MPCC Rodeo Team hosts educational event for Kids Klub

Fourth and fifth grade students from the North Platte Public Schools’ afterschool program experienced rodeo and the western way of life Friday afternoon.

The Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team hosted Kids Klub members from Cody and Washington elementary schools at the Wild West Arena in North Platte. The coaches and athletes started out by describing rodeo events to the elementary students.

Afterward, the children were split into groups and rotated around to various educational stations. Among other things, they saw how bulls and horses are loaded into chutes, learned about safety equipment used in the roughstock events and watched a demonstration regarding the use of barriers in timed events.

The students also had the opportunity to pet a horse, practice their roping and goat tying skills, run through the roping chutes and complete a barrel racing pattern.

The event was made possible thanks to an Expanded Learning Opportunity Grant funded by the Nebraska Lottery.