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GRAND MARSHALL- Larry the Cable Guy

Nebraska’s Big Rodeo is proud to announce that the Grand Marshall for the 104th annual rodeo event will be Comedian Larry the Cable Guy.  Larry will join us here in Burwell, July 23rd-26th, 2025
 

Larry the Cable Guy is a multiplatinum recording artist, Grammy nominee, Billboard award winner and one of the top comedians in the country. He has his own line of merchandise and continues to tour across the United States. Larry has created The Git-R-Done Foundation, which was named after Larry’s signature catchphrase, and has donated more than 8.1 million dollars to various charities. 

Larry The Cable Guy’s special Remain Seated is currently streaming on Netflix. He appeared on the hit FOX show “The Masked Singer,” and showed off his vocal talents as the character Baby. His comedy special with Jeff Foxworthy, We’ve Been Thinking is also available on Netflix. In addition, he launched his own comedy channel “Jeff and Larry’s Comedy Roundup” on SIRIUSXM. The channel is a partnership with SIRIUSXM and Jeff Foxworthy. It highlights the best in great American comedy. You will hear hilarious material from this dynamic duo as well as comedy from some of their personal favorite comedians.

Larry starred in the movie Jingle All The Way 2 for FOX Home Entertainment. The movie was released on DVD December 2, 2014, and aired on the USA network.   Other recent film credits include A Madea Christmas. Tooth Fairy 2 (2012), Witless Protection (2008), Delta Farce (2007) and his first feature Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector (2006). When Health Inspector was released on DVD in August 2006 it sold more than 1 million copies in the first week of release. 

Larry is the voice of the beloved Mater in the Golden Globe winning animated feature film Cars (2006) and Cars 2 (2011) from Disney/Pixar. Both movies opened number one at the box office and combined have grossed more than 1 billion dollars worldwide.  Larry returned as the voice of Mater for Cars 3 (2017) and for the new Disney + series  “Cars on the Road.” 

Larry hosted Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy on History for three seasons. The show premiered in 2011 and was a huge ratings success. In each episode, Larry visited various sites across the country revealing bits of real history while immersing himself in new and different lifestyles, jobs and hobbies that celebrate the American experience. It was recently licensed by AXS TV. Larry was also the star of the CMT animated show Bounty Hunters, which reunited him with Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall.

In early 2012 Them Idiots Whirled Tour starring Larry, Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall aired on CMT. The show was released on DVD and CD by Warner Bros/Jack Records, debuting at number one on the Billboard Comedy Charts. On July 4, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, NE, Larry performed in front of an audience of more than 50,000 and taped his hour special Tailgate Party for Comedy Central. The show was a thank you to his fans and Nebraska for their longtime support of him. Tickets were sold for only $4.00, and the show sold out in one weekend. The special aired on January 31, 2010, and the DVD was released on February 2, 2010. The comedy CD of the same name debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Comedy Charts.

On March 15, 2009, The Comedy Central Roast of Larry The Cable Guy aired and the show, which Larry executive produced, is one of the highest rated roasts in Comedy Central history, attracting 4.1 million viewers. Larry has also hosted and executive produced three Christmas specials for both VH1 and CMT. The variety style shows were all huge ratings successes for those networks. Larry’s road to stardom included the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, which grossed more than 15 million dollars. The ensemble cast of comedians included Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall. The tour’s success led to Blue Collar Comedy Tour, The Movie, which premiered on Comedy Central in November of 2003 and at the time, was the highest rated movie in the channel’s history. The DVD has sold more than 4 million units. The sequel, Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again, has sold more than 3 million units. In March of 2006, the Blue Collar boys reunited to shoot Blue Collar Comedy Tour, One For The Road in Washington, DC at the Warner Theater. The movie had its world premiere on Comedy Central June 4, 2006, again receiving some of their highest ratings. The soundtrack was nominated for a 2006 Grammy award.

His first comedy album release Lord, I Apologize (2001) has reached gold status, selling more than 500,000 copies. The CD was # 1 on the Billboard Comedy Charts for fifteen weeks in a row. Larry‘s DVD special Git-R-Done, has sold more than 1 million copies and has been certified platinum. Larry also starred in Blue Collar TV, a sketch comedy series for The WB network which premiered on July 29, 2004. 5.4 million people watched the show and it was the second most watched show on television in that time period.

Larry’s third comedy CD Morning Constitutions was released in 2007 and debuted at # 1 on the Billboard Comedy Charts. His previous release, The Right To Bare Arms (Jack Records/Warner Bros. Records) debuted at # 1 on the Soundscan Comedy Chart, # 1 on the Country Chart, and # 7 on the Top 200 Chart. This marked the first time in the history of Soundscan that a comedy album has charted at # 1 on the Country Chart. It has been certified gold (500,000 units) by the RIAA. The Right To Bare Arms also received a Grammy nomination. His first Christmas CD, A Very Larry Christmas has also been certified platinum (1,000,000 units).

Larry has won Billboard’s 2005 Comedy Artist of the year and Comedy Album of the year and he received the Billboard Top Comedy Tour Award in 2006.

He is a bestselling author and his book Git-R-Done, (2005) debuted at # 26 on the New York Times bestseller list. Larry was named to Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2012. This lists the hottest and most successful people in the entertainment industry.

The Git-R-Done Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2009 by Larry and his wife, Cara, as a focal point for the family’s philanthropy. Emphasizing children’s and veteran’s causes, The Git-R-Done Foundation has donated to great organizations such as The Arnold Palmer Hospital, Operation Homefront, and Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital.
 

PRORODEO HALL OF FAME

Nebraska’s Big Rodeo was honored to be inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame during July, 2022.  A ceremony was held July 16, 2022 at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs,  CO. 

Nebraska’s Big Rodeo was being given one of the highest honors in Pro Rodeo when the rodeo committee was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. The 2022 inductees are some of the biggest and best names in Pro Rodeo and include the one and only Trevor Brazile, Bobby Mote, Bobby Harris, the late Ardith Bruce, Jake Beutler, Mel Potter, Cindy Rosser, the great Saddle Bronc horse Medicine Woman, Roy Duvall’s steer wrestling horse Mighty Eye aka “Whiskey”, and Nebraska’s Big Rodeo in Burwell.
 
Thank you to all who have attended the rodeo over the last 101 years, without the amazing fans showing up to enjoy the greatest sport on dirt with us in Burwell each year, this would not have been possible.

Pro Rodeo Loses a Legend

A legend in the world of Pro Rodeo, and in Nebraska, has left us before we were ready.

Jim Svoboda of JJJ Photography is known throughout the country as one of best rodeo photographers in the business.  Svoboda made a name for himself inside the rodeo arena before becoming a legend behind the camera.

James (Jim) Floyd Svoboda, Jr. was born November 8th, 1934 at Ord Nebraska, and passed February 19th, 2023 at the age of 88. The cause of death was inoperable stomach complications/perforation which were exacerbated by a longstanding unrecognized rodeo injury. 
 
He passed comfortably at peace with his wife and family at his side thanks to the excellent care he received at Grand Island Nebraska Regional Hospital.
 
Jim graduated in 1956 from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and worked 33 years for the USDA as County Executive Officer for the Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service serving Garfield, Loup, and Wheeler Counties until he retired in 1989. 
 
He also owned a ranch with the love of his life, Marilyn, and family north of Burwell prior to his retirement, where they owned a registered Hereford operation.
 
Jim spent nearly 20 years as a successful four event all-around rodeo competitor, with his best streak of riding 54 barebacks in a row.  He filled his PRCA permit in 1958 and received his PRCA Gold card in 1984. 
A severely broken leg forced him to become a full-time rodeo photographer.
 
With over 3 million photos shot and worn out nearly 40 cameras, Jim was a true legend in the rodeo photography industry. He won numerous awards and buckles during his rodeo career including four coveted PRCA award buckles: “Sports News Best Action Photo”, “Best Action Rodeo Photo”, “PRCA Best in Photo Journalism “and “Las Vegas National Finals Rodeo Official Photographer”, a feat no other photographer has ever accomplished.
 
Jim was named the official photographer of Nebraska’s Big Rodeo early in his career, and was awarded a buckle for his 50 years of service to NBR by Garfield County Frontier Fair and Rodeo Board President Jess Helgoth.
 
Svoboda co-published the book “50 Years of Nebraska’s Big Rodeo” about the first half century of Burwell event and was named Co- Grand marshal of the 101st years event alongside his brother Dale Svoboda.
 
He is survived by his wife Marilyn of 64 years, three children, Tana Brinkman (Jim), Jason Von Svoboda (Angela), JonBen Svoboda (AnneMarie), 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, 2 brothers and 4 sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents James, Sr. and Margaret (Walkowiak) Svoboda, 1 brother and 3 sisters.
 
At Jim’s request, he wanted a private graveside service and in lieu of flowers send remembrance memorials to the family which will be collectively donated in his honor to the Nebraska’s Big Rodeo.
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