Lancaster Co. Health Officials Order National HS Rodeo Finals to Cancel

May 29, 2020, 3:54 p.m. ·

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(Photo courtesy of the National High School Rodeo Association)

The National High School Rodeo Finals won’t be held in Lincoln in late July because of orders by the Lancaster County Health Department.

Local health officials are concerned the event could lead to a new spread of COVID-19.

James Mathis is the president of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association and said this would have been the first time Nebraska has hosted the event since 1953.

"It’s been in Oklahoma and Colorado and Wyoming before, in years past, and you know it just would have been kind of nice to have it Nebraska for once," Mathis said.

Mathis said it is disappointing to not be able to have it in Nebraska.

The National High School Rodeo Association is looking at options to have the finals in a different state. The event was to have been held in Lincoln July 19-25.