Visitors to the National High School Finals Rodeo in Lincoln reported a rough end to the week after a combination of electrical outages and water problems disrupted the campground during days of intense heat. Social media accounts, quoted by organisers, flagged overloaded circuits, portable generators and uncomfortable sleeping conditions as campers ran air conditioners amid roughly 100-degree temperatures.
What went wrong
Ron Bohaty, managing director of the Sandhills Global Event Center, said the facility’s older campground had been fitted with new breakers and panels about a year ago but that some work had not been completed correctly. He told event organisers that the main breakers arrived from the factory programmed for 400 amps when they should have been set to 1,200 amps. That mismatch, combined with many campers attempting to plug 50-amp units with multiple air conditioning units into 30-amp ports, led to overloaded circuits.
- Programmable breakers were set at 400 amps instead of 1,200 amps.
- Campers frequently used 50-amp caravans on 30-amp outlets, increasing load.
- Lincoln Electric System had to boost voltage from its substation, which was operating at 150% capacity.
Response and repairs
Bohaty said on-site electricians had to switch off power to parts of the campground to re-wire circuits and to try to better manage the heavy load. Lincoln Electric System (LES) also intervened by adding voltage at its substation after it reached around 150% capacity, he said.
“The primary reason for that outage was that the main breakers are programmable... they came from the factory at 400 amps, and they needed to be changed to 1,200 amps.”
The rodeo wrapped up on Saturday after a series of hot days. Some visitors remained vocal about the experience online, while organisers and local officials described the situation as a learning opportunity.
Money already spent — and where it went
Significant public funding has been invested in the event centre in recent years. Around 2021, more than $5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act was used for campsite construction and associated electrical work. A later Shovel-Ready Grant from the state Department of Economic Development provided another $5 million.
| Funding source | Amount | Purpose (summarised) |
|---|---|---|
| American Rescue Plan Act | $5 million | Camp site construction and electrical components |
| Shovel-Ready Grant (state) | $5 million | Remodelling, HVAC, sewer works, concrete, lighting, fans |
Those funds, Bohaty said, allowed the centre to remodel restrooms, add several new HVAC units, upgrade a failing sewer system and carry out concrete, lighting and fan improvements.
Local officials react
Lancaster County Commissioner Rick Vest, whose district lies immediately west of the event centre, defended the use of public money and said the improvements had upgraded the facility “enormously.” He added that he had confidence the event centre, the Lancaster County Agricultural Society (the facility’s owner) and the National High School Rodeo Association would learn from this year’s problems and be better prepared in future.
For Lincoln residents and those who manage public venues, the episode underlines how technical details — programmable breaker settings, adequate amperage and proper campsite hookups — can determine whether large events run smoothly, especially in extreme weather. The event centre’s officials have acknowledged the faults and taken immediate remedial steps; longer-term checks and full completion of previous upgrade work remain necessary to restore confidence among future visitors.
