The Nebraska High School State Finals Rodeo came to its conclusion on Saturday at the Cherry County Fairgrounds in Valentine. Cowboys and cowgirls from across the state competed to add points to their season total to finish in the top four of the year end standings in their event to qualify for the national high school finals rodeo coming up later this summer in July in Lincoln, NE.
Among the area highlights that came out of the state finals, Kallan Cox of Purdum placed first in the average at the state finals in the barrel racing and finished third in the year end standings to qualify for nationals in the barrels.
Kelstyn Lindner of Broken Bow and Cooper Walker of Mullen each qualified for nationals in the barebacks. Lindner was second at the state finals and second in the year end standings. Walker was third at the state finals and third in the year end standings. Lindner also qualified for nationals in bull riding finishing fourth overall in the year end standings.
Brynne McCully of Mullen qualified for nationals in breakaway roping. McCully was third in the year end standings to qualify.
In the steer wrestling, Cotter Johnston of Stapleton was the year end champion finishing atop the year end standings to qualify for nationals. Aaron Hall of Halsey had a great state finals rodeo placing first in the average in steer wrestling at the state finals but was just outside the top four in the year end standings finishing fifth.
Tate Johnston of Thedford and Cody Marshall of Burwell each qualified for nationals in the tie down roping. Johnston was runner-up at the state finals rodeo and was second overall in the year end point standings. Marshall was fifth at the state finals and was just a half point behind Johnston in the year end standings to finish third and qualify for the national finals.
The National High School Finals Rodeo is scheduled for July 19-25 at the Sandhills Global Event Center in Lincoln.
To look at the 2026 year end standings and state finals results click here
