Today, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced Cotton Holdings Inc. (“Cotton”), a leading infrastructure support services company, as the new title sponsor of the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, scheduled for Feb. 24 – 26, 2022. The title sponsorship includes a three-year agreement, beginning in 2022.
“Given Cotton’s long-standing presence in Houston and their commitment to the community, as well as their support of the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, they were a natural fit as the new title sponsor,” said Rodeo President and CEO Chris Boleman. “The World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest is one of the most highly-anticipated events leading up to opening day of the Rodeo, and we are excited that Cotton will be an even bigger part of our annual contest.”
The 2022 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, is an invitation-only competition, with more than 250 barbecue teams from across the state of Texas and the world competing in the annual contest. The Contest drew more than 219,000 visitors during the three-day event in 2020.
“The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the perfect representation of our city’s diversity and culture,” said Pete Bell, Founder and CEO of Cotton Holdings, Inc. “Cotton has been a part of the Houston community since 1996 and we’ve always admired and supported the Rodeo’s mission. We’re excited to take our participation further this year as the new title sponsor of the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest and look forward to creating an unforgettable experience for our community.”
During the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, teams will compete for champion titles in the following categories: Brisket, Ribs, Chicken, Go Texan, Dutch Oven Dessert, and new for 2022, Open Contest. The Open Contest category will allow barbecue teams to prepare anything they desire, except desserts.
Tickets for the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest go on sale Jan. 13, 2022, at rodeohouston.com. General admission is $20 for adults 13 and over, $5 for children between the ages of 3–12, and free for children age 2 and under. While most team tents are invitation-only, visitors can enjoy several public venues, including The Garden, Rockin’ Bar-B-Que Saloon, the Chuckwagon and the carnival.