NCTA Aggies name new rodeo coach

Aug. 25, 2016
By NCTA News Service                                                                          

Curtis, Neb.  – A team roper and 2014 alumnus of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture has been named the NCTA Aggie Rodeo Team coach.

Taylor Rossenbach, a native of rural Ainsworth, was a tie-down calf and team roper with the Aggies for two years before graduating in May, 2014.

He lives in Curtis, is an insurance and financial advisor with Farm Bureau Financial Services, and officially joined the NCTA coaching staff in mid-August.

Rossenbach is active in Frontier County organizations including Curtis Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Rotary International, and serves as the treasurer for the UNSTA-NCTA Alumni Association.

Nearly 20 students will vie for spots on the traveling team, including 2-time national collegiate finals qualifier Lexus Kelsch of McLaughlin, S.D.  She and her horse, Tigger, placed fifth at the CNFR this year.

“We have a great group of young men and women on the NCTA rodeo team this year,” Rossenbach said. “I am looking forward to helping each of them improve, and also meet and exceed their goals.”

NCTA’s rodeo athletes will travel to the University of Wisconsin at River Falls for the season opener on Sept. 9-10.  Mid-Plains Community College will host rodeo action on Sept. 16-17.

 “We are excited to have Taylor back on campus as a coach and are looking forward to the experience he brings to the NCTA Rodeo Team,” said Doug Smith, PhD, division chair of animal science and agricultural education.  “He is a great addition to our Division due to the enthusiasm he brings to NCTA’s rodeo program.”

NCTA’s team is part of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association which competes among more than 100 teams from 2-year and 4-year colleges.  NCTA is in the Great Plains Region of the 11 NIRA regions. Student athletes compete in events of saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and goat tying.

Former Aggie coach Bridger Chytka is leading a new agriculture education and FFA program at Thedford High School.

NCTA is a two-year technical agriculture college. For details on academic programs and collegiate teams, see NCTA.unl.edu or call 1-800-3-CURTIS.