The Cowboy Breakfast on Friday kicked off the 2024 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo as an official event.
It was the first time that the long-held tradition was held since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the first time as an official rodeo event.
“We are very excited to now activate the official rodeo cowboy breakfast to start the celebration of our 75th Anniversary Stock Show & Rodeo,” said Chris Derby, chief marketing officer for the San Antonio Rodeo, in a press release.
About 60 students with St. Philip’s College culinary program cooked and prepared the food for the breakfast.
Students started prepping the meat, frying the eggs and flipping tortillas as early at 12:45 a.m. to have the first batch of tacos ready by 5 a.m.
One of the program’s instructors, Chef Patrick Castello, said they have been doing this for many years and it’s great to be back.
“They are getting obviously valuable in food preparation which is part of what they are going to school for but more importantly they are getting that connection with the community, they are giving back and our students are paying it forward,” Castello said.
The event featured free breakfast tacos, coffee and non-alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages were available for purchase and there was live music and other activities.
The Cowboy Breakfast has been a tradition since 1979. It was never been a rodeo-sponsored event but was instead considered the “unofficial kick-off” to rodeo season put on by the Cowboy Breakfast Foundation. The foundation announced Wednesday that they will no longer be involved with the event.
Going forward, the event will fall under the rodeo’s nonprofit status and mission.
“The funds will go to fund scholarships for students in St. Phillip’s College’s Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts Department as well as other educational institutions in San Antonio,” Derby said.
Because it is a free event, the funds are raised through sponsorships of the event.
The Cowboy Breakfast will also mark the commencement of the Rodeo BBQ Cookoff, which takes place during the same weekend.
“We will also be accepting donations as part of the Kash for Kids program that the Rodeo BBQ cook-off team uses during their event,” Derby told KSAT in November. “This is a participation optional program, but not forced on anyone to come out and just enjoy the free event.”
The 2024 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo will be held February 8-25 at the Frost Bank Center/Freeman Coliseum fairgrounds.
View the list of 2024 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo entertainers here.