Annual Roy Chesney Poetry Contest
2025 Theme: “Gratitude”
Winners:
1st Place – Bernadette Keck
2nd Place – Daniel Mason
3rd Place – Sara Anderson
1st Time Entry Winner – Ted Wenger
Honorable Mention – Loi Le
2025 Youth Contest Theme: “When it Rains”
Winners Age 14-17:
1st Place – Rebekah Mason
2nd Place – Addison Harris
Winners Age 11-13:
1st Place – Christina Haase
2nd Place – Harper Burns
3rd Place – Vivian Bohach
Honorable Mention – Hali Mason
Winners Age 9-10:
1st Place – Elisabeth Bohach
2nd Place – Sally Anderson
3rd Place – Shiloh Lessard
Honorable Mention – Marleigh Rakestraw
Honorable Mention – Nate Hargett
Winners Age 6-8:
1st Place – Elijah Spencer
2nd Place – Sailor Lessard
3rd Place – Max Melton
2024 Theme: “Consider the Lilies – Reflecting on Creation
Winners:
1st Place – Daniel Mason – “Contemplation”
2nd Place – Tabbitha Easley – “The Lilies”
3rd Place – Judith Muselman – “Creation Song”
1st Time Entry Winner – Loi Le – “Entry of the Heirs”
Honorable Mention – Sara Anderson – “Inspired to Pray”
2024 Youth Theme: “A Walk in the Woods”
Winners Age 14-17:
1st Place – Rebekah Mason – “Never Take a Nap in the Woods”
Winners Age 13:
1st Place – Walter Johnson – “As I Walk Through the Woods”
2nd Place – Malachi Cross – “A Walk Through the Woods”
Winners Age 11:
1st Place – Charles Johnson – “Let God Lead the Way”
2nd Place – James Anderson – “The Pig is a Metaphor”
3rd Place – Kierstin Cross – “Beautiful Things”
Winners Age 6-10:
1st Place – Hali Mason – “Walking in the Woods”
2nd Place – Leanne Song – “Sense of the Woods”
2023 Theme: “Looking Ahead”
2023 Roy Chesney Poetry Contest Winners:
1st Place – Gabriela Arosemena “Have You Ever”
2nd Place – Hannah Apperson “Mantra”
3rd Place – Sara Anderson “Extra Credit”
1st Time Entrant Winner – Dennis Glenn Maxwell “Riding Out”
2022 Theme: “Who is My Neighbor?”
2022 Roy Chesney Poetry Contest Winners:
1st Place – Daniel Mason “Even Them”
2nd Place – Charles Blalack “Of Names and Neighbors”
3rd Place – Cherith Mason “Being a Good Neighbor”
1st Time Entrant Winner – Rulon Foster, Jr. “Who is My Neighbor”
Honorable Mention – Sara Anderson “Influencer”
Honorable Mention – Kendra Cooke “Until I’m a Wreck on the Road”
2021 Theme: “A Coming Storm”
2021 Roy Chesney Poetry Contest Winners:
1st Place: “Beckoning” by Michael Marks
2nd Place: “Immersed” by Stephen T. Beers
3rd Place: “The Quiet Before” by Sara Anderson
1st Time Entrant: “Calm Before School” by Hannah Kintzel
Honorable Mention: “Woman – an oncoming storm” by Lilly White
Honorable Mention: “Gaia” by Angel Salomon-January
2020 Theme: “Understanding the Times”
2020 Roy Chesney Poetry Contest Winners:
1st Place: “The Old, Old Fiddler” by Cheryl Ellicott
2nd Place: “Find the Truth” by Rachel Kulp
3rd Place: “Third Way” by Jessica Hotten Wilson
1st Time Entrant: “Do I Understand?” by Carol Linzey
Honorable Mention: “Paradox” by Carl Clark
Honorable Mention: “Oh, My God!” by Mike Ellicott
2019 Theme: “Building Bridges”
2019 Roy Chesney Poetry Contest Winners:
- “Across The Gap We made Ourselves” by Jeremiah Luethje
- “Summer Visit at Prairie Grove” by Amanda Mohr
- “Build Bridges” by Hope Nast
- First Time Entrant: “The Longest Board” by Stephen T. Beers
- HM: “Bridge to Humanity” by Rachel Kulp
- HM: “At the End of Us, a Bridge” by Kendra Cooke
2018 Theme: “Siloam Springs”
2018 Roy Chesney Poetry Contest Winners:
1. “Siloam is Loam” by Kendra Cooke
2. “She – Is Siloam Springs” by Natasha Nathan
3. “Lovin’ Siloam Springs” by Rachel Kulp
4. First Time Entrant “Forgotten from the Census” by Jamie Walt
5. HM: “Who am I” by Dana Ahnen
6. HM: “Our Town, Siloam Springs” by David Ravenhill
For Additional Information contact Siloam Springs Writers Guild siloamwriters@gmail.com