Hundreds attend Valentine’s Day celebration in Valentine

VALENTINE, Neb. – A town with love in its name lived up to the moment as hundreds gathered for Valentine’s Day festivities that blended romance, reunion and ranch tradition.

Visitors traveled from near and far to be part of the annual celebration. Among them were Marv Vanoosten and Chris Phillips of Grand Rapids, newlyweds marking their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple.

“We got married January 26th in Las Vegas,” Phillips said.

“It’s kind of unique, very unique,” Phillips added about celebrating in the Heart City.

A centerpiece of the day was the long-running Heart City Bull Bash, which transforms Main Street into a showcase for cattle as traffic gives way to livestock pens and visiting producers.

Rod Gierau has participated in each of the event’s 25 years. The 90-year-old said bringing quality cattle to town, and seeing familiar faces, keeps him coming back.

“We feel like we have some of the better cattle in the country, and we like to get them exposed,” Gierau said.

He’s endured difficult conditions in the past.

“The snow and the cold and the wind,” he said.

This year’s milder temperatures made the gathering even more enjoyable, along with the opportunity to reconnect.

“It’s just like a family reunion,” Gierau said.

Beyond the bulls, visitors explored an art show, wine tasting, food vendors, exhibits and a quilt show. Children tried Western-themed activities set up throughout the celebration.