UVALDE – The family of Makenna Elrod Seiler came together for a roping competition and scholarship presentation in honor of the 10-year-old who was killed at Robb Elementary.
Hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls saddled up for a two-day roping competition in the Uvalde County Fairplex.
All in honor of a brown-eyed girl.
All for you, Makenna girl 💜🦋 come to the Uvalde Co Fairplex today for the first Makenna Elrod Seiler roping competition and scholarship award. All of the money raised today, will go towards her memorial foundation. @ksatnews pic.twitter.com/YO2uPhXvOy
— Leigh Waldman (@LeighWaldman) April 15, 2023
“When I thought about having a roping I knew that those saddles and buckles would last forever, long beyond us,” Chris Seiler, Makenna’s dad, said. “And it’s my hope that in a hundred years, someone might find one of those in a barn and see her name and speak her name”
Makenna Elrod Seiler, the two-stepping horse lover, he wrote a song about called Makenna’s Eyes.
“People are gonna hear her name and know a little bit about the life of Makenna,” Seiler said.
Makenna loved the color purple, and butterflies, and looked just like her momma April Elrod.
This time last year, April’s yard was filled with Makenna’s friends for her 10th birthday party.
“Some of the other angels were there and Makenna, so it’s a hard day today thinking back a year ago. But it’s a good day to be here, honoring her and remembering her,” Elrod said.
They know Makenna would love seeing the arena filled with ropers and the parking lot packed with BBQ pits.
Even more, she’d be honored that her legacy is helping another young woman’s dreams of college come true.
“Young lady, that scholarship is $20,000,” the announcer said as the check was presented to Carlee Martinez.
That money will help the 17-year-old roper on her way to an associate’s degree at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde.
“Each time I back in the box, a little bit of Makenna will be with me. So as long as I’m going, Makenna’s memory will be too,” Martinez said.
The customized belt buckles, spurs, and saddles will be given away to Saturday’s champions from the roping and BBQ events.
Seiler says he is bringing back this event every year on the Saturday closest to Makenna’s birthday on April 19th.
He hopes next year’s scholarship will be even more than this year’s.