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A giant check stood center stage as Governor Jim Pillen officially proclaimed the week of April 28 as “Rodeo Week” in Nebraska. The $27,000 check, awarded to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Rodeo Team, came from the John Cook Team Roping Classic Scholarship Fund—just days before the team’s biggest event of the year, the Cornhusker College Rodeo.
Former Nebraska Volleyball Coach John Cook, alongside John Cook Team Roping Classic Chairman Travis Schauda, presented the donation, which was raised during the inaugural JCTRC held earlier this month.
Cook described the moment as especially meaningful.
“This is about a three year project. This all started for me when the UNL Rodeo Team three years ago invited me to come to a practice. I was blown away. The more I learned about all the things they have to overcome- lack of facilities, they travel all over, and they have to pay for everything, I was like ‘I want to try to help these guys.’ So we went to work.”
The donation is the beginning of the John Cook Team Roping Endowment, a gift that will keep on giving. The presentation took place against the backdrop of the Governor’s residence, shortly after Governor Pillen made his official “Rodeo Week” proclamation. He encouraged the public to support the UNL Rodeo Team this weekend, and also expressed his appreciation for rodeo’s agricultural roots.
“It’s about our kids and its about supporting and celebrating agriculture,” he said.
All of this excitement comes ahead of the Cornhusker College Rodeo will take place May 2-3, bringing more than a dozen teams and hundreds of fans to the capital city. This weekend’s rodeo is the final regular season rodeo for athletes in the Great Plains Region, meaning that this rodeo is the last chance for athletes to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo. The top three athletes in the year-end standings will punch their ticket to the CNFR in Casper, Wyoming, this June.
Tickets for the Cornhusker College Rodeo are on sale now! Find them here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/10775/sandhills-global-event-center
Listen to comments from John Cook:
Listen to comments from Travis Schauda:
Listen to comments from Governor Pillen:
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