The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is delighted to announce Cotton Holdings, Inc. as the continued Title Sponsor of the World’s Champion Bar-B-Que Contest (WCBBQ Contest) through 2029. Cotton Holdings is a Houston-based leading infrastructure and disaster support services company that has proven its ongoing commitment to the city and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The title sponsorship began in 2022 and this renewal includes a five-year agreement, beginning 2025.
“After three years of Cotton Holdings as our title sponsor of the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, including this year’s 50th anniversary celebration, we are thrilled to have them remain title sponsor for another five years,” said Chris Boleman, president and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “They proved to be a perfect fit for the event and were a part of history in 2024, as the event drew in record numbers. The WCBBQ Contest is one of the most highly anticipated events of the Rodeo season, and we are so excited to uphold that legacy as a team with Cotton.”
The 2025 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest presented by Cotton Holdings, scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1, 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 234,000 visitors during the three-day event in 2024.
“The memories we’ve made and the relationships we’ve built over the past three years as Title Sponsor of the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest have made a lasting impact on all of us at Cotton,” said Pete Bell, Founder and CEO of Cotton Holdings, Inc. “The Rodeo is an integral part of Houston that begins with the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, and we are honored to support an organization that continuously gives back to others. We’re excited to extend our partnership for the next five years and look forward to welcoming everyone back in February.”
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 the 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. 16, 2025, at rodeohouston.com. General admission is $26 for adults 13 and over, $10 for children between the ages of 3–12 and free for children aged 2 and under. While most team tents are invitation-only, visitors can enjoy several public venues, including The Garden Stage, presented by Miller Lite, the Rockin’ Bar-B-Que Saloon, the Chuckwagon and the carnival, presented by First Community.
About the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage, and provides year-round educational support within the community. Since its beginning in 1932, the Rodeo has committed more than $600 million to the youth of Texas and education. The 2025 Rodeo is scheduled for March 4 – March 23. The 2025 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and follow @RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news.
About Cotton Holdings Inc.
Cotton is a leading infrastructure support services company in the $20 billion U.S. commercial restoration market with subsidiaries that conduct business under the Cotton Global Disaster Solutions, Cotton Roofing, Cotton Logistics, Cotton Culinary, Stellar Commercial Roofing, Full Circle Restoration and Construction Services, Advance Catastrophe Technologies, Target Solutions and 24 Restore brands. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with an International Logistics Center and regional offices throughout North America, Cotton provides property restoration and recovery, construction, roofing, consulting, temporary workforce housing and culinary services to public and private entities worldwide. Cotton and its subsidiaries also support and partner with Cotton Foundation, a charitable foundation focused on assisting children and families impacted by disasters and other life-altering events. For more information, please visit CottonHoldings.com.