Northwest Elementary students participated in “Texas Day” on Thursday, March 19th, 2026. “Texas Day is normally the week of our state’s independence,” said Amy Morris, Northwest Elementary Principal. “However, we were blessed with rain and had to reschedule. Our kindergarteners have always celebrated the day, but this year we opened it up to all students because of the events we were able to book.” Over 500 students participated in various activities and educational stations, such as horseback riding, pioneer cooking, and panning for gold. “Not every child has the chance to ride a horse, practice roping, or experience an actual chuckwagon,” Morris said. “This was so exciting for many. I am also thankful for the hands-on, tactile, and visual learning that the students gain from each lesson. That is the kind of learning that students can remember and reference in the future.”

A variety of stations were set up around the Northwest Elementary campus: the chuckwagon, trick riding, horseback riding, hayrides, roping cattle, panning for gold, stick horse races, playing horseshoes, and corn hole practice. “The Chuckwagon station educated students about the food from pioneer days,” Morris said. “Another station included the Hardin Simmons Six White Horses. Each student had the opportunity to ride a horse, as well as learn the proper etiquette for mounting and dismounting from a horse.” HSU’s Six White Horses perform for the public in rodeos and parades, as well as for elementary students around the Texas Big Country, teaching them riding etiquette and appreciation for the animals. A banjo player provided atmosphere around the chuckwagon area. Lulu Bell Parr, known as the ‘Champion Lady Bucking Horse Rider of the World,’ performed wild west horse riding tricks.

“Students from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, including early childhood classrooms with three-and-four-year-olds, and two Life Academics classes participated,” Morris said. “This is our first time to have all students participate, so it was a full day.” While every student received an opportunity for hands-on, historical entertainment, it allowed an opportunity to experience life as a little bit different from the normal routine. “To the students, it just seems like a really fun day to dress up western and pretend to be cowboys and cowgirls,” Morris said. “However, it is much more because it is teaching the students the importance of what makes our state so special!”