Today, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Trailblazer Committee announced the winners of its 2025 SPURS Writing Competition. Texas-area fourth graders were invited to submit either a poem or an essay, following the theme, “My Colorful Lasso.” This marks the fifth year of the competition and the inaugural year of accepting entries written in Spanish.
Receiving over 1300 entries from students across the State of Texas, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo belt buckles were awarded for first, second and third place in each category, as well as Trailblazer’s Choice awards in each category, which were selected by the Rodeo’s Trailblazer Committee.
The 2025 winners are:
Essay
- 1st – Richard Silva, Scarborough Elementary – Houston, Texas
- 2nd – Jaelyn Espinosa, Scarborough Elementary – Houston, Texas
- 3rd – Charis Kolby, Anderson-Shiro Elementary – Anderson, Texas
Poetry
- 1st – Rebekah Elizabeth Ajay, Roosevelt Alexander Elementary – Katy, Texas
- 2nd – Alex Rojas, Founders Classical Academy Conroe – Conroe, Texas
- 3rd – Alexa Kenerson, Normandy Crossing Elementary – Houston, Texas
Trailblazer’s Choice:
Essay
- Kaitley Tabor, Newgulf Elementary – Boling-lago, Texas
Poetry
- Tabitha Liu, Roth Elementary – Spring, Texas
“The Trailblazer Committee is proud to support the core mission of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo by encouraging educational opportunities for the youth of Texas,” said Wendy Lewis Armstrong, Trailblazer Committee Officer in Charge. “This creative initiative sparks imagination and promotes a passion for literacy, and we are thrilled this year to be able to include entries written in Spanish to reach even more students.”
Founded in 2021, the competition bolsters literacy and writing skills and encourages creativity in Texas students. It is one of many Trailblazer Committee initiatives built to promote reading and literacy in school children year-round.
Each entry was judged by committee volunteers in two blind rounds on the following criteria: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions, and Presentation.
Following the committee judging, the top entries were judged by a panel of celebrity judges, including: Katharine McGee, NYT best-selling author in Houston, Texas; Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Texas; April Lopez, children’s book author in Diaboll, Texas; April Salazar, children’s book author in Houston, Texas; and, Trent Willmon, Texas born singer-songwriter and CMA award-winning producer.
For more information about the competition, click here.
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 $630 million to the youth of Texas and education. The 2025 Rodeo is scheduled for March 4 – 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 or the RODEOHOUSTON app and follow @RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news.