The 2026 Nebraska High School Rodeo Association State Finals will bring four days of competition, meetings, presentations, and championship events to the arena beginning Wednesday, June 10.
The schedule opens on Wednesday with rifle and trap competition at 9 a.m. at the Valentine Shooting Range. The queen contest will also begin at 9 a.m. at Berean Church, followed by scholarship interviews from noon to 4 p.m. Mandatory check-in will run from 2 to 4 p.m. at the 4-H building.
Wednesday’s activities continue with a directors meeting at 4 p.m. at the rodeo office, a production meeting at 4:30 p.m., and a welcome dinner and back number ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at ShopKo. Reined cowhorse contestants will also have open arena time from 8 to 9 p.m., with a chute side social and contestant game night scheduled after the back number ceremony.
Competition picks up Thursday, June 11, with boys and girls cutting beginning at 7 a.m. The freshman grand entry lineup is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., followed by the flag carrier lineup at 10:45. The first rodeo performance begins at 11 a.m., with reined cowhorse 1st go to follow immediately after the performance.
Thursday evening will include the junior grand entry lineup at 5:30 p.m., flag carrier lineup at 5:45, and the second performance of the first go at 6 p.m. Goat roping, hosted by Get Hooked Productions, will follow the rodeo.
Friday, June 12, begins with the second go of boys and girls cutting at 7 a.m. The sophomore grand entry lineup is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., with the flag carrier lineup at 10:45. Rodeo action resumes at 11 a.m. with the first performance of the second go, followed by the reined cowhorse finals.
Friday afternoon will feature a general membership meeting and new directors meeting at 1 p.m. at ShopKo, along with a contestant volleyball tournament at 1:30 p.m. The senior grand entry lineup is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., followed by the flag carrier lineup at 5:45 and the second performance of the second go at 6 p.m. Awards for rounds one and two will follow at ShopKo.
The finals wrap up Saturday, June 13, beginning with the boys and girls cutting finals at 8 a.m. Scholarship presentations will take place at 10:45 a.m. at ShopKo, with the queen coronation scheduled for noon in the arena.
Saturday afternoon events include grand entry flag carrier lineup at 12:30 p.m., sponsor recognition and the Judge and Rodeo of the Year presentation at 12:45 p.m., and the short go rodeo at 1 p.m.
The state finals will conclude with year-end awards and a barbecue at ShopKo around 4 or 4:30 p.m., followed by national qualifier sign-up after the awards.