Go Texan Day is Friday, February 28

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- Friday, February 28, is Go Texan Day, an annual event that harkens back to 1932, when the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo first started. Texans are encouraged to wear their finest western attire to exhibit their Texas pride and cultivate the rodeo spirit. Go Texan Day is always celebrated the Friday before the Houston Rodeo starts.

To perpetuate the Texas spirit, many Texans retrace the trail rides established when cattlemen drove their stock to market in the mid to late 1800s. To date, there are 13 trail ride associations that hit the trails to celebrate their roots and the rodeo. The oldest trail ride is the Salt Grass Trail Ride formed in 1952, that makes the 104-mile ride in from Brenham. The longest is the Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride (1973)...a grueling 386-mile ride from Reynosa, Mexico.

On Go Texan Day the trail rides can be seen converging on Houston from all directions along the major arteries. They typically time the ride in to avoid the peak morning traffic; about the time most people take a coffee break. As part of the tradition, Texans line the routes to wave the trail riders in.

The trail rides are listed in alphabetical order. Stake out a place along one of the trails to take part in this Texas tradition.

Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride established in 1973
386-mile ride from Reynosa, Mexico

Mission Trail Ride established in 1990
235-mile ride from San Antonio, Texas

Northeastern Trail Ride established in 1982
108-mile ride from Cheek, Texas

Old Spanish Trail Ride established in 1956
216-mile ride from Logansport, La.

Prairie View Trail Ride established in 1957
87-mile ride from Hempstead, Texas

Salt Grass Trail Ride established in 1952
104-mile ride from Brenham, Texas

Sam Houston Trail Ride established in 1955
70-mile ride from Montgomery, Texas

Southwest Trail Ride established in 1993
120-mile ride from Rosenberg, Texas

Southwestern Trail Ride established in 1973
102-mile ride from Angleton, Texas

Spanish Trail Ride established in 1961
109-mile ride from Shepherd, Texas

Texas Cattleman's Trail Ride established in 1986
69-mile ride from Anderson, Texas

Texas Independence Trail Ride established in 1961 108-mile ride from Brazoria, Texas

Valley Lodge Trail Ride established in 1959
75-mile ride from Brookshire, Texas

Conroe ISD teachers and students will also be celebrating Go Texan Day, Friday, February 28, by wearing their western wear to school.

In addition to wearing denim britches and boots, and welcoming in the trail riders, other celebratory Go Texan Day activities include eating bar-b-q, chili cook-offs, supporting the rodeo events to help fund the scholarship fundraiser. To view the list of shows at the this year’s rodeo visit Entertainment lineup for 2014 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.