NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post)- A Hershey woman has been recognized for her volunteer work. Shelli Arensdorf was awarded the Justin Boots Standard of the West Committeeman of the Year award Feb. 25 for her volunteer efforts with the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte. She has been on the Buffalo Bill Rodeo committee for five years and is the first woman to be on the committee. Prior to that, she volunteered as scoreboard operator at the rodeo.

Arensdorf has been involved in rodeo in other capacities. She currently judges the cowgirls events at Nebraska State High School Rodeo Association rodeos and served as finals coordinator for eleven years with the Nebraska State Rodeo Association. She also produces the Cowboy Christmas gift show in North Platte every November.

The cowgirl, who grew up in the Bridgeport area, competed as a team roper and breakaway calf roper at the junior, high school, and college rodeo levels. She was the Team Roping-heeler Rookie of the Year in 1996 in the Professional Women’s Rodeo Association, and finished third in the nation in the year end standings the same year.