Spooner Rodeo Entertainment

Priefert Percherons, Rodeo Equine Entertainers

Sponsored by Duluth Clinic - Spooner

Priefert Percherons, equine entertainer

Chalk up another amazing Spooner Rodeo experience when the Priefert Percherons thunder into the Spooner arena at the 2010 Spooner Rodeo. Gentle giants with incredible size, strength, and capacity, powerful Percheron horses are a living tribute to this nation’s early days when real horse power moved America along its city streets, its country roads, and the great trails that took pioneers to their new homes in the American West.

Percherons are a breed of horse which originated in France, but they have been used as work horses in the United States for generations. The ancestors of today’s Percherons were known of in France as early as the 1600s. They became a favorite for use as war horses and later became stage coach horses, farm horses, and heavy haulers.

Priefert Percheron driver Jason Goodman began driving horses as a child and has taken the Priefert Hitch all around the U.S. to audiences, for example, at the Denver National Western Stock Show & Rodeo and the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, as well at at many other PRCA rodeos, horse fairs and parades across the country.

Priefert Manufacturing is a family enterprise, started in 1964 by Marvin Priefert working alone to produce and sell his first specially designed head gate. Now the company has more than 600 employees, with Marvin’s son, Bill, carrying on his father’s work, and yet another generation of Prieferts, Bill’s sons, stepping up to guarantee that family tradition will continue for many more years to come. The product line has grown to include rodeo and ranching animal confinement and handling equipment, for not only cattle, but horses, dogs, sheep and goats as well.

When you see the two big Priefert custom-designed 18-wheelers pull into town, you’ll know it’s time for Spooner Rodeo, our town’s longest-running and biggest, summertime event. For more information about the Rodeo, call 1-800-367-3306 or see www.spoonerrodeo. com.

Rodeo City Riders

Kids having fun playing

Proudly carrying The Stars and Stripes, the Rodeo City Riders Drill Team brings to life an exciting horsemanship performance that is truly patriotic and entertaining. With every member carrying Old Glory, the Rodeo City Riders pride themselves on consistently delivering an Americana-themed show that promises energetic music, intricate patterns, and a rousing finale that will inspire everyone in the audience.

Members of the RCR Drill Team belong to the Rodeo City Riders Saddle Club, Inc., also from Manawa. This non-profit organization sponsors a performing parade group, a fall trail ride, and a dinner/dance auction. The proceeds from these activities as well as monies earned by the RCR Drill Team are donated to area organizations with a focus on youth organizations, and therapeutic riding.

From the moment they enter the arena, until the last note has sounded, you’ll feel the thrill…and feel a chill…as the Rodeo City Riders inspire you to feel as they do:

"Proud To Be An American!"

Tim "Wild Thang" Lepard, Rodeo Clown

Sponsored by Johnson Bank - Spooner

Spooner Rodeo Entertainment - Tim 'Wild Thang' Lepard Monkeys riding dogs in the Spooner Rodeo arena. It’s happened before, but never quite like what you will see at the 2010 Spooner Rodeo. This year Spooner Rodeo Committee is excited to present the incomparable Tim "Wild Thang" Lepard and his Team Ghost Riders, little Capuchin monkeys, riding border collies, and herding sheep. This is truly an act that you have to see to believe.

Tim began his rodeo career as a bull rider, winning the Mesquite Rodeo championship in 1988. At that time, he was encouraged by the late, great bull riding champion Lane Frost and others to turn his talents to bull fighting and clowning as well. Fighting bulls was a bit of a natural progression, but it was also another often painful way to make a living, and Tim soon came up with his unique "team ghost" plan as a good alternative.

A member of the PRCA since 2004, Tim Lepard has been in rodeo for 28 years. At the International Finals Rodeo, he has been named three times the winner of "Comedy Act of the Year", three times the winner of "Dress Act of the Year", and one time as the winner of "Barrel man of the Year.” He is the only person to win all three awards in the same year. He has also been featured on America's Funniest Home Videos, FHM Magazine, Sports Illustrated and had a scheduled appearance on the Jay Leno Show and Steve Harvey's "Big Show". He has served on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Stock Dog Association.

Some of what he considers his most rewarding accomplishments have been his participation in the Make a Wish Foundation and the "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" Campaign that the PRCA has become involved in. Most often his Team Ghost Riders wear red, white and blue in their act to show patriotism, but at their performance at a rodeo in Washington, Lepard and all his team members were garbed instead in pink to show their support for the breast cancer campaign.

Nickel Scramble For Kids

Sponsored by Shell Lake State Bank

On Friday and Saturday nights, kids will have a whole new way to have fun this year at Spooner Rodeo when they take part in the exciting Nickel Scramble to win Rodeo Bucks!

Kids having fun playing

Children must be at least 36 inches tall (in bare feet) to participate. There will be two height divisions: 36-46 inches (with shoes on) 47-58 inches (with shoes on). Every child participating must be wearing an armband signifying they have a seat for that night’s rodeo performance. After the child’s height is measured, their hand will be marked with an X. The color of the X will signify which division they are in. At a predetermined time, the arena gate will be closed, and no more children will be allowed into the arena. The children will line up behind a chalk line, the rules will be read, and then the sponsor will toss out and spread the nickels into the marked section of the arena (12 feet from the chalk line to the south end of the arena). The 36 to 46-inch group will have 2 minutes to look for nickels, and the 46 to 58-inch group will have 1 minute to look for nickels.

When each height division is done scrambling, they will exit the arena through the east gate and be given a ticket for the Rodeo Bucks Raffle. As the first group of children exits, the next group will be lining up behind the chalk line and be ready to scramble. The Souvenir Booth will have the winning ticket numbers posted and will pass out Rodeo Bucks to the winners. Rodeo Bucks can be used either for food and refreshments, at the souvenir booth or at vendor booths. Note to adults: Rodeo Bucks may not be used to purchase beer. The vendors will be responsible for redeeming Bucks at the souvenir booth to receive cash reimbursement.

Note to kids: Remember these Nickel Scramble Rules - No Pushing, No Hitting, No Kicking, No Tripping, No Stealing Another Child’s Nickels

All kids must start and stop the Scramble at the whistle. All rule violators will forfeit nickels and not receive a Rodeo Bucks raffle ticket. Participants’ parents/guardians/other family members will not be allowed in the arena at any time.

Kelly Kenny, Rodeo Announcer

Spooner Rodeo Entertainment - Kelly Kenny He has been a rancher, a musician, a team roper, a steer wrestler, a rodeo coach, but Spooner Rodeo fans know Kelly Kenney as a favorite rodeo announcer. That's why the Spooner Rodeo Committee is pleased to welcome Kelly back again for another round of calling the action and explaining the plans and strategies of the sport and the people competing, not to mention deciphering some of the clown's jokes. Mounted on his faithful horse, Kelly Kenney has a unique style of announcing, a way of informing the spectators while making them feel like a part of the production themselves. It has made him a popular professional rodeo announcer ever since his debut in 2001.

Kelly Kenney was born in 1975 and grew up in southwestern Missouri riding and rounding up cattle with his two brothers. He has attended rodeos since he was a small boy and early on came to feel that a cowboy’s way of life is like no other. Wanting that way of life for himself, Kelly began competing in high school rodeos as a team roper and a steer wrestler.

Because of his love of sports, he began announcing basketball games after injuries forced him to quit competing in rodeos. He added a musical career to his growing resume, then Kelly's silky-smooth baritone voice, his knowledge of rodeo and his lifelong love for it eventually led him to the profession he is proud to pursue today, announcing rodeos.

For a time he was a rodeo coach on the college level, and a sought-after amateur rodeo announcer, who won "Announcer of the Year" awards at that level four times. Still, Kelly wanted to follow his longtime dream of announcing professional rodeos. "I've always had a lot of respect for announcers, for their knowledge and sharp wit," Kelly explains. "The American cowboy is a big part of our everyday lives, and I’m honored to carry on the tradition."

So, sit back or on the edge of your bleacher seat, more likely, as today's great rodeo action unfolds, you are in good hands with Kelly Kenney holding the reins. He always wants to do his best for you "to give the fans the show they deserve because they are the backbone of the sport," he says.

EllieMay Kay & the Boogie Junction Band

She has a special way with a song, a great big smile and a musical style that will make you want to hear more, more and still more of Miss Ellie May Kay. And all you have to do is head over to the food area after each 2010 Rodeo performance. That’s where you’ll find Ellie May and the great country sound of the Boogie Junction Band. They’ve become one of Wisconsin’s most popular entertainment groups.

Ellie May Kay & Boogie Junction Band (EMK & BJB) have worked all around the Midwest, including fairs and Country Fest, Country Jam, and Country USA in Wisconsin, and casinos and saloons in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. They’ve also played some big country music spots like Austin, TX and Frontier Days in Cheyenne, WY.

Look for some changes in EMK & BJB personnel this year as some players have moved on and others have tried out in their places. Working as “Twain Trax,” the Shania Twain tribute band, has also added some and left out others. Nevertheless, there’s always a great country music sound when Ellie May Kay, aka “EMK – The Musician’s Wife,” is on stage with the BJB band. In the past year, they’ve performed in many Wisconsin towns and even had gigs in the Country Music Capital, Nashville, TN.

In the past, EMK & BJB have opened for country artists such as Dierks Bentley, Hal Ketchum, Little River Band, Emerson Drive, Dirt Band, Brad Paisley, Little Texas, Neal McCoy, Shawn Camp, Kenny Chesney and Joe Nichols. You can catch their great Wisconsin country sound on Country Music Television (CMT), Great American Country (GAC), Clear Channel Communications, plus Ladies of Country Music (LOCM) and local country radio stations.

You can check these web sites for more information:
www.elliemaykay.com
www.boogiejunction.com