Hastings rodeo to feature Mega Band, a combo of three area high school band

Hastings, Neb. (August 12, 2024) – Something new is coming to the Oregon Trail Rodeo in Hastings this weekend.

The Mega Band, a band formed from the three high schools in the Hastings area, will play at the Adams County Fairgrounds on Sunday, August 18, for the final performance of the rodeo.

The bands from Hastings High School, Adams Central High School, and St. Cecilia High School will combine to form the Mega Band, which will play the national anthem and pep band songs during the 6 pm show for the pro rodeo.

It’s the brainchild of Jeff and Becky Crecelius, who are volunteers with the Oregon Trail Rodeo.

The couple was watching a rodeo on the Cowboy Channel one night, when they saw a college band perform during the rodeo.

For Becky, the light bulb went on. “I said, that’s what we’re going to do,” she said.

As parents of a band student, son Jonah, a sophomore at Hastings High School, she and Jeff realized how important band is, and how band parents follow their kids to different events.

Participation from band members isn’t mandatory, as it’s not a sanctioned school activity. But Becky said all three bands have nearly 100 percent of their band members signed up to play.

The Crecelius’ found a sponsor to buy t-shirts for the bands, each in a different color. Hastings High students will be in orange t-shirts; Adams Central in red, and St. Cecilia in blue.

It’s also a unique experience for the bands to play with another band. High school bands usually don’t get that chance, Jeff said.

“The teachers are really excited, because they don’t usually get the chance to play with another band. The only opportunity is in honor band, and that’s for the kids who are chosen.”

The Crecelius family didn’t grow up on a farm or ranch and weren’t rodeo people.

But when their sons Ethan and Jonah, when they were in grade school, came home with free tickets to the rodeo, they attended.

And they loved it.

“It was something we could do as a family,” Becky said. “It was here in Hastings, it was different and family friendly, and it aligned with our morals and values. That was important to us.”

Their first year of attending the rodeo, in 2013, they took Jonah’s photo with rodeo clown John Harrison, and it’s a tradition with their sons now.

The Crecelius’ appreciated rodeo so much, they began as volunteers with the Oregon Trail Rodeo in January.

“We just enjoy working with the rodeo,” Becky said. “There’s so much to enjoy and learn. Our rodeo is a well-oiled machine.”

They also have attended other area rodeos, including rodeos in Bladen, Grand Island, Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Phillipsburg, Kan. They’ve even gone to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas twice.

They look forward to helping implement the Mega Band.

“It’s a good experience for the kids,” Becky said.

“There aren’t many places that can have a Mega Band with all three schools in town,” Jeff said. “The directors are excited. It hasn’t been done in Hastings, that all three bands play together at an event.”

The Mega Band will play during the Sunday, August 18 performance, starting at 6 pm.

The rodeo runs August 16-18 with performances starting at 7 pm on August 16-17 and at 6 pm on August 18.

General admission tickets are $10 for children ages 6-12 and $15 for adults. Reserved seating is $20, and stadium seating is $25.

Tickets can be purchased online at AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com, at the Adams Co. Fair office, and at the gate.