Art program offers cash prizes to students

Approximately 200,000 students participate in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s school art program each year. Submissions pour in from approved public independent school districts and private schools across the state.

“It gives students, who don’t have the opportunity to raise an animal, a chance to still be involved with the rodeo,” explained Laura Lambert, director of auctions and attractions.

And the school art program is one of the few rodeo events to offer cash prizes.

In 2022, the rodeo awarded more than $22 million to Texas youth through scholarships, junior show exhibitions winners, educational program grants and graduate assistantships. The school art program awards four-year, $20,000 college scholarships annually to 15 graduating high school seniors, though premium payments place cold, hard cash in qualifying exhibitors’ pockets.

This year’s grand champion is eligible for a minimum of $28,000 with a cap of $38,000; the reserve grand champion, class champions and reserve class champions could each receive between $14,000 to $19,000, $5,500 to $7,500, and $4,500 to $6,000, respectively. All remaining places are guaranteed at least $1,500 and up to $2,500.

If a bid exceeds the maximum prize amount in any category, the surplus benefits the rodeo’s educational fund. Excess funds from bids landing between the guaranteed minimum and cap allotment cover auction expenses and auction committee operations.

For example, the 2022 grand champion, Grancin Nguyen from Pearland ISD, set a rodeo record with a $250,000 bid for her colored drawing, “In His Hands.” The 2022 reserve grand champion from Lamar Consolidated ISD las

soed a record $265,000 for her painting, “Partners in Time.”

It’s a complicated process with many moving parts. Lambert says wrangling the logistics is time well spent.

“Just seeing the joy on the students’ faces — they’ve worked so hard to produce this piece of art. Many of them start in September and finish in December,” she said. “I’m amazed every single year at what these students put out. I’m so proud to be a part of it.”

Lambert was assigned to lead the school art program back in 2012. She was a rodeo volunteer for many years before that.

Her team of 30 judges, plus a vice chairman, look for originality, creativity, skill and excellence. Submissions range from colored drawing and 3D to mixed medium, monochromatic drawing and painting.

Each participating school district or private schools edit the 200,000 works down to roughly 3,500. Those are judged on rodeo grounds at NRG Park.

“From that, we have 809 winners who win best of show, gold medals or special merit. They receive a trophy or medal, but not cash prizes,” Lambert shared. “Their work hangs in the Hay Loft Gallery. Once the show is over, the artwork is returned to the students. Then they can apply for different workshops that the rodeo funds through the (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) Glassell School of Art and Western Art Academy (at Schreiner University), a fourweek program in Kerrville, and receive three hours of college credit.”

Western Art Academy is held annually at Schreiner University in Kerrville.

For the main event, the final 72 works of art go up for auction during a live, in-person event. This year, the auction is on March 12.

Courtesy Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Lilly-Rose Ribelayga was named Reserve Class Champion (painting Best of Show) with “Dawn of the Cowboy.”

Samia Adeshina from Yorkshire Academy was named elementary Class Champion (Best of Show) with “Guardians of the Fields.”

Photos courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Gracin Nguyen from Pearland ISD was named Reserve Grand Champion (mixed media Best of Show) with “Evening Glow.”

Rubi Thorn from Pearland ISD was named junior high school Class Champion (Best of Show) with “The First Glimpse.”

Allisen Ambrosio from Pasadena ISD was named Class Champion (gold medal) with “Boots at Door Step.”