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Seven cowboys, including Joe Applegarth of Hyannis and Bill O’Connor of Ogallala, have been inducted into the Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame.

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The Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the western lifestyle or horse culture in the areas of competition, business, support of rodeo in the western lifestyle in the Sandhills of Nebraska.

Contributions are recognized in rodeo, ranching, rodeo stock contractors, western arts, western entertainment and special achievement awards, according to the hall of fame website.

The 2012 inductees are:

Joe Applegarth – Hyannis

Charles Winston (C.W.) Brown – Rushville

Albert Hebbert – Ashby

Albert Owen (Pete) Jones – Whitman

Bill O’Connor – Ogallala

Harold V. Perrin – Hyannis

Duane Wilson – Arthur

The awarding of the plaques to the new inductees and induction ceremony was held in Hyannis on June 24.

The Sandhills of Nebraska is a vast area of grass covered sand dunes. The Sandhills is home to cattle ranching and a large number of quality cattle. With ranching and cattle, come horses and cowboys. Since the last half of the 1800s, cowmen and cowboys have been drawn to and raised in the area.

The Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame is in Ainsworth. It was founded in 2006.

Since its inception, 20 individuals were inducted in 2006, 11 in 2007, 10 in 2008, 6 in 2009, 5 in 2010 and 5 in 2011. Three women have been inducted to date.

Rodney Palmer, an Ainsworth lawyer and rancher, organized the hall and is the executive secretary. The board of directors is from 18 counties -- Holt, Rock, Keya Paha, Brown, Cherry, Loup, Garfield, Blaine, Thomas, Custer, Hooker, Grant, Arthur, Sheridan, Lincoln, Keith, McPherson and Logan.

Anyone wanting to nominate an individual into the Hall of Fame can obtain a nomination form by calling (402) 387-2212 or (402) 387-2740. The website is HERE.

Inductees must be 50 years or older or deceased and have made extraordinary contributions to the Western Lifestyle or horse culture in the areas of competition, business, support of rodeo, rodeo, stock contractors, western arts, western entertainment and special achievement in the State of Nebraska.