Rodeo Personnel

Announcer - Justin McKee

Behind the mike this year offering descriptions, explanations, and good humor will be Justin McKee.

Justin hails from Lenapah, Oklahoma and started his rodeo career as a steer and calf roper. His "other occupation" is as a rancher and cattle dealer. As a young announcer, he has applied his talents as Master of Ceremonies for Miss Rodeo America pageants, NFR internet audio broadcasts on Prorodeo.com and has qualified as a finalist for PRCA Announcer of the Year several times. We welcome him back to our team and look forward to his good humored and descriptive commentary.

Barrel Clown

JJ Harrison

Photo by Kent Soule

JJ Harrison hails from Walla Walla, Washington and has "always loved to perform and make people laugh...from the classroom to the arena". Harrison left his steady teaching position and its benefits after eight years to pursue his bullfighting/clowning dreams. He says, "I think I'm the only clown with a Masters degree." He uses his abilities as an entertaining clown to bridge fans to contestants and to rodeo in general.

He's, also, a kid magnet and has worked with public schools in his hometown area in a bullying prevention effort, getting children to talk about the realities of bullying and the right ways to address this emerging, serious concern for families and schools as today's youth tap into ways to target each other that transcend playground taunts. His efforts teaching and entertaining have not gone unnoticed: He has been booked at many of the PRCA's top events including as Barrel Clown at the National Finals Rodeo, a particularly meaningful honor because selection is made by his peers... other clowns and the contestants.

We look forward to having this greatly talented and insightful entertainer in our arena providing color, action, fun, and laughter for all. Don't miss JJ at his best!

Bullfighters

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In rodeo's early days, clowns were entertainers first, protectors of bull riders second. But in today's sport of professional rodeo, protecting bull riders from serious injury or death is no joking matter.

Clowns are serious about saving bull riders, and often will put their lives in jeopardy. The men in the funny outfits have honed their skills and methods of distracting bulls, giving cowboys time to escape to the nearest fence railing or open gate.

About two decades ago, bullfighters started competing amongst themselves in informal bullfights, pushing each other to the edges of daredevil stunts. In 1980, Wrangler sponsored the first Wrangler Jeans ProRodeo Bullfight Tour, to entice and reward the unique, hardworking professional rodeo bullfighters.

The rodeo breed of bullfighting bears no resemblance to the Spanish event bearing the same name. In rodeo bullfighting, the four-legged contestants always leave the arena alive and unharmed.

At St. Paul, the primary focus of the clowns is first to protect the contestants and then to entertain the crowd.

Stock Contractors

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Top cowboys require exceptional rodeo stock. Cowboys compete for money and standings, and to get the high scores needed to win, stock must perform as well or better than the cowboy. We have brought together a group of professional stock contractors to provide this caliber of performing stock.

Bridwell Pro Rodeo from Red Bluff, CA has taken over management of the partnership created between Tim Bridwell and Growney Brothers Rodeo in 2005 when Bridwell became manager of Growney Brothers' bucking horse program. Between the partners are two ranches with over 2500 acres of owned and leased land which houses annually 50 bucking bulls, 200 bucking horses and 400 calves and steers. In 2017, The Bridwells took the reins of the company and John Growney has been able to concentrate more on public relations and enjoy semi-retirement. Bridwell Pro Rodeo will now carry on the tradition that has been so richly embedded in rodeo history!

Third generation rodeo producer and stock contractor, Korkow Rodeos has been producing rodeos for over 60 years. Pierre, South Dakota, has been home to the Korkow family since the 1920s. Over 90% of Korkow bucking stock is raised at their 20,000 acre ranch, the Anchor K, nestled in the rolling hills of the Missouri River.

Big Stone Rodeo Company from Alberta, Canada joins us this year with its premium bucking bulls.

Corey & Lang, Greeley CO, Flying Diamond Rodeo Company, Moses Lake, WA, and Big Stone, Moreno & Growney Rodeo round out our team of contractors.

With our corrals filled with all this fine stock, cowboys come from the entire continent to compete for the biggest pieces of the pie!