Contestant Information

GROUND RULES

These are general facility rules that contestants and their families are expected to follow to ensure each contestant’s ongoing eligibility to compete.

PARKING

• Rental golf carts must park in designated golf cart areas where available (or in regular vehicle areas where not) or are at risk of being confiscated for the remainder of the event.
• There is no golf cart parking allowed on the back/east side of the Main Performance Arenas.
• All vehicles, including rental golf carts, must park in marked areas. Limit time in active loading areas and stay out of fire lanes, driveways or areas in front of doors, around buildings at all times.
• Campground driveways must be kept clear – the Fire Department trucks will be driving through often.
• Vehicles will not be allowed inside the Main Performance & Practice/Jackpot Arenas chain link fenced area except for limited marked/permitted Staff vehicles/NHSFR Directors.

STALLING AREA

• Vehicles/golf carts parking in Lot K, Lot I and some in Lot E. See map.
• Indoor stalls: place manure in staging areas outside along the pavilion.
• Outdoor stalls: place manure at end of pods.
• After Check-in, all empty horse trailers will be directed & must park in Horse Trailer Lot across Havelock Ave.

HORSE TRAILERS

• For day jump out trailers for leased horses use Lot I only.
• Event load out, trailers will enter Gate 2 off Havelock Avenue and may park for loading only in the
• Horse Trailer Lot I or Lot K.
• Please cooperate with parking attendants and be prepared to move your trailer as needed for safe traffic flow for all.
• No goats in Horse Trailer Parking – use stalling or campground areas and be respectful of your neighbors and traffic.

PETS & GOATS

• Dogs must be on a leash and are not allowed in SGEC buildings or any arena front or back of house. Service dogs are an exception.
• Any lost dogs/pets will be kept on site in a temporary animal shelter near the General Store in EquineMarket Pavilion. Please check with the SGEC staff stationed there. Pets will be kept there until closing daily, after which time they’ll be transferred to the city animal shelter.

SMOKING

• All SGEC grounds other than your personal campsite are NON-SMOKING per Nebraska laws & facility rules – this includes all smoking, vaping and e-cigarettes. No smoking is allowed inside buildings or inside chain link area around Main Performance/Jackpot Arenas front and back.
• Blocking sections in the AuctionTime Grandstand Arena is not permitted. All seating is first come/first served.

DAMAGES

• Any alterations/damages to campsites or stalls or anywhere on grounds & in buildings will result in a damage fee. Use masking tape available in NHSRA office to hang signs—no pins or other tape allowed.

GENERAL RULES

• No scooters, e-bikes, or segways on site – only pedal bikes.
• You must be 21+ to drive a golf cart on grounds.
• No personal drones, only professionals who are licensed and approved by management.
• Rodeo results & draws will be posted next to rodeo office entrance in TractorHouse Pavilion.Officer candidate campaign posters may only be placed in designated areas. Refer to the 2026

AUCTIONTIME GRANDSTAND ARENA

• Any blankets, chairs, banners, etc. left in the Grandstands may be disposed of during cleaning between performances.

CONTESTANT INFO

We strive to provide a great experience for all our visitors! If you still have questions, please call the SGEC office at 402.441.6545.

• Contestant check-in will begin at 12pm (noon) on Thursday, July 16th and will operate 24 hours a day until 7am Sunday, July 19th. No early or late contestant check-in allowed without prior NHSRA main office staff written approval.
• Horse & Goat check-in also starts at 12pm (noon) on Thursday, July 16th and continues after contestant check-in closes 6pm Sunday July 19th. All horses & goats, including leased horses, MUST be checked in by 6pm Sunday, July 19th.
• All horses and goats entering Sandhills Global Event Center grounds must go through Stall Check-in starting at Gate 2 on Havelock Avenue (gate closest to 84th Street on south side of Havelock Ave).
• Studs will be stalled in the EquineMarket Pavilion.
• During the check-in procedure (located in Lot A), contestants will need to unload their horses, take their paperwork and lead their horses to the check-in area and then on to their assigned stall.
• Wristbands available for purchase on Friday & Saturday during check-in. (Limited hours)
• There will be trailer clean-out available in Lot E as you check into your campsite & get golf cart.

CERTIFICATE OF VETERINARY INSPECTION (CVI) is needed for both horses & goats.

• Horses: CVI must include Coggins test which may be on the SAME document for horses.
• Goats: CVI must include Scrapies identification and may need pre-entry import certificate.

NEBRASKA HEALTH REGULATIONS:

Original Health Certificates (CVIs) must be presented along with other records for every horse & goat during NHSFR Lincoln Stalling Check-In and will be returned to you.

• Consignee of CVI must be National High School Finals Rodeo Committee, Lincoln, Nebraska.
• All horses and goats must be accompanied by a proper and current CVI issued by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of the opening date of the rodeo which is July 19, 2026 (no earlier than June 18, 2026).
• The CVI must certify that said animals are free from contagious disease and state the number, description, sex and ages of the horse(s) and goat(s).
• All horses must show proof that each horse has had a negative Coggins test conducted within 12 months of the July 19, 2026 opening date of the NHSFR. The date of the Coggins test and the name and address of the laboratory conducting the Coggins test shall be recorded on the CVI.
• All goats may require a pre-entry import permit prior to entry into Nebraska. Import Permits can be obtained by calling (402) 471-2351 or accessing the Nebraska Department of Agriculture website HERE & enter your origin point.
• If you are from a state that requires re-entry papers, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND VETERINARIANS TO SEE WHAT PAPERS YOU WILL NEED FOR RE-ENTRY. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN RE-ENTRY PAPERS AND REQUIREMENTS

Rates for the duration of the event (Thursday July 16th noon through noon Sunday July 26th) are $350 with electric & water in the RVUniverse Campground (plus taxes & fees). We will place states/provinces/countries together as groups in the RVUniverse Campgrounds with a certain number of campsites reserved for each team. These are assigned by your National Director with maximum of one per contestant family in most cases. Contestants are assigned specific campsites within your group’s section in the order that the State Secretary lists them for us as much as possible given other factors (30 or 50 amp, size of RVs etc.). All campsites must be occupied by a camper/RV.

If you don’t receive a campsite at RVUniverse Campgrounds, there is limited Tent/Dry Camping located in designated areas at SGEC for $210 (plus taxes & fees) with no utilities. You will have access to the showers, portable restrooms, food trucks located at RVUniverse Campground.

Reasonably priced sewer pump truck service appointments may be made with Al’s Johns who will be stationed on-site. Refer to the provided Al’s John’s price sheet.

GUIDELINES