The excitement is building as the “2013 Railtown U.S.A. Collegiate Rodeo” presented by First National Bank draws near.
The rodeo will take place during Rail Fest, Sept. 20-21, at the Nebraskaland Days Wild West Arena in North Platte. It will begin at 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday nights. Between 250-300 college cowboys and cowgirls representing 13 colleges in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Great Plains Region are expected to compete.
“This is the first rodeo that Mid-Plains Community College has ever hosted and I’m expecting great things to be honest with you,” said MPCC Rodeo Club coach Dustin Elliott. “We’d like to show this region that we’re here.”
According to Elliott, Brookman & Hyland is the primary stock contractor for the rodeo.
“Brookman & Hyland are a PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) contractor and have provided stock to NFR (National Finals Rodeo) for years,” he said. “The horses and bulls we’re getting from them and from a few other subcontractors will help us put on a good show and offer quality stock to the competitors.”
Bullfighters Chad Connelly of Stapleton, Rowdy Moon of Sargent and Nick Tenbrick of Topeka, Kan., will be on hand to protect the cowboys and entertain the crowds. Professional Rodeo Announcer Jared Slagle of Farnam will bring an exciting and knowledgeable atmosphere to the arena.
“Rowdy was named the Nebraska State Rodeo Association’s (NSRA) 2013 Bullfighter of the Year and Jared was named the 2013 Announcer of the Year by both the NSRA and the Mid-States Rodeo Association, so we definitely have some top notch personnel on board,” noted Elliott.
General admission tickets for each night are $10 for adults and $7 for children. Tickets are available at the Nebraskaland Days office, 509 E. 4th St. in North Platte, or online at https://www.elevate.com/