NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - There are many of the old familiar sights, sounds and smells at the Wild West Arena. Wednesday night in North Platte, the shining star of NEBRASKAland Days, in years’ past drawing spectators and contestants from across the country, and sometimes the globe is the Buffalo Bill Rodeo.

This year the celebration is scaled down with tickets sold to only 25 percent capacity, which rounds out to roughly 3000 tickets.

Food vendors and booths are set up for the four nights of Buffalo Bill Rodeo action. Picnic tables are set up following pandemic guidelines, and organizers said they are following the rules set forth by the West Central District Health Department and Governor Pete Ricketts’ office.

All of the NEBRASKAland Days board members, in their matching rodeo attire added an extra layer to their outfits this year. They are diligently wearing masks to keep others safe and to set a good example so the event can continue. Signs are placed throughout the grounds reminding people to wear masks, practice social distancing, and to wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer.

The cows don’t care, and the horses are ready to go. So are the cowboys.

News 2 chatted with one contestant Wednesday before the big event. 25-year old Maverick Harper is from Iowa (pronounced I-O-WAY), Louisiana. He is in Nebraska competing, along with his brother Cheyenne, as a steer wrestler and tie down roper. He said it is his fourth time to the Buffalo Bill Rodeo.

The Buffalo Bill Rodeo runs through Saturday night, each evening starting at 8:00 p.m.

Buffalo Bill Rodeo night one standings

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - The annual Buffalo Bill Rodeo kicked off on Wednesday night as a part of the NebraskaLand Days festivities. Riders took part in events this morning and evening, from all over the country. An update on standings from the first night of events are below.

Bareback riding

1. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa - 86.5

2. Pascal Isabelle, Okotoks, Alb. - 82

3. Jesse Pope, Marshall, Mo. - 78

4. Spur Lacasse, Calgary, Alb. - 73

Steer wrestling

1. Cody Devers, Balko, Okla. - 3.6 seconds

2. (tie) Cole Edge, Durant, Okla. and Tanner Milan, Cochrane, Alb. - 3.8

4. Jace Melvin, Ft Pierre, S.D. - 4.0

Tie-down roping

1. Macon Murphy, Keatchie, La. - 7.8 seconds

2. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas - 8.0

3. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla. - 8.5

4. Ben Robinson, Red Deer County, Alb, - 8.7

Saddle bronc riding

1. Ty Manke, Rapid City, S.D. - 79

2. Dylan Schofield, Philip, S.D. - 77

3. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D. - 74.5

Breakaway roping

1. Misti Brown, Valentine, Neb. - 2.7 seconds

2. Mable McAbee, Ansley, Neb. - 4.4

3. Caydee Johnson, Manhattan, Mont. - 5.0

2. Anna Bahe, Grantsville, Utah - 12.2

Team roping

1. Steven Duby, Hereford, Ore./Evan Arnold, Stephenville, Texas - 4.6 seconds

2. Douglas Rich, Herrick, Ill./Zane Thompson, Cheyenne, Wyo. - 5.0

3. (tie) Jake Orman, Prairie, Miss./Brye Crites,Welch, Okla. and Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Kyle Lockett, Visalia,Calif. - 5.1

Barrel racing

1. (tie) Amanda Welsch, Gillette, Wyo. and Tiany Schuster, Krum, Texas - 17.51 seconds

3. Cindy Smith, Lovington, N.M. - 17.58

4. Jana Bean, Ft. Hancock, Texas - 17.70

Bull riding

No qualified rides

**All results unofficial

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