Stock Show Art Contest Winners

At the start of the school year, Upper School Art Teacher Holly Clifford wanted to involve her students in the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Art Contest but was mindful of the added pressure that creating a piece for a contest could bring with school just beginning. Instead of assigning a contest entry, she went about it differently, and everything changed.

Clifford asked all levels of her Painting and Drawing classes to create a slideshow that included specific items like patterned wallpaper, textures, accessories, something to sit on, the sky, a farm animal, a Texas landscape and wildlife. When the slideshow was complete, she asked the students to combine two or more of the ideas in a creative way. This was all part of a warmup leading to the final art pieces for the contest. Since the Stock Show & Rodeo Art Contest is usually full of Western art pieces, Clifford wanted her students’ artwork to be a little different and playful.

Just a few weeks after Clifford submitted all the pieces, she received an email that surprised everyone. Her class won the High School Classroom Division of the contest. This was a first-time win for FWCD in this category and included a trophy, $5,000 for Clifford to use for supplies in her classroom, and an additional $1,000 from Whataburger, one of the contest sponsors.

” It felt so gratifying when the judges’ comments during the awards ceremony acknowledged the students’ efforts and were able to recognize through their artwork that I was trying to challenge my students and support them in a way in which each artist could present their best work by leveraging their vision and skills,” said Clifford.

On October 26, some of the students and Clifford attended a ceremony where they were presented with the trophy, prize money, flowers and several Whatateacher gifts from Whataburger. Clifford and each of the classroom division-winning teachers for elementary, middle and high school were also given a custom belt buckle.

”The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Art Contest blew me away with their generosity and attention to detail in the manner in which they recognized these young artists and their teachers. It is not often that the arts are celebrated in such grand fashion," said Clifford.

The story doesn’t stop there. In January, the students will have the opportunity to attend a workshop hosted by the Cowboy Artists of America. They will also have their artwork displayed at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo from January 17-February 8. Mark your calendars to see their artwork because you won’t want to miss it.

Contest Entry Winners:

Nat Angel ’28, Cow

Clara Cimo ’28, Bartholomew the Chicken

Lyle Crumley ’25, Crazy Chicken

Ben Hatem ’25, Pablo Guitar

Chloe Nelson ’27, Pig in Pearls

Cal Neubauer ’26, Wanted in Cowtown

Julia Pham ’28, Stained Glass Cow

Anna Schwartz ’26, Ribbon Run

Emily Simpson ’27, The Hunt

Eden Turner ’26, Dawg at Dusk