The Nebraska High School Finals Rodeo took place this past week in Burwell, where contestants were looking to add to their point total for the year in hopes of qualifying for the National High School Finals Rodeo. The top four finishers in each event earned the right to represent Nebraska in the National Finals set for July 14-20 at the Sweetwater Events Center in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

One of the cowboys looking to advance is Dawson Doggett of Callaway. Doggett was sitting 2nd in the steer wrestling standings entering the finals, just seven points behind the leader, Wyatt Reichenberg of Harrisburg. Doggett finished the Nebraska High School Rodeo Finals in second place and secured a spot on Team Nebraska in Wyoming.

Joining Doggett and Reichenberg on the steer wrestling team from Nebraska will be Carson Cooksley of Elsmere, and Cayson Johnston of Stapleton. Johnston also qualified for nationals in tie down roping, and teamed up with Reese Swanson of Arthur to qualify in team roping after finishing fourth in the state finals.

The very first National High School Rodeo Finals was organized and held in Hallettsville, Texas in August of 1949. Much like today, to qualify, students had to be the winners in state rodeos or the first four in each event entering from states where a high school rodeo had not been held.

In its early years the National Finals Rodeo featured about 120 entries. Now in its 75th year, the National Finals averages more than 1,500 student rodeo athletes, earning the event the title of “World’s Largest Rodeo'.