Pahrump Jr. High and High School Rodeo Returns Feb. 6-8

A long-running Pahrump tradition will saddle up again Feb. 6-8 when the Pahrump Jr. High–High School Rodeo takes over the McCullough Rodeo Arena, bringing students in fifth grade through 12th grade to compete as part of the Nevada State Junior High and High School Rodeo Association regular season.

Hosted by the Pahrump Valley High School Rodeo Club, the three-day event is produced by longtime director Buddy Krebs and Lloyd Peugh, who have guided the weekend for the past 10 years. “It’s the last rural event left in Pahrump, to be honest,” Krebs said, framing the rodeo’s cultural role as a holdout of local rural life amid rising development and changing community rhythms.

Rodeo in Pahrump dates back to at least the 1940s, and the current club was revived a decade ago after renewed demand from local youth and families. The club now comprises about 15 student-athletes who compete year-round at rodeos across Nevada. Those competitors will face a packed weekend schedule that begins with a Friday shooting tournament and continues with multiple large-arena and small-arena competitions on Saturday and Sunday.

Admission to the rodeo is free, with donations encouraged to help offset roughly $30,000 in annual hosting costs. Organizers stress that families unable to contribute are still strongly welcome to attend. The Pahrump Rotary Club will provide food service and host additional vendors throughout the weekend, providing a chance for local businesses and nonprofits to connect with families and visitors.

Beyond the arena, the event has public health and social equity implications for Nye County. Free admission lowers economic barriers to participation and spectatorship, giving more Pahrumpans direct access to youth sports and community gatherings that support mental health, intergenerational bonds, and local identity. The roughly $30,000 funding gap highlights a policy and budgeting challenge for sustaining community-run events: without stable sponsorship or institutional support, volunteer-led programs like the Pahrump Valley High School Rodeo Club must rely on donations and ad hoc fundraising to keep youth programming afloat.

Organizers say sponsors and community supporters remain welcome as preparations continue. The rodeo weekend also offers small but measurable economic stimulus for vendors, the Pahrump Rotary Club, and local suppliers who serve the event, keeping dollars circulating within the valley.

For Pahrumpans, the rodeo is more than competition; it is an annual chance to gather, cheer on young athletes in chaps and boots, and pass on rural skills and values. With the club actively seeking support and the McCullough Rodeo Arena ready to host riders and families, Feb. 6-8 will be a signal moment for preserving one of Pahrump’s last rural touchstones and for ensuring local youth have a place to learn, compete, and belong.