Texas 4-H and Star of Texas Rodeo Help Future Texans

What do the Texas 4-H Foundation and the Star of Texas Livestock Show and Rodeo have in common? They both help Texas kids, providing them with opportunities that will pave the way for a bright future.

Monday evening, after the day’s celebrations honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, directors from both organizations met at the Salt Lick restaurant in Round Rock, where I was tasked with the delightful opportunity to speak and with the tough duty of eating delicious barbecue (fortunately, I managed to leave on time; otherwise there would have been no ribs left, as I’m pretty sure I ate three weeks’ worth).

It was great to hear of the wonderful progress the Texas 4-H Foundation has made with youth statewide. In 2008 alone, the foundation provided more than $2.2 million in scholarships to graduating 2008 high school 4-H seniors. Similarly, the Star of Texas Livestock Show and Rodeo has given $3.5 million in scholarships to area youth since 1983 when the rodeo began.

Generous actions like these give young Texans the jump-start they need to do well in life and give back to their communities. We should all look for opportunities to partner in these types of actions.