SAN ANTONIO, TX – The long-standing tradition of the Cowboy Breakfast, considered the unofficial kickoff to the San Antonio Rodeo season, has ended, according to an announcement by the Cowboy Breakfast Foundation board of directors. The decision was attributed to the escalating costs of organizing the free breakfast event. This story is repeating itself all over Texas in light of record inflation, such as the annual "Blues On The Green" in Austin that announced its cancellation yesterday. KOKE cancelled its wildly popular Texas Country Music festival, KOKE Fest, in August 2023.
In a statement, the board expressed regret over being unable to continue serving the community due to the financial challenges. The Cowboy Breakfast was known for being a unique event that was entirely free to the public and run entirely by volunteers.
Cowboys Cooking at Cowboy Breakfast in San Antonio
(Credit: Cowboy Breakfast Facebook)
Cook at Cowboy Breakfast San Antonio
(Credit: Cowboy Breakfast Facebook)
Cooks at Cowboy Breakfast
(Credit: Cowboy Breakfast Facebook)
"Thank you, San Antonio, we are honored to have been a part of your history.
— The Cowboy Breakfast Foundation board of directors
The Association continued, "The friends and partners we have created over the years have been fantastic and we couldn't have done this without them. With their help, we have been able to serve hundreds of thousands a free breakfast (over a million tacos prepared) while getting the SA rodeo season kicked off and at the same time raising over $250,000 for scholarships for students at the School of Culinary Arts at St. Philip’s College."
Lines at the Cowboy Breakfast
(Credit: Cowboy Breakfast Facebook)
The annual event, which started in 1976, served over 1 million tacos, 300,000 biscuits and gravy, more than 300,000 sweet rolls, and over 10,000 gallons of coffee. Volunteers would feed approximately 30,000 people during the event.
Initially begun to feed trial ride groups promoting the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, the Cowboy Breakfast developed into a cherished San Antonio institution, with families attending every year to kick off the rodeo festivities. The Cowboy Breakfast Foundation also contributed over $250,000 in scholarships to nearly 160 students at the School of Culinary Arts at St. Philips College.
The board thanked volunteers, partners, and sponsors for their support over the years, acknowledging their contributions to the success of the Cowboy Breakfast.
Pancakes on the Griddle at Cowboy Breakfast
(Credit: Cowboy Breakfast Facebook)
"This event could not have gone on without the great support from our wonderful volunteers, partners and sponsors. We want to give a great big THANK YOU to each and every one of them for all that they have done throughout the years, braving the early hours and, at times questionable weather conditions, to make The Cowboy Breakfast a huge success. We will always hold the good times and relationships this event created in our hearts."
-Happy Trails from the Board of The Cowboy Breakfast.
Patrons at the Cowboy Breakfast
(Credit: Cowboy Breakfast Facebook)
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