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

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, his hometown 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!

Sponsored by Operating Engineers Local 701

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.

Our Primary Stock Contractor,
Four Star Rodeo Co.

Flying Five and Big Bend Rodeo Companies
Big Stone Rodeo Company
Western Rodeos
Mazca Pro Rodeo
Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics
Korkow Rodeos
Legacy Pro Rodeo
Julio Moreno

Team Roping Steers: Brent Palmer
Tie Down & Breakaway Calves: John McGill
Steer Wrestling Steers: Legacy Pro Rodeo

Junior Bulls: Rusty Gorham

Secretary: Debi Davis
Timers: Dee Dee Dickinson, Millie Coleman

Publicity Representative: Ruth Nicolaus

Scoreboard

Pro West Productions- Randy Fery

Growing up in the beautiful Oregon Willamette Valley, Randy was raised on a farm in Stayton, OR, where he still resides with his wife, Jill.

His farming background was the perfect environment for the transition to rodeo business.

He began his rodeo scoreboard/production business in 2003 and has grown successfully each year. Pro West has been selected for video productions for many West Coast rodeos and events, including the Columbia River Circuit Finals, California Circuit Finals and Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Finals, Reno Rodeo Ellensburg Rodeo, St. Paul Rodeo and Rodeo Salinas.

Randy not only provides the video screen highlighting contestant information, stats and standings, the video crew also provide the video feed to the big screen and video feed for the Cowboy Channel.

The Pro West crew proudly represent the best screen content and video production possible.

What had begun as business acquaintances rapidly became lifelong friendships with every rodeo.

https://prowestsb.com/

PHOTOGRAPHER

Roseanna Sales lives in Moses Lake, Washington, where she raises two daughters with her husband. She picked up a camera at 12 and spent a decade shooting weddings and portraits before chasing her dream of rodeo photography in 2016.

She joined the PRCA in 2017 and made an immediate impact—earning PRCA Photographer of the Year and being selected as an NFR photographer her rookie year. Since then, she’s photographed the NFR five times (including in-arena as one of the first women), covered the Ram National Circuit Finals four times, and earned national recognition for her published and award-winning work.

You can find more of her work at www.roseannasales.com

She’ll be photographing the St. Paul Rodeo alongside a second shooter, Lara St. Jacques, capturing everything from arena action to the quiet moments that make this event special.

Sound

Lopeman Sound

Originally from Red Bluff, CA, Chuck and Austin moved to Rogue River, OR 4 years ago.

Chuck Lopeman never knew he would be the music maestro of any rodeo but 27 years later he has cemented his legacy in St. Paul and always tried to make every performance more enjoyable. From tapping peoples toes to making people “SHOUT” he has now passed on his special talents to his son Austin. Austin has been filling his father’s shoes and didn’t skip a beat from where his dad left off! He makes sure that everyone is having a good time and it helps that he is rocking out in the sound booth like the rest of the crowd! He has been nominated 2x as a Top 5 Music Director of The Year by the PRCA and has the pleasure of mixing at some of the biggest shows in our game. When asked Austin and Chuck what they love so much about St. Paul they said this, “St. Paul is like a second home for us, everyone has been like family and we are so thankful for that. The crowds on another note are amazing, they know when to clap to a song without being prompted and know when to sing in any song!”

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.

Wyatt will be capturing the sights and sounds of the St. Paul Rodeo, working alongside second shooter Logan Allen to ensure every moment is caught from start to finish.