LINCOLN, Neb. - From western Nebraska to some of the biggest stages and venues in the country.

23-year-old Conner Halverson, a native of Gordon, NE., is climbing the ranks of Professional Bull Riding and on Saturday night, returned to his home state for the second time in his career, part of PBR’s Velocity Tour event at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

“I’ve always rode calves and sheep and that’s where I got my start,” Halverson said. “I grew up watching the PBR and I knew that’s where I wanted to be some day.”

Halverson, an alum of Gordon-Rushville, began his true rodeoing days at the Sheridan County Fair. He rode through junior high and high school and when he turned 18, bought his equipment for PBR and off he went. However, the transition wasn’t always a smooth one.

“It was pretty rough there at the start just trying to get used to the different level of bulls,” Halverson said. “It was a little rocky, but I adjusted. It can still be rocky even to this day, but for the most part it was good.”

Halverson tied for fifth this weekend in Lincoln, but electrified the crowd with an opening ride that scored 82.00 points. Not only did his fellow Nebraskans show love, but it was one of the rare opportunities that his family could be in attendance.

“That makes it even better,” Halverson said. “Don’t get to go to a lot of places where we’re able to have our family there, so when they can make it it’s pretty special.”

But come next weekend, as is the case in PBR, Nebraska will be in the rearview mirror and Halverson will be off to another city. He says the sites and experiences he’s been able to have from PBR are something he cherishes.

“It’s just a blessing that I get to do it and see all these different places,” Halverson said. “Like going to Madison Square Garden from Gordon, that’s pretty cool.”