High school rodeo could return to Pahrump as early as next year

High school rodeo is back, and could return to McCullough Arena next year.

The exact date will come out in March of this year when the Nevada High School Rodeo Association makes next year’s rodeo schedule official.

The return of high school rodeo to the valley comes after an 8-year hiatus, with the last high school rodeo happening in March of 2009.

The team had their first meeting on Jan. 11, which was crucial. Organizer of the drive for the rodeo, Buddy Krebs, had to determine if there still was enough interest in high school rodeo in the area.

“We had close to 40 people show up on a cold, windy evening at the McCullough Arena for the meeting,” Krebs said. “Many were just there for support.”

The Pahrump Valley High School Rodeo Club returns under new leadership, which was chosen during the first meeting as well. Buddy Krebs was elected as the club director and Lloyd Peugh be the assistant director.

“Peugh is a great choice because he has a lot of experience in putting together a rodeo,” Krebs said.

The two were able to attract over 20 students to the club, which will include both junior high and high school.

The club will meet at the high school tonight at 6 p.m. to prepare for its first Nevada High School Rodeo Association meeting on Feb. 10 in Boulder City, which means the club will focus on the next crucial step in bringing the rodeo back. That step is raising the necessary fee of $400 to join the Nevada association. This money is due at the meeting.

After years of not having the rodeo team, many former high school rodeo participants were surprised that Krebs was able to pull it off.

Jared Groene, who has been out of high school for three years, had to join the Las Vegas high school rodeo team because Pahrump didn’t have one.

“I think it’s great they are getting the team going again,” Groene said. “I really didn’t think that there were kids still interested in doing that.”

Groene was a team roper in high school and now puts his rodeo skills to use and works at rodeos on the east coast.

The outpouring of support means the valley has a chance of being on the Nevada high school rodeo circuit for next year. If you would like to donate money to that cause, call Buddy Krebs at 775-764-1378.

Contact sports editor Vern Hee at vhee@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes