The book, the mural, and every Kids Day are made possible by a team of family, volunteers, and community partners.
The making of the book Let’s Rodeo!, and the painting of the Let’s Rodeo! mural, was not possible without a team of people to assist Taylor. Starting at the top of her list: an organization that sparks ideas, the Girl Scouts of America, where her inspirations came from and where she earned her Girl Scout Gold Award. Next, her mom, who was able to see her vision and help inspire her to do what she wanted: TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY CREATING SOMETHING MEANINGFUL. And last, the Homestead Rodeo Association, who supported her right from the start: a children’s book about rodeo and a mural previewing various pages in the book that can be seen at the Homestead Rodeo Arena every January.
My name is Taylor Pearce and I am the writer and illustrator of Let’s Rodeo! I graduated from Coral Reef Senior High School in 2015 and now attend Florida Gulf Coast University. I have been a volunteer with the HRA since middle school and an associate member since my sophomore year in high school. Additionally, I have also been a Girl Scout ever since I was in kindergarten.
My advice to you is to THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX...
In Taylor’s words: My mom has been a huge influence on me and my project. She served as my book editor and assisted me with my mural. Also, she helped to give me advice on how I can continue to add onto this project by recruiting teachers to write lessons to go with the book... SO STAY TUNED!
In Taylor’s words: My older brother is a member of the HRA as the Rodeo Arena Grounds Director. His support of my book, Let’s Rodeo! and the Let’s Rodeo mural has really helped me get the word out to volunteers to assist me. For endless days, the arena remained open for painting and painting and painting... both day and night.
The HRA has been inviting the children in the South Florida area to be a part of the Books and Broncs Literacy Project for years and years. It has been with their tireless amount of volunteer hours coordinating the horses to visit the schools and leaving the children with a book, then having the children come to the rodeo grounds for the Kid’s Day Program and giving them another book, that HRA helps to spread the passion for horses and the sport of rodeo.
A large portion of the volunteers that make the Books & Broncs Literacy Project Kid’s Day possible come from the South Florida Trail Riders: a local organization full of horse lovers who never hesitate to jump into the action and help out by bringing their horses for the kids to learn about and love.
An equestrian mounted drill team that performs at the Homestead Rodeo every year. Like the South Florida Trail Riders, they have been volunteering for years and are a group the project can count on for continued support.
The organization that sparked the project’s ideas: where Taylor found her inspiration and earned her Girl Scout Gold Award.
