Visitors committee OKs funds for genealogical, rodeo events

McCOOK, Neb. -- The Red Willow County visitors committee approved more than $2,000 in grant funding, Tuesday afternoon, to assist a genealogy exposition and two rodeo events coming to the area.

The Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society will receive $439 and hopes to attract approximately 50 attendees to an all day exposition later this month focusing on family history and genealogy. The event will take place on Oct. 25 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints on Elizabeth Lane in McCook.

Conference registration is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information contact Lesta Jaggers at 308-350-0246 or Sue Doak at 308-340-8221.

Event coordinator Garret Nokes received approval for $500 in funding to assist with a two-day timed rodeo event at Kiplinger Arena in November. Nokes anticipates 100-120 contestants to compete during each day of the event, attracting a combined 300 people to McCook when including family members.

Nokes said the majority of the contestants will travel from more than 100 miles away, hailing from at least four different states.

The event is open to the public with free admission and scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, and at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30.

Triangle Cross Barrel Racing was approved to receive $1,310 in grant assistance from the visitors committee for its season ending barrel racing competition in March 2014. The event attracts 100-200 female competitors to Kiplinger Arena, in addition to their family and friends.

Red Willow County Tourism Director Carol Schlegel said Triangle Cross coordinated monthly events throughout the year at Kiplinger, as part of their season format, and only requested assistance for the season finale in March.

The season finale is open to the public with free admission and scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. on March 28 and 29, 2014.

Funding for visitors committee grants is accumulated from revenue received through lodging taxes collected from Red Willow County hotel and motel patrons. The committee prioritizes efforts on assisting events which attract participants from outside the area to Red Willow County.

Committee meetings are open to the public and typically scheduled on the first Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the Keystone Business Center.