 'EM A LOT ABOUT LIFE AND A LOT ABOUT HARD WORK AND, AND, AND REWARD OF YOUR HARD WORK. I MEAN, THEY'RE UP AT FIVE IN THE MORNING TO FEED THEIR, THEIR ANIMAL, EXERCISE THEIR ANIMAL, THEN THEY'RE OFF TO SCHOOL. THEY SPEND A FULL DAY AT SCHOOL, SOME OF 'EM ARE INVOLVED IN, IN SPORTS, AND THEN THEY GET HOME AT SIX AND THEY HAVE DINNER AND THEN THEY GO OUT AND FEED THEIR ANIMAL AND EXERCISE THEIR ANIMAL. SO IT'S A, IT'S A REALLY, IT MAKES IT FOR A VERY LONG DAY FOR THESE KIDS. FIRST LADY. YOU BRING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE. THERE'S SO MUCH FUN AND SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE RODEO. GIVE US A COUPLE OF THINGS. IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO THE RODEO, WHAT ARE A COUPLE OF MUST SEES OR MUST DOS? WELL, LIKE BRADY SAID, ALL THE AGRICULTURE, THERE'S A, A AREA IN THERE WHERE THE KIDS CAN PICK THE, THE CORN, THE CARROTS, THEY GIVE 'EM A LITTLE BASKET AND THEY GO THROUGH AND THEY GO THROUGH THE LINE AT THE GROCERY STORE. THERE'S THAT. WELL, THAT'S FUN. THAT IS FUN. KIDS LIKE THAT 'CAUSE THAT'S SO INTERACTIVE. YES. AND YOU KNOW, THEN JUST ALL THE LIVE ANIMALS YOU CAN WATCH LITTLE BABY CHICKENS BE BORN OR CALVES. THERE'S BEEHIVES, THERE'S EVERYTHING. THERE'S EVERYTHING AT THE RODEO. NO, ABSOLUTELY. AND I WILL SAY ALSO THE PARADE THAT WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO AND HOW IS, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GRAND MARSHALL. HOW IS THE GRAND MARSHALL SELECTED AND WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WELL, WE WANNA HAVE SOMEBODY WHO, UH, MEANS A LOT TO THE RODEO OR, OR, OR OUR SHOW. UH, AND YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO WE WOULD BE PROUD TO LEAD OUR, OUR PARADE. AND, UH, LEON COFFEY WAS SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE OF, OF DEDICATION TO THE RODEO, THE SPORT OF RODEO AND TO OUR SHOW. 'CAUSE HE'S BEEN COMING TO OUR SHOW FOR, OH GOSH, 20 OR 30 YEARS. SO HE'S, YOU KNOW, HE'S [00:10:01] A BIG PART OF OUR SHOW AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE LOVE HAVING HIM HERE AND HE'S GONNA, I THINK BE EXTREMELY WELL RECEIVED AS GRAND MARSHALL. WELL, THAT'S INCREDIBLE. AND I WILL SAY IT'S AMAZING TO ME ALSO, AS I SAID AT THE FRONT END, JUST THE NUMBER OF COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE IN AN EVENING FOR, FOR A CONCERT AND HOW BEAUTIFULLY IT'S ORCHESTRATED. BUT I THINK IT'S BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE THE THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS THAT ALL REALLY GIVE, BECAUSE IT'S, WE'RE HOUSTON PROUD OF THE RODEO YOUR LAST YEAR OF CHAIRMAN AND YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH. WHAT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO AND WHAT WILL BE PART OF YOUR LEGACY? ALTHOUGH I SUSPECT YOU'LL ALWAYS BE INVOLVED , BUT WHAT IS, WHAT'S PART OF YOUR LEGACY THAT YOU CAN SAY YOU ARE THINKING, I'VE DONE THIS, I'VE CHECKED THIS BOX, THIS IS PART OF MY IMPRIMATUR. ONE OF THE, UH, I THINK GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS WE DID WAS WHEN WE WERE ONE, WE, WE WERE CANCELED. OUR SHOW WAS CANCELED IN IN 20, UH, 21 WAS MY FIRST YEAR AS CHAIRMAN. WE DID NOT HAVE PERFORMANCES IN THE, BUT WE STILL, UH, GAVE $22 MILLION AWAY TO THE YOUTH OF TEXAS. AND THAT'S JUST A TESTAMENT THERE. OUR VOLUNTEERS AND, YOU KNOW, AND HOW MUCH TIME, TREASURE AND TALENT THEY GIVE TO THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO. THAT'S, THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE. I MEAN, TO EVER BE ABLE AS AN ORGANIZATION TO GIVE MORE THAN $20 MILLION IS UNBELIEVABLE. AND PART OF YOUR LEGACY IS ALSO, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING A CHAIR ELECT WILL BE THE FIRST FEMALE AND THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T HAPPEN. IF THOSE CURRENTLY LEADING ARE NOT VISIONARY ENOUGH TO SEE THERE'S ROOM AT THE TABLE FOR EVERYONE. WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT MEN NOW PERHAPS THERE'S TIME FOR A GREAT WOMAN. YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S GREAT. AND PAT MANN PHILLIPS IS GONNA DO A GREAT JOB. SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE SHOW FOR OVER 20 YEARS. YES. UH, SHE'S VERY TALENTED AND SHE'S GONNA DO A GREAT JOB. YOU KNOW, OVER HALF OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE, ARE WOMEN AND A LOT OF COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP IS, IS FEMALE. AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT, THAT, THAT WE CAN HAVE ONE AT THE, AT THE TOP OF THE LADDER. WELL, THAT'S INCREDIBLE AND A REAL TESTAMENT TO YOU. AND WE'RE GONNA BE BACK WITH MORE LATINA VOICES IN A MOMENT. THANK YOU. THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP BARBECUE CONTEST HAS MORE THAN 250 TEAMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COMPETING FOR BEST IN SHOW IN SECTIONS LIKE BRISKET, RIBS, CHICKEN GO, TEXAS, DUTCH OVEN, DESSERT, I'M GETTING HUNGRY. AND THE OPEN CONTEST CATEGORY, COOK TEAMS SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT IN PITS DISGUISED AS FIRE ENGINES AND COVERED WAGONS TO AIRPLANES AND ARMADILLOS. OF COURSE, WE'RE IN TEXAS THE MORE THAN 700 ENTRIES COMPETE FOR THE BEST OVERALL BARBECUE AND OTHER CATEGORIES. JOINING US TODAY ALSO IS RICHARD GARCIA. RICH IS FORMER FBI DIRECTOR. YES. HEAD AND CHIEF IN HOUSTON AND LA A TRAILBLAZER IN THE FBI. HE'S BEEN A MEMBER OF THE RODEO FOR 13 YEARS AND CURRENTLY ON THREE COMMITTEES, INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE, THE GRAND ENTRY AND ARMED FORCES APPRECIATION COMMITTEE WHERE HE OVERSEES THE PLANNING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS DAY. HE WAS RECENTLY SELECTED AS ONE OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE RODEO, WHAT BEGAN 17 YEARS AGO AS A NIGHTLY TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S ARMED FORCES DURING EACH RODEO. HOUSTON PERFORMANCE HAS TRULY CATAPULTED AND TO THE ARMED FORCES APPRECIATION COMMITTEE WITH OVER 190 MEMBERS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HELP PO HOST MORE THAN 4,000 MILITARY GUESTS. RICH EDUCATE US ON THE EVOLUTION AND ITS IMPORTANCE, INCLUDING OUR VETERANS AND AS ALWAYS, YOUR LATE SON, GOD, LOS GARCIA. THANK YOU SOPHIA. UH, THE ARMED FORCES COMMITTEE. LIKE MANY OTHER TYPES OF COMMITTEES, WE TRY TO COMMEND AND HONOR, UH, VARIOUS GUESTS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOUR SPECIAL DAYS, YOU KNOW, BLACK HERITAGE DAY, GO TO HA DAY, YOU GOT ARMED FORCES DAY AND FIRST RESPONDERS DAY, THE ARMED FORCES COMMITTEE. WE BRING IN SOLDIERS FROM VARIOUS BASES AROUND TEXAS AND LOUISIANA. WE BUST 'EM IN, WE ENTERTAIN THEM. WE BRING IN SPECIAL GUESTS FROM THE MILITARY TO INCLUDE MEDAL OF HONOR WINNERS. WE ALSO HONOR THE GREATEST GENERATION, THOSE VETERANS FROM WORLD WAR II. AND WE ALSO HONORING KOREAN VETERANS, VIETNAM VETERANS, AND OF COURSE THE LATEST, UH, ENCOUNTERS THAT WE HAD BACK IN THE NINETIES. AND WE TRY TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF ENTERTAINMENT, KEEP THEIR MIND OFF EXACTLY WHAT THEIR MISSION IS, BUT THEIR MISSION IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS COUNTRY'S SAFETY AND FREEDOM. AND SO THEY GO THROUGH THE RODEO, THEY GET TO EAT A LOT OF GOOD FOOD, THEY GET TO SEE SOME ENTERTAINMENT, THEY GET TO SEE THE RODEO. AND IT'S, AND THE LOOK IN THESE KIDS, AND I SAY KIDS 'CAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE YOUNG, IS, IS IS REALLY WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT WE DO FROM THE COMMITTEE [00:15:01] TALK ALSO A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT STARTED AS ARMED FORCES IS MY UNDERSTANDING. BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE FIRST RESPONDERS, WHICH I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A, A CHANCE TO ATTEND A COUPLE OF TIMES EVEN GOING ON THE WAGON, WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S AN ORDINATE POINTED AND WE'VE ALL HAD TO EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF, OF TRAGEDIES AND TRAVESTIES THAT HAVE HAPPENED NATURALLY AND OTHERWISE. WE'VE ALL BEEN, WE'VE ALL SEEN FIRST RESPONDERS. THAT'S MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE ARMED FORCES COMMITTEE. WHEN THEY STARTED TO HAVE APPROXIMATELY SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO. THEY HAVE FIRST RESPONDERS DAY. I WAS ASKED BY SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO WERE PART OF THE COMMITTEE, IF I COULD JOIN THEM TO HELP THEM OUT AND, AND START TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE EACH YEAR, HOW WE HONOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE RODEOS AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY AS WE CALL. WE HAVE HARRIS COUNTY AND THE SEVEN COUNTIES THAT TOUCH HARRIS, BUT WE LOOK AT STATE POLICE MARSHALS, SHERIFFS CONSTABLES, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, EMS AND WE INVITE THEM TO THE RODEO FOR THAT SPECIAL DAY JUST LIKE WE DID THE ARMED FORCES THANKING THEM FOR WHAT THEY DO. I'VE HAD FIRST RESPONDERS TELL ME IT'S VERY NICE THAT THE ROADIE WOULD RECOGNIZE US AND WE COULD COME TO THIS EVENT AS A FAMILY AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THINGS THAT WE DO THAT WE FACE EVERY DAY IN OUR JOB. AND THEY REALLY ENJOY THEMSELVES AND THEY REALLY HAVE A GOOD TIME. NO, THAT'S INCREDIBLE. AND I REFERENCED IN MY INTRO, UH, A REFERENCE TO YOUR LATE SON CARLOS GARCIA. AND I'VE BEEN AT YOUR BARBECUE TENT CLEARLY JUST EATING BECAUSE NOT ONLY COULD I NEVER DO ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE RODEO THAT TAKE PLACE, I COULD ALSO NEVER COOK AND HAVE ANY SUCCESS. BUT I'VE BEEN THERE INCLUDING THAT, THAT REALLY INORDINATELY POIGNANT TO TOAST THAT GALO DESIGNED. WOULD YOU WALK US THROUGH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? WELL, MY SON WAS VERY ACTIVE WITH A RODEO. HE ENJOYED IT. HE ENJOYED BARBECUE, HE ENJOYED COOKING AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY HE HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE HE DID NOT SURVIVE BUT HIS MILITARY WORK, HE WAS STUDYING, UH, AND GOT HIS DEGREE FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN IN PSYCHOLOGY TRYING TO HELP VETERANS IN PTSD. AND HE CAME UP WITH THIS PROGRAM WHERE HE CAN GET VETERANS TO THAT FIRST STEP IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO HELP FOR THE PTSD. AND THEY ACTUALLY WAS GONNA GO TO BAYLOR UNIVERSITY FOR HIS MASTER'S AND PHD WHEN UNFORTUNATELY THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE. SO HE CAME UP WITH HIS TOAST WHEN HE WOULD SAY, WE HOLD UP A CUP TO HONOR THOSE TO SERVE IN THE PAST, WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S FAMILY'S FOR AS CIGAR KNIFE FOR VETS. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE BECAUSE HE ALWAYS WANTS TO SAY, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A BUDDY AS HE CALLS BATTLE BUDDY. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ALONE. SO WE CAN GET YOU OUT THERE. THIS, THIS DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT BE FAILING. THE DEMONS THAT HELP THAT GO THROUGH A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH PTSD. AND WE DO THAT A LOT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS BECAUSE FIRST RESPONDERS DO CROSS PTSD CIVILIANS THAT GET INVOLVED WITH TRAGIC EVENTS, THEY EVOLVE WITH PTSD. SO IT'S NOT JUST MILITARY, BUT UH, WE TRY TO KEEP THAT LEGACY GOING ON AND TRY TO HELP VETERANS AND OTHERS THAT NEED IT. NO, THAT'S INCREDIBLE. AND I HAVE TO SAY, I'D LIKE TO, UH, TURN IT TO THE CHAIRMAN IF YOU GET THE LUXURY OF GOING TO RODEO PERFORMANCE. AND WHAT I DO LIKE IS THAT YOU'VE GOT PRICE POINTS AT ALL LEVELS, RIGHT? AND, AND, AND YOU MAKE SURE THE CARNIVAL, YOU ARE ABLE TO GET THE 50% OFF DISCOUNTS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO AND SPEND THE MONEY THERE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO THERE'S, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PERFORMERS IN THE EVENING. HOW ARE THEY CHOSEN? WELL, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANT TO HAVE A, A LOT OF COUNTRY ACTS 'CAUSE THAT'S KIND OF OUR, OUR BASE, BUT WE ALSO WANNA BRING IN OTHER ACTS THAT APPEAL TO A BROADER SECTION OF, OF, OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. YES. AND, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE A DIVERSE CITY AND WE HAVE, WE WANNA GET EVERYBODY IN INVOLVED IN THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO. SOME YEARS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS. UH, WE, WE WE'RE, OUR TICKETS ARE SELLING REALLY WELL SO FAR THIS YEAR. UH, WE'RE A LITTLE HEAVIER COUNTRY THAN WE HAVE BEEN IN IN YEARS PAST, BUT, UH, PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE'RE BRINGING IN THERE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE HALF PRICE CARNIVAL TICKETS ARE THE BEST DEAL IN TOWN. NO, THEY'RE INCREDIBLE. AND THE FOOD IS ALSO RIDICULOUSLY GOOD. IT'S GOOD THAT YOU HAVE TO WALK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS LIKE, DO I GET THIS THING? IT LOOKS A LITTLE CALORIC, IT'S ALL FRIED, AWFULLY DELICIOUS. BUT YOU WALK A LITTLE BIT AND YOU WALK IT OFF. NO, AND, AND THE RIDES AND, AND AGAIN, THE WHOLE ASPECT. AND YOU DO HAVE, UH, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR EVERYONE TO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THE MUSIC THEY LISTEN TO. IF NOT, WHY NOT A NEW OPPORTUNITY AND, AND YOU GET SOME NEW PLAYERS. AND MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST NIGHT IT'S THE VERY FAMOUS NOT, YOU KNOW, I THINK FROM CONROE, SO NOT TOO FAR AND PRETTY YOUNG. PARKER MCCOLLUM'S GOING AHEAD AND HE'S SELLING EXTREMELY WELL. HE WAS SO EXCITED. HE PLAYED LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. YES. AND HE'S A LOCAL BOY. CONROE, WHICH IS I'LL I'LL SAY IS LOCAL. AND UH, YES. SO HE WAS REALLY EXCITED TO PLAY THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW, A DREAM OF HIS, TO PLAY THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW. I CAN, I I SUSPECT IT'S A GR A DREAM OF MANY. I FIRST RECALL, THIS WILL DATE ME, THIS WAS, UH, GOSH, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, [00:20:01] UH, HANNAH MONTANA BIG DEAL. AND I MEAN, WHEN SHE WAS AT HER PRIME, I REMEMBER, AND I WAS A COMPLETE NEOPHYTE CLEARLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT, THIS IS SO EXCITING. I'M GOING TO GET THE TICKETS WHERE WE'RE REALLY ON THE STAGE. IE RIGHT THERE. UH, WHICH WE ENDED UP GETTING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE DIRT THAT COMES WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. IT WAS REALLY QUITE, I MEAN, I FELT LIKE I WAS PART OF THE RODEO. IT'S REALLY QUITE A QUITE AMAZING TO GET A CHANCE TO DO THAT. I THINK THERE'S ALSO VAN BI WHO I THINK IS A PROFESSOR AT RICE. SO YOU GET A, YOU GET A TRUE CROSS SECTION, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY EXCITING. WHAT OBVIOUSLY FAMILY LEGACY TRADITION, BUT YOU COULD HAVE TURNED YOUR VERY PHILANTHROPICALLY ENGAGED. WHY DID YOU KEEP FOCUSING ON THE RODEO AFTER ALL THESE YEARS? I MEAN, BRADY, WHAT'S THE, WHAT CHAIR? WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE TO YOU? YOU COULD BE INVOLVED. ANYONE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR TIME AND TREASURE, BUT WHY THE RODEO? WELL, IT REALLY IS A FAMILY. YOU KNOW, I, I STARTED GOING WITH, WITH MY FAMILY. YES. AND BUT WHEN YOU GET INTO BEING PART OF THE LARGER RODEO FAMILY YES. ON A COMMITTEE, IT REALLY IS A FAMILY AND THEY, THEY BECOME YOUR FRIENDS AND THE, THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE AND, AND YOU KNOW, THE GREATER GOOD THAT YOU DO WITH THE SCHOLARSHIPS. AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE PART OF A SUCCESSFUL PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO. AND, WELL, YOU COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A QUICK BREAK, DONE, MORE LATINA VOICES AFTER WE RETURN. WE ARE BACK WITH A SHOW AND SEGMENT WE CALL SMART TIMES, AN EXPANDED CONVERSATION WITH TODAY'S GUEST, HOUSTON RODEO'S CHAIR, AS WELL AS BOARD MEMBER RICH GARCIA. RICH, WHY THE RODEO? WHY THESE COMMITTEES, SO MANY AMAZING CAUSES. BUT WHY THIS CAUSE I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT IS CAUSE I AM ONE PERSON OF 35,000 VOLUNTEERS AND WE'RE OUT THERE BECAUSE THE ADMISSION OF THE RODEO FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THESE KIDS, THE EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON, YOU GOTTA HAVE THAT AS A DRIVING FORCE OF WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. THERE'S 110 COMMITTEES AND THE COMMITTEE I FIRST STARTED WITH WAS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE. WE BRING IN GUESTS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND WE HOST THEM BECAUSE THEY DO THINGS THERE AS FAR AS THE AUCTIONS, AS FAR AS PRODUCTS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BUY AND LEARN FROM THE RODEO ITSELF, TAKING IT BACK TO SOUTH AMERICA, TO ASIA, TO EUROPE. AND WE ALSO EVEN TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE IN THE NORTHERN CANADA. AND AS FAR AS THE OTHER COMMITTEES, I'M IN THE GRAND ENTRY. I DRIVE ONE OF THE ANTIQUE FIRE TRUCKS. BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE PAST, I ALWAYS WANTED TO DRIVE A FIRETRUCK. SO WHERE ELSE YOU GET THAT OPPORTUNITY? SO I GET TO DO THAT AND I HAVE MY DALMATIAN IN THE FRONT SEAT ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER GUESTS THAT COME THERE AND THE LOOKS IN THEIR FACES WHEN THEY RIDE AROUND THAT ARENA AND WHEN IT STARTS OFF THE SHOW EVERY NIGHT IS REALLY AMAZING TOO. AND OF COURSE, THE LAST COMMITTEE I'M ON IS THE ARMED FORCES COMMITTEE WITH THE FIRST RESPONDERS. AND BEING FROM FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALSO HAVING A LOT OF FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WHO ARE MILITARY, IT'S TO ME A BADGE OF HONOR TO HELP THEM AND BRING, GIVE BACK TO THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR US. NO, THAT'S INCREDIBLE. AND I HAVE TO SAY AS I'M LOOKING AT YOU BOTH A I AM GETTING A LITTLE ENVIOUS THAT I DON'T HAVE A HAT THAT I SHOULD HAVE THAT'S ON ME, BUT I'LL SAY AS FOLLOWS, I'M NOT FROM AROUND HERE. I'M INITIALLY FOR 5,000 MILES AWAY AND WE STARTED OUR LIFE IN BOSTON, BUT THE CRUX OF MY LIFE HAS BEEN IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. AND I THINK THE RODEO EPITOMIZES WHAT HOUSTON'S ALL ABOUT. IT IS ABOUT INCLUSION, IT IS ABOUT OPENNESS, IT'S ABOUT A SENSE OF FAMILY, AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. IT, YOU CAN COME FROM ALL PARTS. MY, MY FATHER WHO WAS THE IMPETUS HAS COMING TO THE UNITED STATES WITH A WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION GRANT NOW HAS SOME, UM, SOME, SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND, AND SOME ANIMALS IN PALESTINE, TEXAS. ONE OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS IS JUST TO, TO COME AND SEE THE TRUCKS, THE EQUIPMENT, WHAT SHOULD HE BE DOING, WHAT CAN HE BE DOING? AND IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE. AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, JUST TO GO AS ZANE SO BEAUTIFULLY SAID, TO GET THE CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE CARROTS, TO PICK THE CARROTS, TO DO ALL THAT AND TO GET A SENSE, AND I'M GONNA TURN IT TO YOU CHAIR TO GET A SENSE OF THE WORK ETHIC BECAUSE TO ME, ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED WITH, WITH THE RODEO, INCLUDING THOSE THAT SELL THE AMAZING THINGS, THE VENDORS, ALL OF THE WORK ETHIC, IT'S ABOUT THE GREAT GRIND AND GRAVITAS. OKAY, LAST TWO MINUTES. CHAIR, BRING IT HOME. OKAY. WELL ONE THING I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IS MEET A LOT OF OUR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AND YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR SO MUCH BAD THINGS ON THE NEWS THESE DAYS ABOUT THE YOUTH OF TEXAS AND THE GEN ZS OR ALL WHATEVER THEY ARE. THAT, THAT THIS REALLY JUST DESTROYS ALL THOSE THAT NARRATIVES BECAUSE THESE ARE THE GREATEST KIDS THAT [00:25:01] YOU CAN EVER FIND. I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY WORK HARD. THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL. THEY HAVE AMBITION. THEY, THEY'RE COME ALL WALKS OF LIFE. YES. UH, ONE OF MY FAVORITE STATISTICS ABOUT THE, UH, HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO SCHOLARSHIPS IS 49% OF OUR RECIPIENTS ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE, AND 35% ARE THE FIRST ONES TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE'RE, WE'RE ADDRESSING A PART OF THE POPULACE THAT REALLY NEEDS OUR HELP AND, AND THEY'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO SUCCEED, UH, BECAUSE OF THEIR HELP THEY GET FROM THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO. NO, THAT'S INCREDIBLE. AND ALSO JUST THE IMPETUS TO BE ABLE TO SAY YOU'RE ONE OF THE RODEO SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, I THINK IN AND OF ITSELF TO BE ABLE TO PUT THAT IN YOUR RESUME'S. INCREDIBLE. WELL, I WOULD SAY AS FOLLOWS, REMIND US OF THE RODEO STARTS WHEN BARBECUE STARTS ON FEBRUARY 23RD. YES. THROUGH THE 25TH FIRST PERFORMANCE AS FEBRUARY 28TH THROUGH MARCH 19TH. LET, LET ME SAY AS FOLLOWS, WE HAVE NOT COVERED IT, BUT WE HAVE TO INDICATIVE OF WHAT THE RODEO DOES, MARCH 8TH COMMUNITY DAY. IF YOU CAN GET THERE BEFORE NOON, YOU CAN GO THERE FOR FREE. THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES. WE'LL MAKE SURE IT'S ALL ON THE WEBSITE. IT, IT IS ON THERE I'M SURE, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE SCREEN SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WILL HAVE A CHANCE. AND I WILL SAY AS FOLLOWS, INORDINATELY PROUD TO HAVE HOSTED YOU. INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR, AS I SAID, MY THREE GUESTS CUMULATIVELY OVER 75 YEARS OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. LATINA VOICES SMART TALK. AND WE'LL BE BACK MORE IN A MINUTE. INCREDIBLY EXCITED. I AM READY FOR THE RODEO. WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON LATINA VOICES. WE'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME WITH MORE INTERESTING TOPICS THAT MATTER TO ALL OF US. UN. UNTIL NEXT TIME, PLEASE STAY SMART. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.