Today, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ Trailblazer Committee is
honored to announce the sixth year of its Writing Competition. The Trailblazer Committee is committed to
helping the youth of Texas transform their future by becoming enthusiastic readers, writers and thinkers.
The competition is open to all current fourth grade students in Texas. The 2026 prompt is “My Golden
Ticket Adventure” in the categories of Essay and Poetry:
“One sunny afternoon, you discover a shimmering golden ticket tucked inside your backpack. It’s not just
any ticket—it’s your all-access pass to the most spectacular event you have ever seen: The Houston
Livestock Show & Rodeo!
But this ticket does more than get you a front-row seat—it lets you go behind the scenes to talk to the stars
of the show, both human and animal! You hear their stories, learn their secrets, and explore all that the
rodeo has to offer. Your ticket is only good for one day! Describe your adventure.”
Competition information and entry forms may be found online at Writing Competition – Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo (rodeohouston.com). The Writing Competition Portal will open on Sept. 15, 2025, and
close on Oct. 24, 2025. Winners will be announced on Jan. 23, 2026.
“We are proud to see this writing competition enter its sixth year, engaging fourth grade students from
across Texas,” said Stacy Anderson, Trailblazer Committee officer-in-charge. “The dedication of
participating school districts and educators is the fuel behind this initiative, and we are honored to partner
with them to foster imagination and creativity in the next generation of Texans.”
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will select qualified judges for each category, and winners will
receive belt buckles. Each student author entering the competition will receive a Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo Certificate of Participation. Student authors must be a Texas resident enrolled in the fourth
grade at the time of entry. For inquiries, please email: Writingcompetition@hlsr.com.
