Behind the scenes at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's Calf Scramble

HOUSTON, Texas -- It's one of the wildest events at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo every year.

"The calf scramble in Houston has been around for about eighty years," said Cody Robertson, Committeeman for the Houston Rodeo Calf Scramble. "There's a little bit of pride in that. We try to give them the best experience. They are treated like the cowboys and athletes, they share the same tunnel the Houston Texans run out of. The experience is second to none."

Each student who catches a calf is awarded $1,750 to purchase a heifer or steer to show at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo the following year.

"There's 70,000 people and they get excited when that gate opens and the calves are running, its just like a football game and that excitement that just draws to it is pretty special."

This year, the rodeo is also debuting a spin-off event called the Super Scramble, where 19 first catch scramblers from each of the previous Calf Scramble events will hustle to catch nine calves for big cash prizes. That event is March 19th.

For more information, visit the RodeoHoustons Calf Scramble page online!