The Nebraska High School State Finals Rodeo wrapped up Saturday at the Cherry County Fairgrounds in Valentine, with several area cowboys and cowgirls punching their tickets to the national stage.
Athletes from across Nebraska competed throughout the state finals while adding to their season point totals. The top four in the year-end standings in each event qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo, which will be held later this summer in Lincoln.
Among the local highlights, Kallan Cox of Purdum qualified for nationals in barrel racing. Cox placed first in the average at the state finals and finished third in the year-end standings.
In bareback riding, Kelstyn Lindner of Broken Bow and Cooper Walker of Mullen both earned national qualifying spots. Lindner finished second in the average at the state finals and second in the year-end standings. Walker placed third at the state finals and also finished third overall in the year-end standings. Lindner also qualified in bull riding after finishing fourth in the year-end standings.
Brynne McCully of Mullen also secured a national bid, qualifying in breakaway roping after finishing third in the year-end standings.
In steer wrestling, Cotter Johnston of Stapleton finished as the year-end champion, claiming the top spot in the standings to qualify for nationals. Aaron Hall of Halsey also had a strong showing at the state finals, placing first in the average, but finished just outside the national qualifying spots at fifth in the year-end standings.
Tate Johnston of Thedford and Cody Marshall of Burwell both qualified in tie-down roping. Johnston was runner-up in the average at the state finals and finished second in the year-end standings. Marshall placed fifth at state and finished third overall, just a half point behind Johnston, to earn his spot at nationals.
The National High School Finals Rodeo is scheduled for July 19 through July 25 at the Sandhills Global Event Center in Lincoln.
Full 2026 year-end standings and state finals results are available online at this link