Chris Stephens of Houston-based SparrowHawk and his wife, Amanda, share a break in his responsibilities on the Breeders Greeters Committee at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.
Chris Stephens has always been a social creature. At the same time, he is deeply committed to giving back to the community.
In his younger days, this combination led him to compete in fun runs, raising money for charity and meeting people along the way. The fun runs evolved into participating on the Rock ‘N Roll circuit across the U.S.
After competing in as many as 25 marathons and a half dozen half marathons, Stephens reset his aspirations becoming a volunteer for one of the oldest and perhaps most successful charitable events in Houston, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLS&R).
Earlier this month, as HLS&R celebrated its 90th anniversary, Stephens, Vice President of Leasing & Operations at Houston-based SparrowHawk, celebrated 10 years as a member of the Breeders Greeters Committee.
As a member of that committee, Chris’ volunteer time sometimes seems as grueling as running a marathon. During the three week run of the rodeo, his typical 8-12-hour shifts may begin in the wee hours of the morning (between 2-3:00 am) and afford him an hour or less for a quick clean-up before heading to the office where he directs marketing and leasing efforts for SparrowHawk, a real estate investment and management firm.
Specifically, Chris works with participants who range from middle schoolers to high schoolers. HLSR is the last stop on a state circuit that has stops in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Austin and San Antonio. HLSR is the culmination of a year-long effort by the kids to raise livestock and ultimately compete for prize money—scholarships—through the sale of their animal(s).
“The kids are tough, smart, grounded and focused,” Stephens says. “They have a plan. They aren’t the arcade kids; they are the salt of the earth.”
Stephens and other members of the Breeders Greeters Committee may be the first and last contact. They see the thrill, the excitement and the fatigue. And they are there to encourage them, help them with logistics and make them feel at home.
His commitment is much more extensive and involved than a half dozen or more 8-12 shifts over the course of the three-week event. Events like HLSR don’t just happen, there is careful planning and orchestration that is required throughout the year.
“I love it,” Stephens says. “It is a huge time commitment, but helping the kids, raising money for scholarships and just being part of something this big and impactful is well worth it.”
Some interesting facts about HLS&R include that the event:
· Raises $25-$30 million for scholarships, and has raised more than $550 million over 90 years)
· Attracted more than 2.4 million guests in 2022 with guests coming from more than 70 countries, and
· Draws the support of more than 35,000 volunteers.
· In 2022, the Rodeo committed $22,125,250 to the youth of Texas in 2022, according to the following breakdown:
· 14,186,000 in scholarships to be awarded this summer;
· $5,048,250 to junior show exhibitors;
· $2,418,610 in educational program grants; and
· $472,390 in graduate assistantships.
There are great similarities, Stephens says, to running marathons and being involved in one of the busiest committees at HLS&R. Stephens says both are very involved and time-consuming, provide logistical challenges and require great levels of endurance. While one can be more physically grueling than the other, the reward when crossing the finish line at the conclusion of the event is immeasurable!