Patiently waiting her turn at the discus arena, 91-year-old Harriet Bloemker sat quietly among family and friends ready to cheer her on. She was the only one competing in her age bracket for the women’s discus throw, but that didn’t sway her competitive – yet kind – spirit. 

The Cornhusker State Games, hosted at more than 50 sites across Nebraska, is a 10-day spectacle of amateur sportsmanship and athleticism every July. Individuals of all abilities and backgrounds gather to test their strengths, cheer on others and have a good time. They all have one thing in common, of course: being Nebraskan.

With sure steps, secured by fresh white tennis shoes, Bloemker made her way to the task at hand. At this point she’s guaranteed a gold medal finish, but that’s the last thing on her mind. She’s just glad to be here for another year. 

Her first throw didn’t quite go as she’d hoped, only making it a short distance before bouncing to a stop. Her worn smile only faltered for a second, then her game face was back on. Bloemker had competitors to watch, with the next one being 71-year-old Barbara Griffith, and she wanted to win.

A Nebraskan through and through, Bloemker grew up on a farm in an athletic family with five brothers. While there were always contests to be had on the farm, she couldn’t pursue anything much further than home competitions – only males could participate in high school sports at that time. But that didn’t stop her love of the games from growing. 

“I read the rules of softball before I ever went to school,” she said. “Farm kids play tough and if it was a sport, I loved it.”

In 1996, the Fremont resident decided to retire after a lifetime of hard work. A new chapter in her life was just beginning, however, thanks to the Cornhusker State Games, and she’s competed ever since – including many trips to Nationals and a world record in javelin under her belt.

“I just kept competing, and I’ve never lost my love for competition,” she said. “And the Lord has blessed me with a body that allows me to be here, to exercise and to compete.”  

And compete she did. With a steady windup and firm focus, Bloemker took the turn, arm extended and released the discus toward the horizon. Her longest throw was 41 feet, three inches – a solid five feet farther than the competitor closest to her in age, at 71. 

“This just gives me a reason to keep exercising,” Bloemker said, sitting in the shade after winning two gold medals for the day. “It gives me a chance to compete. As long as my body allows me, I’m gonna compete.” 

Sportsmanship and the opportunity to compete are resounding values for Nebraskans alike. Like seasoned athletes, participants at the games were eager for their chance. Some were prime athletes who were honing their college sports during summer break.  

Others, long past their competition days, are just looking for a chance to have some fun. Moms line up alongside the fence at Lincoln High School, home to the Cornhusker State Games track and field events. Some spread a healthy amount of sunscreen on their children. Others take care to hydrate their husbands, while more still lace up their sneakers and get ready to race themselves. 

In 2023, 70 sporting events saw 8,000 participants from every corner of the Cornhusker state. Sporting events ranged from the standards of track and field to the unique, including skydiving, fencing, sailing, footgolf, BMX, martial arts and even chess. 

A Clearwater native and lifelong sports fan, Dave Mlnarik, president of the Nebraska Sports Council, holds the Cornhusker State Games close at heart. Growing up in Nebraska, everybody played every sport, he said. He still loves competition to this day. 

Mlnarik has been developing the games for over 30 years and has seen it grow and impact in thousands of Nebraskans in different ways. Those who stick out the most are often those individuals who earn an Athlete of the Year title like Bloemker. 


And then, there is the story of Emmett Hassenstab. 

As part of the Morrison Relay, named after former track and field sport director Steve Morrison, family groups race together and run a 4x100 relay. Grandparents hand off the baton to their children or grandchildren, all with a common goal. The event encapsulates what the games are all about, Mlnarik said. 

In 2020, Hassenstab and his family participated in the relay, easily outrunning all the competition to take home gold medals. The familial athleticism impressed Mlnarik and others in attendance, sticking the race to memory. Emmett had run the anchor leg. Competing in the race quickly became a tradition for the Hassenstab family – one that would become more important to them than they realized. 

On May 28, 2021, just months before the 2021 games, Emmett suffered a spinal cord injury breaking his C3 and C4 vertebrae. He was paralyzed from the neck down. It was uncertain if he would ever walk again, but his family held on to hope. His parents promised him that he would walk again – and that he would compete with his family in the 4x100 relay.

During the 2021 games, while Emmet was still in rehab in Denver, his family made good on their promise. His father and brothers flew to Denver, sneaked Emmett out of the hospital and brought him to a high school track nearby. Tom Hassenstab and his three sons had their own 4x100 – Emmett finished the final leg.

“Tom helped Emmett out of his wheelchair and holding on to his gate belt, with Jack and George, walked with him the 100 meters to the finish line,” mother Cheri said.   

 

In 2022 the family was back at it again, this time in person at the Cornhusker State Games, claiming second place. In 2023, with sweat and tears, the Hassenstab family wheeled into first yet again. The crowd was electric, and the stands were packed despite the day’s high heat. His mother was in tears, watching Emmett independently run his 100 yards and help the family cross the finish line in first place. “God is good,” she said.  

“This is what it’s all about,” Mlnarik said. “It’s about family. It’s about fitness. It’s people having fun. The Games are there for people who really need it. It’s both humbling and a source of pride.”

Hundreds of small stories, both like the Hassenstab’s and Bloemker’s, happen at the Cornhusker State Games every year. Without fail thousands of Nebraskans gather just for the sake of friendly competition. They appreciate the thrill, the camaraderie and the chance to represent their state as a champion. Plain and simple.