Rodeo Personnel

Announcer

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

Justin hails from Hico, Texas and started his rodeo career as a steer and calf roper. He works on his own cattle business where they finish and process cows and calves to the market. Justin has applied his talents as Master of Ceremonies for Miss Rodeo America pageants, NFR internet audio broadcasts on Prorodeo.com, hosted the PBR and has qualified as a finalist for PRCA Announcer of the Year several times. Justin now broadcasts for the Cowboy Channel. We welcome him back to our team and look forward to his good humored and descriptive commentary.

Announcer

Hailing from Pendleton, Oregon, Marty Campbell is a rodeo announcer and Ag Ed teacher/FFA advisor.

Marty Campbell started his career in rodeo like many others in the sport. Riding calves and steers as a youngster naturally turned into riding bigger critters as a teen. He began riding bucking horses early in high school. Campbell qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo twice. While starting his riding career in the PRCA, a life-altering accident occurred at a rodeo in Vancouver, Washington, where Campbell sustained a severe neck injury that ultimately ended his riding career. Fortunately, his role as the student director for the Northwest Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association paved the way for him to explore the business side of rodeo. Working closely with notable figures like NIRA Commissioner Tim Corfield and NFR General Manager Shawn Davis, he gained invaluable experience in producing events, including the CNFR. Campbell's dedication and expertise led to a decade-long tenure as the Openings Production Manager at the CNFR, while also contributing as on-air talent for ESPN's broadcast of the event. Alongside these accomplishments, he took up rodeo announcing, ultimately embracing it as a way to give back to the sport he loves.

Barrel Clown

JJ Harrison

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

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 ore better than the cowboy. We have brought together a group of professional stock contractors to provide this caliber of performing stock.

Clowns are serious about saving bull riders, and ofeten will put their lives in jeopardy. The men in the funny outfits have honed their ckills 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 poullfights, 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 peofessional 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. St. Paul has put together a team of three dynamic, energetic men to do just that! Dave Murdoch returns to St. Paul's historic arena to work with Josh Daries, Salinas CA, who returns to St. Paul after very exciting experiences here last year. Completing the trio and new to St. Paul, is Logan Blasdell, Prineville OR. Look forward to great gasps of breath as our bullfighters' head-spinning antics provide just the right distraction to the bulls to allow cowboys to make it to safety. Hold on to your hats!

Pickup Men

Pickup Men in rodeo play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of both riders and animals during rodeo events. They are skilled horsemen who work closely with bucking stock, especially in events like saddle bronc and bareback riding.

Their primary responsibility is to assist riders in safely dismounting from the bucking horses or bulls once their ride is completed. This involves expertly positioning their horses to allow for a smooth and controlled dismount for the rodeo contestant. Pickup Men are also tasked with guiding the bucking animals out of the arena, helping to calm them and ensure they exit without causing any disruptions.

Our Pickup Men are incredible and we're so grateful to have them. Meet Jared Gill, Jerad McFarlane, J2 Brown and Mitch Coleman.

Stock Contractors

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.

The Flying Five and Big Bend Rodeo Companies, based in Ritzville and Central Ferry, Washington, supply "Born to Buck" stock to rodeos throughout the Western states. The partnership between two families began more than 70 years ago and produces and presents award winning bucking stock which challenges cowboys and delights spectators.

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 returns this year with its premium bucking bulls.

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

Videographer

Wyatt Wentz is the mastermind behind those jaw-dropping videos at the St. Paul Rodeo!

Raised on a ranch in Prosser, WA where his family raised bucking bulls, Wyatt’s family (Wentz Bucking Bulls) brings bulls to the St. Paul Rodeo. Wyatt’s passion for video started in high school when he made videos to promote his family's rodeo company. After 4 years of playing college baseball, and coaching baseball after college, Wyatt realized his true passion was rodeo. He saw how committees needed video to promote and elevate their rodeos. Wyatt has created videos for many rodeos including the NFR, Ellensburg, and the American and he works closely with western brands like Wrangler and Teton Ridge to help promote and grow the sport of rodeo.

Sound

Austin Lopeman, Lopeman Sound

Scoreboard

Randy Fery, Pro West Productions