The highs and lows of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Finals is now officially over. It certainly went great for some and some contestants....well not so much.

I felt bad for Kaycee Werdel of Chadron. She is an outstanding roper and competitor and just couldn't catch a calf in the breakaway. She should go onto to have a good college career.

As low as Kaycee's weekend was it was totally opposite for Lindsay Adamson of Cody Nebraska. Lindsay and her family are just great people and I was tickled to see her do so well. She came into the finals outside of the top 4 in the both the breakaway and goat tying and ended up qualifying for both in the finals and ended up winning the breakaway and winning a round in the goat tying. Also finished as the reserve AA champ at the finals.

Riley Pruitt took care of business in the calf roping. He came in to the finals in #1 and won all three rounds and the average to solidify his place in high school rodeo roping history. After his final run I announced to the folks there goes the best high school calf roper in the nation. I know I'm right, I just hope he backs up that legitimate claim  @ Nationals. 

What can you say about the all-around Trey Kerner from Sutherland. He competed in all three rough stock events and certainly earned his all around saddle. Bull riding is definitely his strong suit and I hope he can draw the right one at Nationals and get them covered.

Shalee Lemmon it seems always does well at Sate Finals. She just owned the barrels and poles down there and could be a contender for the all-around at Nationals. Let's hope so.

Nebraska is sending a great field in the goat tying. All four girls are capable of winning the national title. Congrats to Mardee Sierks for winning her first saddle. She has competed against her cousin Tylee Coffman all these years and usually finished right behind her. It was neat Mardee go to win the saddle and she earned it.

Oh the progress Zane Smith has made in the bonc riding. Zane finished the year in 2nd place and he has come miles from a year ago. Had he not blew up stirrup he certianly wouldv'e won round two and came close to staying on long enough win to win round 3. Keep it up Zane.

Lastly, I am happy for Matt and Jeff Cover of Ashby. They were in the shadows of the older brother Chris for a lot of years and emerged to show they can certainly rope. I understand the matriarch of Team Roping in  Grant County, Ellen White gave them some good advice before they placed 2nd in round 2. Speaking of round 2...where you there on Friday night? What about the Jobman/Walker run in the Team Roping of 4.78. A new high school finals record. WOW!! That was awesome guys.

As usual the staff in Hastings was awesome. Those guys out do themselves every year and I can't see enough good things about them. What a great marriage. The HS rodeo association loves to go to Hastings and the Hastings committee loves having them come. Even the Mayor of Hastings was out on Saturday serving at the Bar-b-que.

What were your impressions...let m e know. See you in Bertrand tonight>

Later,

TRavis

The Buffalo Bill Pro Rodeo was just completed the other day.  McCook's Garrett Nokes won the all around and over $3000.00. This will certainly help out his Praire Circuit standings. On a hot streak right now is Mullen's Steven Dent. With the #2 man in the world hurt (Kaycee Field) and out for a few weeks Steven should move to #2 in a few himself. He has been riding outstanding. He won money in Innasfail Canada and placed 2nd in North Platte.

Cort Scheer and Jace Garret continue to ride solid. The next 30 days will tell a lot if these two will be in Vegas come December. Its all about drawing the right horses at the right time.

Things are looking good for Dean Gorsuch. He cuurently is winning the first go-round at Rodeo Reno and placing third in the 2nd round and second in the average. Incidently he is placing behind his traveling partner Gabe LeDoux. The short go is Saturday night in what they call the wildest and richest rodeo in the west.

Weather always a big factor in rodeo. Lots of rain has created muddy arenas all over Nebraska. The Wisner Rodeo is now postponed to July 30-31st. Travel will be different as well. With the bridge on Highway 183 out north od Taylor, it will change routes for lots of rodeo travelers. I know when I make my annual trip to Burke South Dakota I will have to go to plan B on my travels.

This week I am heading to Hastings for the Annual Nebraska High School Rodeo Finals. What an outstanding event. The Hastings committee does an outstanding job of hospitality for the association. I have been priviliged to announce this event along with my good friend Adam Smith of KRVN radio fame. Shairng the announcing chores helps me out and also helps the show out. There are some great races in tiedown roping between two Seniors Chisum Thurston of Hyannis and Riley Pruitt of Bayard. The Goat Tying and Steer Wrestling will also come down to the wire. Saturday we wiil find out come join us for the short go. Unfortunately for the first time in 20 years the Nebraska High School Finals will NOT be televised on NETV. Due to some budget cuts the rodeo will not be funded for television. I hate it because I feel it has been great for the association and beneficial for the rodeo.

Finally I have announced several bullridings this year and want to throw this question to you. Are the bulls getting better or the riders getting worse. IT seems we have a highrt percentage of buckoffs then earlier on in my announcing career. Let me know.

See you in Hastings,

Travis Schauda

Well friends its that time of year. Its rodeo season. Everyweekend from now till Labor Day you can go to a rodeo or bullriding. The regular season of the Nebraska High School Rodeo is now in the books. There will be some outstanding matchups to determine the saddle winners. I cant wait.

Some Nebraskans continue to do well at the Professional level. No Steer Wrestler in the PRCA is hotter than Dean Gorsuch from Gering. Dean was in 4 rodeos last week and won three of them. Ft.Smith AK, Strong City Ks, and Hugo OK. All told he won over $7000.00. These winnings moved him from 23rd to 13th in the worls standings. He is right behind NE native Todd Suhn.

Saddle Bronce riders Cort Scheer and Jace Garret both won over $1000.00 last weekend to maintain there spot in the top 15 as well. Bareback rider Steven Dent still in 3rd.

There are some Nebraska natives going to the CNFR in Casper WY next week.  I will let you know how that goes.

I look forward to seeing you at a rodeo soon.

Travis Schauda

Nebraska's Big Rodeo

A few days from now and the scenery will look a little different at Nebraska Big Rodeo in Burwell. In the past year a few generous donation have made it possible for a new crows nest and 10 brand new preifert bucking chutes. Gone will be the old wooden bucking chutes. One of the things that made Burwell unique was the those bucking chutes. There are some many other things that has made Burwell....Burwell. I don't know of another professional rodeo that still has wooden bucking chutes. I'm excited for this change. From an announcers standpoint I'm mostly excited for the new crow's nest. That crows nest is where I had my first solo announcer flight. The Spring of 1994 was the first time I announced a rodeo. On a friday I co-announced the Taylor hs rodeo. The next two days is when I was on my own with their hs rodeo. In the last few years I have been priviliged to announce the Steer Roping along side the legend Hadley Barrett. Times and technology have changed a lot not only in the 15 years I've been announcing but especially in the last 50 plus years of the Burwell crows nest. During the Burwell Rodeo you will have a minimum of 4 computers running music and a scoreboard. You have a 30 plus channel soundboard be utilized as well. I hope they will build a suite alongside the announcer stand to put some of the sponsors up nightly during the rodeo.

With the new bucking chutes the committee will have a lot less maintence. Yearly or even nightly when the boards would break etc. somebody would have to get their hammer out and go to work. It will be nice and I'm excited to see the changes. Nobody loves tradition more than me, but for the safety of the contestants and animals this will a great change.

What do you thing? Agree or disagree. Let me know.

Travis Schauda 

This Friday night, Saturday from 10-5 and on Sunday at 1 go to www.horseshowwebcasts.com and look under live shows. If you can't be there in person at least stop by on the webcast.

respectfully

Travis