Cody Davenport isn’t the kind of CEO who spends his days behind a desk, distant from the work that drives the heart of his organization. Instead, the leader of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is a hands-on, boots-in-the-dirt Texan who can often be found alongside volunteers, loading livestock, or training with his staff in their makeshift jiu-jitsu gym at the rodeo grounds. His approach is simple and authentic—rooted in grit, guided by faith, and driven by a deep sense of responsibility to preserve his agricultural heritage.
Born in Uvalde and raised between his family’s ranch and San Antonio, Davenport grew up immersed in agriculture and rodeo traditions. He vividly recalls childhood days at Freeman Coliseum, anxiously waiting for the bull-riding dummy to drop. “I was always around little rodeos, small-town rodeos. That was just our culture,” Davenport says. “My granddad was my role model. He took me to rodeos constantly. Everything about rodeo—the culture, the values—shaped me.”
At Churchill High School in San Antonio, Davenport played football as an offensive lineman, even reaching the state quarterfinals. However, despite his deep agricultural roots, Churchill had no formal ag program, so his livestock experience came solely from working with his granddad at the family ranch. After briefly attempting college football at Texas State, Davenport soon realized his athletic ambitions had run their course and pivoted to studying military history, ultimately earning a master’s in construction management from Texas A&M.
Davenport initially built custom homes before transitioning into commercial construction with SpawGlass in San Antonio. Eventually, family obligations and small-town values drew him back to Uvalde. There, he found success building second homes in Concan, Texas, during a real estate boom. He and his wife Yvonne later acquired Neal’s Lodges, an historic family-run resort, cementing their ties to the region.
Today, Davenport and his family proudly call Boerne home, a community that embodies his values of faith, family, and small-town camaraderie. “I LOVE Boerne—so proud of the place,” Davenport emphasizes. He speaks fondly of his adopted hometown, describing it as his “oasis,” a place of peace and pride. “Nothing pleases me more than driving into Boerne at night, down Main Street when everything’s quiet,” Davenport reflects. “It’s like my therapy. I love how early we put up Christmas decorations, it’s like being in a postcard sometimes.”
His journey with the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo began in the early 1990s, initially volunteering with the Junior Livestock Auction Committee. Over decades, Davenport rose through the ranks, founding the Corral Club and chairing the inaugural Bar-B-Que Cook-Off before becoming CEO in 2018. Along the way, he learned every corner of the operation, building credibility and camaraderie with the 6,000 volunteers who power the event each year.
Under Davenport’s leadership, the rodeo has significantly benefited Kendall County students, offering countless scholarships and educational opportunities that empower the local youth. The stock show’s mission resonates deeply within the Kendall County community, aligning seamlessly with the area’s dedication to agriculture, education, and tradition. As Davenport puts it, “Everything we do is ultimately about giving kids a chance. That’s the legacy I care about most.”
Davenport’s tenure has been marked by significant challenges, notably the COVID pandemic and the severe winter storm in 2021—what he refers to as “Snow-vid.” “That storm taught us resilience,” Davenport reflects. “We learned we could withstand anything.” During those trying times, he personally ensured the survival of over 250 animals, working tirelessly alongside a skeleton crew. “If I ever feel stressed, I remind myself—no one’s dying on my watch,” he says, encapsulating his steadfast leadership approach.
His philosophy is firmly grounded in his faith and historical perspective. Davenport often draws from his background in military history, noting, “My love of history definitely helps keep me grounded and humble about how small my life and decisions truly are.”
Jiu-jitsu has become a critical element in his routine, providing mental clarity, physical discipline, and team bonding. Davenport proudly notes, “We have a gym in the back, and I’ve got people on staff here that I train with. It helps all of us with our rodeo work because we stay grounded.” He warmly invites all rodeo volunteers to join them in training sessions, emphasizing the value of camaraderie and mutual support. “The culture it builds is incredible,” he adds. “You learn about yourself, and each other, in a very real way.”
As CEO, Davenport is passionate about expanding the rodeo’s mission. “The arena is the window to our lifestyle,” he emphasizes. “Everything we put in that arena has to reflect our values—agriculture, family, faith, service.” His vision includes transforming the rodeo into a year-round attraction with a $200 million redevelopment plan, significantly amplifying its educational impact. “We change lives in the month of February,” Davenport notes, “Now we’re going to do it over 12 months.”
The redevelopment isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about legacy. Davenport sees it as his responsibility to leave the rodeo stronger than he found it. “I hope people say I took care of my watch,” he says, referencing the Biblical Prayer of Jabez. The new facilities will allow the rodeo to host events, offer programs, and welcome guests throughout the year. “It’s an investment in future generations,” he says. “The same way our grandparents invested in us.”
Family remains central to his life, with his wife Yvonne offering unwavering support. His roots extend internationally as well—Davenport’s father is a banana farmer in Guatemala and his brother operates a similar venture in Nicaragua. These global ties, combined with his Texas heritage, give him a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of agriculture, family, and faith.
Together, they raised their children, Terrell and Seth, amidst ranching traditions, watching proudly as their children rediscover their agricultural roots. “Watching them come back is rewarding,” Davenport says warmly. He credits Yvonne for keeping the family anchored through the chaos of rodeo life: “She’s a city girl who fell in love with agriculture. She has a servant’s heart and a deep faith. That’s what keeps us going.”
Terrell describes her dad simply as “a leader.” Of all the things he’s taught her, she says the lesson that’s stuck with her the most is loyalty. “He is one of the most loyal people I know—especially to the people he loves,” she says. “In today’s world, I feel like that quality isn’t always valued the way it should be. But with him, I’ve always known I could count on him, no matter what. I really hope I can reflect that same kind of loyalty to the people I love, just like he does.” She adds, “He means the world to me. Having a built-in best friend and dad is the best.”
One of her favorite memories was the time she came home from high school and found her childhood horse—unexpectedly—in the backyard of their Boerne home. “We live in town, so not necessarily where you would find a horse,” she laughs. “My dad knew I missed him, so he drove to our place in Concan and brought him for the weekend. It was the funniest and best surprise.”
Seth calls his dad “a molder of men.” He sees him as the ultimate example of what it means to be a strong, faithful leader. “Everything that he does is to either provide for his family or to make us proud of our last name. No matter what he does, he does it the right way and in a respectable way,” he says. “I’m so proud to have him as my father. Seeing him be so passionate with every facet of his life that he cares about is extremely inspiring to me.”
He adds that his dad has always stressed the importance of respect and communication. “Respect is a dying thing,” Seth says. “But if you carry yourself in a respectable fashion and have a voice people want to listen to, you can get anywhere in life.”
Seth’s favorite Boerne tradition with his dad is their shared love of Halloween. “Halloween has always been his favorite holiday and that rubbed off on me,” he says. “Every year it turns into an entire project on how we’re going to decorate the yard. Fog machines, giant skeletons and spiders, fake car wrecks, and an entire graveyard. Our house has become a hot spot for kids to trick-or-treat, and I know my dad enjoys seeing them get a kick out of it—so I enjoy helping him get it ready.”
Yvonne echoes many of the same sentiments. “Most people would describe Cody as a leader, strong, driven, dedicated, a man of integrity, a visionary. He stands for what is right and doesn’t waver under pressure,” she says. “But I get to witness his generosity, his heart for the underdog, and how thoughtful and funny he is.”
She describes him as a provider of love, support, strength, and wisdom. And she reflects fondly on the life they’ve built together. “His mom said during our rehearsal dinner, ‘You will not be bored,’ and she was right,” Yvonne says with a smile. “Being married to Cody has been an adventure full of treasured memories. When I reflect on it, the word ‘building’ comes to mind. Building a fundraising group with our friends to buy animals from 4-H and FFA kids. Building custom homes. Building our business. Most importantly, building our family. And now I get to be his number one fan as he builds a strong future for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.”
One of her favorite Boerne pastimes is their Sunday drives through the Hill Country Mile and along the river in Cody’s 1942 Willys Jeep. “We are fortunate to live in Boerne with the beautiful river and charming Main Street,” she says. “Those peaceful drives remind us how lucky we are to live in a place like this.”
Davenport’s advice to young men entering life’s arena is simple yet powerful: “Grit. Study it. Know it. Live it. Because you’ll never be the smartest or the prettiest in the room. But if you have grit, you’re always in the game. Only you decide when you walk away.”
With humility, toughness, and vision, Cody Davenport is a modern steward of Texas tradition, rooted in the past, working hard in the present, and building for a future that honors both.
