Habanero Hoedown? PETA Says 2025 Means It’s High Time to Give Houston Rodeo a Vegan Makeover

For Immediate Release:
February 20, 2025

Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382

Houston

With the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo approaching, PETA sent a letter today to the rodeo’s President and CEO Chris Boleman with a rootin’-tootin’ suggestion: Make the event animal-free. PETA suggests that reimagining the event as the Houston Habanero Hoedown and Pecan Pageant—complete with contests like a turnip the beet music competition and a corn shuckin’ cabaret—would put Texas plant farmers in the spotlight while sparing animals from being tormented, maimed, and even killed for human amusement.

“Animals used in rodeos commonly suffer broken bones, punctured lungs, and snapped necks, simply so some humans can play cowboy,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA points out that we are not in the 1800s anymore, and it’s time to buck tradition by reimagining the rodeo as a plant farmers party that leaves animals in peace.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—points out thatEvery Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Boleman follows.

February 20, 2025

Chris Boleman, Ph.D.

President & CEO

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Dear Dr. Boleman:

Greetings! I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 9 million members and supporters globally, including hundreds of thousands in Texas—with a timely suggestion: Would youplease consider skipping the cruelty and instead celebrate Texas crop farmers by reimagining the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as the Houston Habanero Hoedown and Pecan Pageant and making the event entirely vegan and animal-free? Allow me to elaborate.

You can’t help but know that animals used in rodeos suffer from extreme stress and often sustain agonizing and even fatal injuries, including broken backs and necks, punctured lungs, heart attacks, and aneurysms. Those who manage to make it through are then loaded onto trucks, hauled to the next event, and forced to participate over and over again. When they become too injured or worn out to continue, the “thank-you” most of them get is being sent to slaughter.

The reimagined Houston Habanero Hoedown and Pecan Pageant could include unique and fun animal-free activities that would set it apart from other fairs, such as a pecan beauty pageant, a turnip the beet music competition that features local artists, and even a corn shuckin’ cabaret. Rather than reducing animals to mere objects via “livestock” shows and rodeos in a day and age when we have learned so much about animal behavior and sentience, you could celebrate Texas’ status as a top gardening state and inspire other festivals around the country to follow your lead.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk

President

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