story by Lindsay King
The goal of any association is to be its very best for its competitors and fans, the M-SRA is doing everything it can to continuously revamp their finals rodeo held each fall. “This fall will be the third year the finals have been in Broken Bow, Nebraska. We are always tickled to have the best contestants from at least six states represented,” said Travis Schauda, co-chair of the rodeo committee. Dr. Scott Reynolds is Travis’ co-director for the finals. “We have added hospitality meals for the contestants, so they will get three free meals while they are in town. We have also worked with the theater in town, so contestants can watch the Huskers on football Saturday.”
In 2016, the committee added a video replay board. Last year they opened and closed the rodeo with pyrotechnics. This year the committee is building a new stall barn, crows nest and adding new lights to the outdoor arena at the Custer County Fair Grounds. “We are trying to replicate the NFR as much as possible as far as the production goes, to provide a better experience for both the fans and contestants.” About as centrally located as possible, the rodeo committee will have invested over $350,000 into the facilities by the end of this year. “We have brought in new arena dirt and worked on the drainage system in addition to brand new bucking chutes and back pens. We are trying to do our part to make it one of the premier western event centers in Nebraska and maybe even the Midwest.”
At a normal M-SRA rodeo, contestants and fans generally only spend one or two days in a place, but at the finals they are there for several. “You really get to experience the town when you are here for the finals, we have a great golf course, a park, and local restaurants. These contestants travel through small towns all summer going to rodeos. Hopefully after spending some time here they will feel comfortable making a stop their next trip through.” As a resident of Broken Bow, Travis enjoys being involved with a positive event for the community. “This brings a lot of people to town and is great for the fair grounds.” A PRCA rodeo announcer since 2007, Travis has announced the M-SRA finals several times in the past fifteen years, including the past five consequently. “Announcing a rodeo is much easier than putting one on. It is real difficult to put on both hats like I do for the finals.”
“Last year, News Channel Nebraska web cast the Saturday and Sunday rodeos and they were on the local TV stations across the state.” Travis and his committee have left no stone unturned when it comes to attracting new fans to the finals. “We plaster posters within a 100-mile radius, we put it on the radio, billboards, social media, even make table tents for restaurants. Since it is in September we are competing for attention against Friday night high school football and Saturday Cornhusker football. Ultimately, what we would like to happen is that word of mouth would spread, people have a great experience and tell their friends, enticing them to come to the rodeo.” Last year the committee took six contestants to a school assembly at Broken Bow Elementary School where they talked to the students about rodeo, their events and the finals. “We also had a coloring contest and the winner got their art displayed at the rodeo along with free tickets to the event.”
With each event plum-full of contestants, the finals do not have room for specialty acts. “We want to be cognizant of our fans time. We would like to think the opening and closing is unique. Saturday night we bring in all the winners in a limo to introduce them.” A trade show, dances both Friday and Saturday night, cowboy church on Sunday and a horse auction on Saturday add to the weekend. “It is much more than a rodeo, we hope to continue to grow the experience of the M-SRA finals each year for our fans and contestants.”
