Sports

The Nebraska State High School Rodeo Finals were held June 12-15, 2024. The top four athletes in each event will attend the National High school Finals Rodeo July 14-20, in Rock Springs, WY.

The 32nd annual Cherry County Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament, held on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at Frederick Peak Golf Club, raised $19,439.00. The proceeds will go toward purchasing new and improved eye equipment for Cherry County Hospital. Vision is everything and Cherry County Hospital’s ophthalmologists specialize in treating patients with eye diseases and disorders like cataracts, macular degeneration, and retinal problems. The implementation of new equipment for detection, diagnosis, and treatment, will ensure comprehensive care is provided close to home.

Valentine Chamber of Commerce held their annual Golf Tourney, June 22, 2024. Golfers played at Frederick Peak Golf Course, with 17 teams registered.

The Valentine 8U Rookies team ended their 2024 season with a 7-4 record and a second place finish in the 16th annual Bob Haley Memorial Rookies Classic in Winner, SD June 29 - 30. The Rookies beat Lyman on Saturday with a score of 1-0 with a walk off double by Kade Arganbright bringing in Beckett Walking to score the one run for Valentine.

DENVER – Colter Austin, an eighth grade student at Valentine Middle School has earned a position on the Nebraska Junior High Rodeo Team, and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Des Moines, IA June 23-29 to compete at the 19th annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) in Chute Dogging, Tie-down Roping, Team Roping competitions.

The annual Cherry County 4-H Livestock Judging Clinic and Contest was held May 29, 2024 at the Cherry County Fairgrounds, with 43 youth participating. Clinicians were Seth Grunhaupt and Jason Hoffman. Youth judged breeding heifer, market steer, hog, market lamb, breeding ewe, and breeding meat goat classes. Stock was provided by Craig O’Kief, Josh Delaney, Brent Nollette, the Prewitt family, and the Sexson family. Intermediate and Senior competitors delivered oral reasons on the market steer class. Results are as follows: Clover Kid participants: Harper Barnes, Sierra Low, Boone Wickman.

The annual Niobrara River Festival Race was held Saturday, June 1, 2024. There were 20 boats in the event and they placed the following; 14.6 mile race course Men’s Solo Canoe First place, Calvin Hassel, 1 hour 43 minutes 23 seconds.

Cherry County 4-H recently offered UNL Extension Babysitter Certification classes for area youth ages 12 and up, utilizing the Nebraska 4-H Building Better Babysitters curriculum. It was a fun day learning about ages and stages, appropriate activities, safety, reading skills, nutrition, and more! Completing the course were Darby Murphy, Sydnee Dawson, Courtnie Krueger and Caitlyn Krueger. Call 402-376-1850 to be placed on an interest list for future classes – our community needs more child care! For youth ages 8-11, a Babysitting Basics class was offered as a preview to the certification course. Youth walked away with potential fair exhibits and increased knowledge of literacy and social-emotional activities for young children.

The 2024 Cherry County 4-H Special Foods Competition was held May 22, 2024 at the Methodist Church in Valentine. Youth participated in a variety of categories. The day started on a sweet note with the “cupcake wars” where youth presented their most delectable recipes with a fun theme.

Friday, May 24, at the NAIA 2024 Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the Concordia University women’s 4x400m relay placed fourth in the nation. The finals relay consisted of an All-Nebraska team including: Jenna Esch of Hastings, Trinity Tuls of Columbus, Isabelle Izzy Salters of Valentine, and Kayla Kirchner of Ogallala. Their time of 3:47.68 was a season best and just off the Concordia school record.