Contract Personnel Named for WNFR and NFSR
by ProRodeo.com | Sep 20, 2016
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The contract personnel for the Dec. 1-10 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER and the Nov. 11-12 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping have been announced, and the lists feature some familiar names.
For the fourth straight year, the trio of announcers for the WNFR remains the same. Boyd Polhamus of Brenham, Texas, Randy Corley of Silverdale, Wash., and Wayne Brooks of Lampasas, Texas, will be on the microphone for the 10 nights in Las Vegas. It marks the 18th consecutive year Polhamus will announce the WNFR, and his 21st overall. It’s Corley’s 16th WNFR appearance, and the sixth of Brooks’ career.
Livestock superintendent John Barnes of Sutherland, Iowa, makes his 11th consecutive WNFR appearance, and is joined by chute bosses Tony Amaral of Marysville, Calif. (timed event) and Tom Neuens of Powell, Wyo. (roughstock). Ryan Brown of Ft. Laramie, Wyo., is the assistant livestock superintendent, while Benje Bendele of Dublin, Texas, is the music director.
Sunni Deb Backstrom of Congress, Ariz., is the WNFR secretary, which marks the 11th year in a row she has been selected, and the 14th overall. Amanda Corley Sanders of Pagosa Springs, Colo., is the assistant secretary.
Timer Jayme Pemberton of Terrell, Texas, is making her inaugural WNFR trip, and is joined by Jessi Franzen of Riverton, Wyo. (third straight year) and Amy Muller of Agar, S.D., who’s making her second trip in a row. Vickie Shireman of Elk City, Okla., is the office manager.
On the NFSR side, Charlie Throckmorton of Grandview, Texas, and Curt Robinson of Pendleton, Ore., will handle the announcing duties.
Throckmorton has announced the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping 16 times in a row, 17 times overall – second only to legendary rodeo announcer McSpadden himself (27 times and 17 in a row). Robinson makes his 12th appearance at the NFSR, and first since 1995.
Chute boss John Gwatney of Marquez, Texas, is back for his seventh consecutive trip, while usher Jeff Rector of Kansas City, Mo., and secretary Darla Kelley of Kansas City, Mo., each make their first appearance.
Timer Mary Brunner of Bergheim, Texas, makes her fifth trip, and first since 2008, and is joined by Bonnie Cusimano, who makes her first appearance at the NFSR. Jill Franzen Loden of Weatherford, Texas, is back as the music director for the second time.
Courtesy of PRCA