Arena Crew
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Jim Snyder |
Jim Snyder, arena manager, and his and crew oversee all the action in the arena and keep it moving for an exciting, thrill-packed performance.
Pick-Up Men, easily identified by their big colorful chaps, not only have to grab adrenaline-filled cowboys, they then have to usher the stock back into their chutes.
Gatekeepers open the chute gates when the cowboy nods that he’s ready.
Flank Men tighten the flank strap that encourages the horse to buck right before the cowboy leaves the chute. Bulls’ straps are tightened before the cowboy mounts.
Judges decide which bronc riders and bull riders win, as they judge the quality of the rider and the stock, giving one score for each.
Flag Bearers: Every rodeo in the country starts with the Star Spangled Banner. Kelly Potter leads ours off, riding the arena carrying the American flag. Other flag bearers show the colors of the state of Colorado and our sponsors’ flags and lead winning contestants on their victory laps around the arena.
Stock Pushers, many of them youngsters whose parents are involved in the rodeo, move the stock around the arena through the chutes.
Stripping Chute Men pull the ropes off steer heads and the rigging of the bucking stock.
In the Crow’s Nest:
That little booth perched on top of the bucking chutes is a busy place during the rodeo.
Announcer Mike Land describes the action in the arena, keeping track of the contestants, explaining each event, offering background tidbits on the contestants, introducing specialty acts, announcing the sponsors and the event winners.
Timer Janet Haas keeps her eyes glued to the clock for the timed events, including barrel racing, team roping and dally ribbon roping.
Rodeo Secretary Katie Ford collects entry fees, keeps track of the winners each night, does the weekly stat tally and writes the award checks following each rodeo.
