Kiplinger Arena brings, dollars visitors to McCook

Decked out in a western-style shirt, cowboy boots and western hat, all required clothing for competitions, Lizzie Waddell, 4, of Indianola, Neb., with Sailee, her horse, waits for barrel racing to start at The Kiplinger Arena on Saturday. For now, Lizzie sits in the saddle while her grandmother, Karen Waddell, leads the older, patient Sailee with a rope around the barrels. Lizzie’s brother, Jas, 10, also competes in barrel racing.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. – Lizzie Waddell has been riding horses for years. Her mom, Veronica Waddell, of Indianola, Neb., rode until she was nearly nine months pregnant with Lizzie and at six weeks, Lizzie was already sitting in the saddle with her mom.

Now, at the ripe old age of four, Lizzie was one of more than 150 riders at the barrel racing competitions Saturday at the Kiplinger Arena, competing in the “Peewee” division.

“She likes having her turn on the barrels,” Veronica said, who worked at the event setting up barrels. “And apparently, she really wants spurs.”

It’s not unusual to have over 200 entries in the middle of winter at Triangle Cross Barrel Racing at the Kiplinger, said Deb Christy of Norton, Kan., who coordinates a series of barrel racing events at the arena during winter. “The restaurants always know when we’re in town,” she quipped.

That’s because these two-day competitions over the weekend draw participants and spectators from not only Nebraska but from surrounding states, such as Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Iowa and South Dakota.

That means riders, their families and fans spend money on motels, gas stations, fast food, restaurants and stores in McCook.

The influx of visitors makes a huge economic impact on the economy, Christy said. She credited the late Tom Kiplinger, who envisioned top-of-the-line facilities at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds and donated funds to construct the arenas.

“We are so proud of the way so many people have kept his dream alive,” Christy said. Facilities now include over 300 horse stalls, two heated indoor arenas, an outside arena and two outside warmup arenas.

Inside the Kiplinger, vendors at the barrel racing competitions set up their mobile shops and there’s usually a food stall for snacks. Local business often sponsors events and their products. Admission to Barrel races is free to the public.

It’s a great way to spend a cold weekend afternoon, Christy said. Although it may be dreary outside, inside the arena it’s warm and busy as riders of all ages compete to get the fastest time, pivoting their horses as fast as possible around three barrels and then finishing at nearly a full gallop to beat the clock.

And it’s tough competition at these races. If you can win here, you win almost anywhere, Christy said, with some of her finalists making their way to the annual National Finals Rodeo, called the “Super Bowl” of rodeo competition.

The indoor arenas get a workout year-round, with rodeos in summer and winter as well as providing practice space all year for the Mid-Plains Community College rodeo team and 4-H.

Christy recognized Jiles Bowman, Red Willow County Fairground manager, for the work it takes to keep the facilities and the fairground up to par year round.

“We owe a lot to Jiles, he has amazing skills when it comes to not only operating a multipurpose facility but managing staff,” she said. “It’s a very difficult job and certainly not one that many people could do successfully.”

For a schedule of upcoming events at the Kiplinger, go to kiplingerarena.com.