After a serious fall in December, Gov. Jim Pillen got back in the saddle this morning, riding with the UNL Rodeo Team and former volleyball coach John Cook to kick off Rodeo Week in Nebraska.
Pillen signed a proclamation commemorating the week, and “Cowboy Cook” presented a $27,117 check to the UNL Rodeo Team, funding the first year of scholarships through the John Cook Team Roping Endowment program.
The equestrians clopped a couple laps around the Governor’s Mansion, ending in Pillen’s drive way. His first time riding horse since his incident, Pillen said it was great to be back on a horse again and said he was feeling good when asked by reporters.
“It was really fun,” Pillen followed up Monday afternoon on his monthly statewide call-in show, hosted on 1400 & 99.3 KLIN.
Speaking with reporters after the event, Cook said he’s always appreciated the UNL Rodeo team, and is constantly looking for ways to give back to NU.
“To me, they’re just as competitive and talented as the Nebraska volleyball and football players,” Cook said. “We just don’t know a lot about it because they compete all over the place… I see how hard they’re working.”
Cook added their working to break ground on a new $3 million, state-of-the-art rodeo and equine sports complex.
“It’s gonna be an arena for them to compete in and train in. I think they’re planning 28 horse stalls so they can board their horses on campus, instead of way out in East Lincoln,” he said.
Cook and the Governor emphasized the need for a robust veterinary education program in Nebraska, noting that students often leave the state to pursue such education in Kansas, Iowa, or Colorado.
“Maybe someday we’ll get our own vet school here, but this will be a great start for that,” said Cook.
This event precedes this weekend’s Nebraska Cornhusker Rodeo, hosted at the Sandhills Global Event Center. Top college student-athletes from Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota will compete for their chance to represent the Great Plains Region at the College National Finals Rodeo.
Video and photos from Monday’s ride with Pillen and Cook are available below.
Chase Porter, KLIN News