Trans-Atlantic Rower Taryn Smith to Light State Games Caldron
LINCOLN, Neb. (June 30, 2026) — American adventurer and first solo American woman to complete the World’s Toughest Row, Taryn Smith will help kick off the 42nd annual Cornhusker State Games as the torchlighter during Opening Night festivities at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, in front of Pinnacle Bank Arena.
An Omaha native, Smith, 26, competed in Track & Field at the 2013 Cornhusker State Games. In January 2026, she made history by rowing more than 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. Her incredible journey began on December 14 and concluded 46 days later when she reached her final destination in English Harbor, Antigua, on January 29, 2026.
The Games officially begin July 9 with the Youth Golf tournament, in partnership with the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour, at Hidden Valley Golf Course and Pickleball at Midwest Pickleball Club in Omaha. Competition in more than 70 sports will span across 50 venues over two weekends, drawing more than 8,000 athletes from across the region. The final registration deadline for most events is Wednesday, July 1. Registration information can be found at CornhuskerStateGames.com.
The Opening Night program will be televised and streamed live by News Channel Nebraska. Performing the national anthem will be Jimmy Weber. Weber served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force as well as performed alongside country music greats like Kenny Rogers, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban.
Other prominent Nebraskans featured in the program include Jordan Larson, Curt Tomasevicz, Jed Ortmeyer, Rebekah Allick, Angee Nott, Kevan Heuftle, Allison Weidner and Emmerson Cope.
Opening Night is presented by Liberty First Credit Union, Visit Lincoln, J&H Specialty Contracting and Arby’s of Lincoln. The torchlighting is sponsored by Crete Carrier Corp./ Shaffer Trucking. Other contributing partners include News Channel Nebraska, Digital Sky, Complete Weddings and Events, Pinnacle Bank and Hiland Dairy.
The Cornhusker State Games are organized by the Nebraska Sports Council, which also hosts the Lincoln and Omaha Corporate Games, Pumpkin Run, 402 Bash, Nebraska DiamondFest, Nebraska NetFest, Heartland Havoc, Nebraska Showdown and the WellPower Movement.
Platinum partners for the Games include FMNE Insurance, Grand Island Tourism, Nebraska Orthopaedic Center and Pepsi-Cola of Lincoln.