The National High School Rodeo Association released a statement on May 29th saying that “Based on orders received from the Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Department due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National High School Rodeo Finals Rodeo will not be able to proceed as planned in Nebraska”
The Association emphasized that this does NOT mean that the National High School Finals Rodeo is cancelled it’s just that it will not be able to be held in Lincoln as originally scheduled. The NHSRA says it is currently evaluating options for other venues to host this year’s event.
NHSRA executive director James Higginbotham said, “We are very disappointed that we will not be able to host the 2020 National High School Rodeo in Nebraska…NHSRA leadership is evaluating the possibility of holding the event at a different location, while adhering to social distancing mandates to protect the contestants and exhibitors.” Updates will be shared on the association’s website as more information becomes available.
High School rodeo competitors in the state of Nebraska will look to get back at it this week. After Nebraska governor Pete Ricketts announced that rodeo practice could resume June 1st, the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association announced they will hold “practice rodeos” this week and will go forward with the state rodeo finals later this month. The Panhandle Rodeo is scheduled for Friday June 5th followed by the Harrison Rodeo on Saturday June 6th. There was to be a rodeo June 7th at Crawford but according to the Nebraska High School Rodeo website that has now been cancelled.
