Education

The 2025 Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo defied cold and rainy weather to bring the community together in celebration of student achievements and the district’s deep agricultural roots. With tens of thousands of community member participants, the event marked a historic milestone, raising over $1 million—an all-time record for the annual showcase.

“This year’s livestock show was truly special, and it was made even more so by the record set this year,” said Jeannie Knierim, CTE director at Katy ISD. “This event is a lot of hard work but it is successful because of our students, their families, our amazing educators, and the community members who invest in our district.”

A Week of FFA Excellence and Community Engagement

The rodeo festivities began on Monday with the 2025 livestock show, featuring an array of competitions and exhibitions, including the Best Buddies Special Rodeo, animal showcases, and creative contests. Hundreds of FFA students competed, demonstrating their dedication to animal care and agricultural education through livestock competitions in rabbits, chickens, goats, lambs, steers, and swine.

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Beyond livestock care and management, the event also spotlighted student artistry and technical skills through floral and horticultural contests, as well as an agricultural mechanics exhibition. Several projects from this year's agricultural mechanics show are now set to advance to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a reflection of the talent nurtured within Katy ISD.

Recognizing Champions Across Multiple Disciplines

The 2025 livestock show featured numerous competitions, crowning Grand Champions, Reserve Grand Champions, and Showmanship Award winners in various categories. Below are some of this year’s standout participants:

Animal Shows

• Broiler

  • Grand Champion: Greer Gibson (Katy High School)

  • Grand Champion Showman: Karys Daugherty (Katy High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Keaton Kotzebue (Katy High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion Showman: Brandon Terrell (Katy High School)

• Rabbit

  • Grand Champion: Ayomipe Adebanjo (Tompkins High School)

  • Grand Champion Showman: Justin Sapp (Cinco Ranch High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Lauren Klingenberg (Seven Lakes High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion Showman: Anna Fling (Katy High School)

• Goat

  • Grand Champion: Patrick Kenner (Cinco Ranch High School)

  • Grand Champion Showman: Adriella Bierschwale (Paetow High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Isabella Cunliffe (Cinco Ranch High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion Showman: Mason Murdock (Tompkins High School)

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  Lamb

  • Grand Champion & Reserve Grand Champion Showman: Karyss Kennedy (Paetow High School)

  • Grand Champion Showman: Erynn Keele (Katy High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Layla Majewski (Katy High School)

• Swine

  • Grand Champion: Addison Whitaker (Katy High School)

  • Grand Champion Showman: Connor Vodehnal (Katy High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Adison Baker (Cinco Ranch High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion Showman: Peyton Robertson (Katy High School)

• Steer

  • Grand Champion: Keely Broussard (Katy High School)

  • Grand Champion Showman: Isabelle Anderson (Taylor High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Aidan Plut (Cinco Ranch High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion Showman: Casey Williams (Cinco Ranch High School)

Special and Creative Categories

• Best Buddies Special Rodeo

  • Grand Champion: Seth Skaggs (Cinco Ranch High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Josiah Castillo (Taylor High School)

• Floral Show

  • Grand Champion: Will Gasper (Taylor High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Elizabeth Stroz (Jordan High School)

• Horticulture Show

  • Grand Champion: Delaney Bishop (Katy High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Erin Keele (Katy High School)

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• Art

  • Grand Champion: Zoe Damaso (Tompkins High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Hafsa Rahim (Tays Junior High)

• Agricultural Mechanics

  • Grand Champion: Aspen Geick (Paetow High School)

  • Grand Champion Showman: Patrick Keener (Cinco Ranch High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion: Marjorie Williams, Zach Dinsmoore, and Darren Tanju (Seven Lakes High School)

  • Reserve Grand Champion Showman: Paisley Sullivan and Aspen Folmar (Taylor High School)

A Tradition Rooted in Katy’s History

Since its inception in 1943, the Katy Rodeo has remained a cherished annual event, reinforcing the district’s strong ties to agriculture and community involvement. This year’s record-breaking success underscores the unwavering dedication of students, educators, and local supporters who continue to nurture this longstanding tradition.

As another rodeo season concludes, the participants and champions of 2025 join a legacy that has spanned generations, carrying forward the values of hard work, education, and community spirit. To learn more about FFA programs in Katy ISD and how to support future Katy ISD FFA events,  visit the Katy ISD website.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.