Prairie View A&M University News March 5, 2020 PVAMU’s CAHS continues tradition of excellence at 2020 RodeoHouston It’s that time of year again: rodeo season! With 2.5 million visitors flocking to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo<https://www.rodeohouston.com/#/fullschedule/byHour> (HLSR) to take in the excitement, it’s the perfect opportunity to showcase agricultural advancements and farm-focused fun, and Prairie View A&M’s College of Agriculture and Human Sciences<https://www.pvamu.edu/cahs/> (CAHS) is doing just that. “The missions of HLSR and CAHS overlap in fundamental ways: emphasis on agriculture, education, youth, and families,” explained CAHS Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs Gerard D’Souza, Ph.D. “Through activities such as the long-standing educational booth that we have throughout the rodeo, goat-showing by our Animal Science Club students, celebrity goat-milking, etc., we bring greater visibility and recognition to the College and PVAMU.” As the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) at the event, PVAMU’s presence is essential for linking the vital role of Black cowboys in the past to the advancements possible because of HBCUs today. CAHS first exhibited at HLSR in 1989, making it the longest participating university exhibitor. A Chance to Give Back Faculty, staff, students, and alumni step up to staff the exhibition booth to highlight everything Prairie View has to offer. From the Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Farm and Ranch, where students and researchers develop new farming practices, to the Cooperative Extension Program’s impactful work in counties throughout Texas, there’s plenty of exciting work on campus to promote. CAHS Staffer Horace D. Hodge was in charge of coordinating participation as an educational exhibitor and recruiting volunteers from 1990 to as recently as 2013. “Our exhibit engaged families, students, alumni, friends, and stakeholders to provide updates on the academic offerings and tell the PVAMU story,” he said. “The College of Agriculture and Human Sciences’ participation was a way of giving back and saying thank you to the HLSR for its support of our students and our cooperative extension program.” Family-Friendly Rodeo Fun The pre-rodeo trail rides and parades kicked off the season on March 3. Joel Cowley, HLSR President, CEO, and advisory board member for CAHS, joined the Prairie View Trailriders group, which won both the Division 1 Award and Spirit Award for 2020’s rides<https://www.rodeohouston.com/News/Article/ArtMID/494/ArticleID/2653/Rodeo-Runners-and-Parade-Participants-Kick-Off-the-Rodeo>. Black Heritage Day<https://www.rodeohouston.com/Visit-the-Rodeo/Special-Days-Events/Special-Days> at the rodeo is scheduled for March 13. It will feature educational exhibits and live entertainment, including a showcase of choirs, cheerleading, and dance teams from the Houston area. The day will be capped off with a performance by Lizzo<https://www.rodeohouston.com/Visit-the-Rodeo/Music-Concerts/Concert-Lineup>. Between the community impact, research promotion, and family fun, the CAHS’ presence at HLSR is well worth a gold buckle. To keep up with PVAMU’s activities at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, be sure to follow @pvamucahs on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Building Capacity for Humanities Special Collections at HBCUs – Become an ally and partner with us to protect, preserve and share a more authentic record of American history. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/humanities-2019.html for more information. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/ and click on the Donate Now button to invest in this project. Your support is appreciated. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/