Texas A&M Students Shine At Fort Worth Stock And Rodeo
The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo turned maroon last week as the oldest continuously running livestock show and rodeo hosted its first official Texas A&M Day. Before a crowd of over 7,700 attendees, Texas A&M students and leadership, including University System Chancellor John Sharp and President M. Katherine Banks, showed up in a big way to celebrate the inaugural event.
As Texas A&M Day turned into Aggie Night, the evening began with a reception hosted by the Fort Worth Texas A&M Club where guests enjoyed dinner and cocktails before the main event. Guests had a chance to mix and mingle with leadership from across The Texas A&M University System. Sharp addressed the group highlighting the system’s commitment to the local community, which was solidified earlier that day with the announcement of the name of the new campus – Texas A&M-Fort Worth.
Leaders from throughout the A&M System, Aggie Rodeo representatives and the Parsons Mounted Cavalry rode in the grand entry. Following the grand entry procession, Texas A&M Singing Cadets, known internationally as the “Voice of Aggieland,” sang the national anthem with the Tarleton State Color Guard represented. Just before the first rider entered the rodeo arena, Aggie Yell Leaders led the crowd in the Aggie War Hymn. With Aggie maroon wallpapering Dickie’s Arena, organizers say the inaugural event generated excitement as it established a new tradition for the university alongside the new Fort Worth campus.
“It was an incredible night,” said Texas Aggie Rodeo President Laramie Wedemeyer ’23. “To see Texas A&M celebrated like that and to be a part of the grand entry was really special. We were honored to be there and being able to meet President Banks, spend time with other student groups and meet Aggie fans was a memorable experience.”
As part of the official day, anyone wearing their Aggie apparel was able to get free admission into the Stock Show Grounds and rodeo tickets were discounted for anyone with an A&M student ID. The day was coordinated by Division of Academic and Strategic Collaborations Community Engagement team based in the DFW Metroplex.