Home > About > Lakeside Rodeo_ Recap of 2021 Talent And Rodeo Events

Lakeside Rodeo_ Recap of 2021 Talent And Rodeo Events

Photo: Bob Ryan
www.rdryanphotography.com/

2021 Lakeside Rodeo Talent Line Up

2021 PRCA Announcer: Reed Flake
2021 PRCA Music Director: Amy Flake
2021 Rodeo Clown & Barrelman: John Beck
Stock Contractor: Western Rodeo Company
Pre-performance Entertainer: Danny "Buffalo Chip" Alvernaz
PRCA Photographer(s): Gene Hyder, Andrea Kaus, Fernando Sam-Sin
PRCA Judges: Mike Jones, Rocky Steagall, & Casey Vollin
PRCA Bull Fighters: AJ Lutz & Austin Rudloff

Welcome Reed Flake, 2021 Lakeside Rodeo Announcer

PRCA Announcer Reed Flake Joins the 2021 Lakeside Rodeo

John Beck, 2021 Lakeside Rodeo Clown

John Beck joins the 2021 Lakeside Rodeo as our Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo Clown. Originally from from Sandy, Utah, John and his wife Melissa along with their son, JR, now resides in Bluffdale, Utah.

John has always had a strong passion for the sport of rodeo.... at the age of 8, John began working with professional rodeo clowns and he would help them with their acts. (Deseret News, 2005) In fact, when he was even younger, Beck would practice painting his face to see what clown camouflage (style) fit his taste. He also put a bullhead onto the family wheelbarrow and made his older brother chase him around the yard. When his friends came over, he would climb into a 55-gallon barrel and make them push him around. "They'd roll him down the hill," said Bruce Beck, Beck's father. "He'd roll down and hit a fence. He had no padding." Beck said that's just what he and his friends would do to hang out. "As long as I can remember I wanted to be a rodeo clown," he added.

John says he owes a lot of his success to his good friend and mentor, PRCA Clown Kevin Higley, who traditionally fills the Lakeside Arena with laughter but is not able to join in with the 2021 performance. (2005, Deseret News) John Beck attended rodeo school in Ogden, Utah, when he was 13 years old and where he was chosen by veteran Barrelman Kevin Higley of Hooper, UT to perform for the first time at the Saturday night rodeo. "At the time we had this little rodeo that was going to go on," Higley said. "I think it was just like a performance we were putting on for some foreign visitors, but he (John) showed enough promise at the time, and had enough enthusiasm, that I thought 'This kid needs to know what it's like to perform in front of people." After that first weekend working with John Beck, Higley said he knew Beck "darn sure had some pretty good talent and since then he has come pretty far." Higley also said it was refreshing to see someone with Beck's dedication. By the age of 18, John was formally accepted into the PRCA as a Rodeo Clown, in recognition of his hard work and dedicated apprenticeships.

In his arena career, John has worked rodeos from Coast to Coast and is a 2 time Wilderness Circuit Finals Barrelman of the Year.
John shares, "I love the people and to make them laugh, and I love to be inside the barrel when the bulls are hitting it," he said. "That's a pretty big rush."
John works for Godfrey Trucking, a medium to long-haul trucking business, out of Utah as the Driver Relations Manager.

Lakeside Rodeo is fortunate to have a rodeo clown of John's experience step in this year and he says he considers it a real honor to clown at the 2021 Lakeside Rodeo!

PRCA Music Director @Lakeside Rodeo_ Amy Flake

Amy Flake is the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Music Director (Sound) at the 2021 Lakeside Rodeo. Amy and the 2021 Rodeo Announcer, Reed Flake, are married and Amy shared how she became involved in the production side of rodeo.

Amy was a paramedic and she found herself working long days on shift... and often when she was not on shift Reed would be away at a rodeo as he built up his Announcer's experience, often trying to call the rodeo and do sound production by himself. Amy decided to take the lead on Sound and through hard work and training Amy earned her PRCA Music Director's card which is a mark of top-notch professionalism in rodeo.

How many songs and sound effects does Amy have?

Amy shared that in her "rodeo toolbox" she has several thousands of hours of music, songs, and sound effects". Amy does listen to the radio constantly, but it is always with the thought of, ..."how the song playing will work with the arena action... hmmm, it would be good here".

How does she choose music?

When asked how she chose songs and sound effects for a rodeo, Amy said, "Music is a form of communication (with the spectators and contestants), and it changes with every rodeo because every rodeo town is different, has a unique flavor".

Most people are not aware that production personnel arrive a few days before the rodeo starts and this gives them time to get to know the town, the people, the rodeo committee, and helps them begin to create a wonderful sound package just for that event. But is the music just all pre-choreographed, we asked? "No, I have to pay (constant) attention to the Announcer and to the arena. Because timing and arena action changes in a split second, so will my music and sounds effects choices. It is a rollercoaster ride through the whole rodeo, and it is a privilege to be involved, to help people feel the emotions!" As a truly seasoned sound person, Amy shares that she can now do the job with her back turned to the arena as she can recognize the actions based on sounds and the Announcer's words.

So how do the announcer and Music Director communicate?

No set cues, it simply comes down to Amy being hyper aware of what Reed is saying as he calls the action, the action out of the chutes or gates, and immediately responding with a fun sound... Amy shared that she does have a personal goal during a rodeo performance... "I know that, if I can get Reed to laugh at something (with a sound effect or song), I've done good because Reed is the ultimate prankster!"

So, although Amy and Reed travel to rodeos most weeks, what do they do when not on the road?

"Reed is a Jack of all trades, a hard worker, and he lends a helping hand where needed. Our oldest son, Skyler owns 4 semi-trucks, so Reed is always busy." They also have 2 more children who are married and enjoying great careers from Entrepreneur to Ranch Foreman. Along with their wonderful sons and daughter and their wonderful spouses, Amy and Reed are also blessed with their own small herd of amazing grandchildren. Amy spends time with family, playing with her grandkids, and in her garden… and of course she has to keep up her end of ‘being the quiet prankster in the family” and trying to make Reed laugh every day. She shares that they have a very active Youtube Channel and vlog, which means Amy also spends many, many hours every week editing videos (she has a part time co-editor to supervise too) as well as responding to their growing legion of fans who communicate and message because their fans truly matter to Reed and Amy.

Give Amy a Thumbs ups and a wave!

As you sit in the bleachers at the rodeo performance, stomping your feet to the rockin’ music, cheering when the rider hangs on for 8 seconds, or groaning as you hear the buzzer as the rider dismounts before time, remember to look up at the Announcers Booth in the tallest structure above the chutes and give a big ol’ wave to Amy, your Fantastic Music Director for the 2021 Lakeside Rodeo!

Professional Rodeo Bullfighter, AJ Lutz

AJ Lutz steps into the direct path of the bull while on his way to protect the downed contestant at the Lakeside Rodeo.
Photo by PRCA Photographer, Gene Hyder, https://hyderphoto.smugmug.com

The 2021 Lakeside Rodeo is proud to announce that renown PRCA Bullfighter, AJ Lutz, will be in the arena during the August 27th, 28th, & 29th performances of the 2021 Lakeside Rodeo.

AJ hails from Greeley, Colorado originally and now makes his home in Desert Hills, Arizona with his wife, Shelby. They are expecting their first child in early 2022!

AJ is a long time veteran of the arena with many professional rodeos under his suspenders protecting rough stock riders from the bulls... AJ is incredibly talented in gauging the reactions of the bucking bull and rider, sweeping in to free any rider hung up in his gear, or who has been shifted airborne by the twisting bull ... which is when AJ literally throws himself into the 1,500lb+ bull's path to give the downed rider time to clear out of the arena. As long as that contestant has not climbed a rail, or been cleared out of the arena, AJ will continue to engage the bull's full attention his way with forward moves, horn touches, dips and twirls that can leave the spectators on the edge of their seats.

Asked why he puts himself in profesasional harm's way to protect the contestants, AJ responds with, "The adrenaline rush you get is indescribable!"

When he is not fighting bulls, AJ can be found at the other end of the arena, Team Roping. "I have been roping my whole life and I eventually plan to train and sell top quality roping horses... of course that's when I am not on the road bullfighting" he says with a grin.

Click here and check out AJ's promo of some of his toughest bullfighting

Austin Rudloff PRCA Bullfighter_ Lakeside in 2021

1 of 2

Austin Rudloff, PRCA Bullfighter, of Stephenville, Texas, grew up around rodeo. Austin's Dad, Gerry Byrn, was a rodeo bullfighter for many, many years and ultimately retired to own the Diamond Cross Rodeo (Stock Contractor; Rodeo, PBR & Western Event Producer) along with partner, Wesley McManus. Austin spent his childhood immersed in the traditions and hard work of rodeo production.

When Austin was 20 years old he started to professionally fight bulls and rodeoed in 2 Texas circuits, CPRA and the UPRA. By age twenty-four (24) he had his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association permit, a recognition of skill and professionalism in the rodeo arena.

Day to day, Austin is one busy guy as he spends most days on the road moving stock, setting up arenas, lending a hand, and helping to keep the sport of rodeo front and center as our western heritage.

A graduate of Tarleton State University, Texas, with an business agriculture degree, Austin is equally as excited to see where his professional bullfighting career takes him and says, "I am blessed to be at Lakeside (in 2021)".

Photo credit link: Kierce Photography

Western Rodeo Company, Stock Contractor

Western Rodeo Company, led by Mr. Ted Groene, will once again be the featured stock contractor for the 2020 Lakeside Rodeo.
Outstanding stock, professional crews and a dedication to the sport of rodeo is what sets Western Rodeo Company above the rest!

Ted Groene

Ted Groene was born in 1961 and raised near Clayton, Calif., which is located northeast of the Bay Area. That area of the state all the way down the Central Coast is known for cattle and ranching. According to Groene, the area has a large cowboy population.

And Groene is definitely a cowboy. He grew up around horses all his life, was involved in 4H and as a freshman in high school, he got involved with the rodeo team, where he immediately took to bullfighting.

In fact, he fought bulls from 1979 to 1994. His bullfighting career ended as the PBR was just beginning, so he mainly fought at PRCA events throughout his career.

In 1993, he was 32 years old when he had a bull hook him in the face. He ruptured his right eye and crushed the eye socket. And while that injury put an end to his bullfighting career, he had already long since been involved on the production side of the sport. He had been working nearly fulltime for Western Rodeo during the week and working with Robinson - as far back as the mid-80s - when he wasn't fighting bulls.

Ted Groene said, "... I think being around the livestock, handling the livestock, being with it and working it made me a better bullfighter because you could get to reading the livestock better. You could read livestock and a lot of guys can't really do that.

"If you can read livestock, it puts you in a better position."

Western Rodeo will definitely be bringing top quality stock to the 2018 Lakeside Rodeo, producing an fast paced, professional event for each of the 4 performances.

Rodeo Performance Facts

Daily Performance Schedule_The Slip Sheet

The daily schedule of rodeo arena events and assigned riders per performance is not available until the day of the actual performance.

That schedule is called a "Slip Sheet". You will receive a free performance Slip Sheet at the gates when you enter the rodeo arena for seating.

The Slip Sheet is not produced prior to the day of the performance because contestants can cancel their entry up to the day of competition. Cancellation of participation by a competitor is called a "turn out".

Each of the performances will feature the full 7 events of rodeo (see below).

The contestants per each event in a performance are different as contestants traditionally ride and then leave to travel to another rodeo, trying to fit in as many rides in a weekend that they can to make money and qualify for the annual National Finals Rodeo.

The stock, the animal athletes, are traditionally fresh for each performance.

Interested in being a sponsor of the Slip Sheet? Call (619) 561-4331 and ask for a Lakeside Rodeo sponsor rep to return your call.

The 7 Events of Lakeside's Professional Rodeo

Bareback
Steer Wrestling
Team Roping
Saddle Bronc
Tie-Down Roping
Barrel Racing
Bull Riding

The seven events can be broken down into two categories; the roughstock or judged events are bareback, saddle bronc, and bull riding.
The timed events are steer wrestling, barrel racing, tie-down and team roping.

Scoring of Roughstock Events

Scoring for the roughstock events is the same for bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding, although different criteria exist for judging the animals in each of these events. All cowboys competing in the roughstock events must use only one hand to ride and if the rider touches himself or the animal with the rider's free hand the judges will call a disqualification and the rider gets a "no score".

To receive a score, a cowboy must make a qualified 8 second ride. Once the buzzer sounds and there is no disqualification, the ride receives a score given by 2 official Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association judges. Scores are given to both the competitor and the animal. Each judge scores 1-25 points for the cowboy and 1-25 points for the animal, with a maximum score being 100 points or a perfect ride.

Scoring of Timed Events

Timed events of steer wrestling, barrel racing, tie-down and team roping use stopwatches and timing devices to track the times for each event, and the lowest time wins. All the timed events, except barrel racing use a barrier, which is strung across the roping chutes that the horse and rider exit from at the start of their competition. This makes the event more challenging as the barrier prevents the competitor from getting too much of a head start on the livestock. "Breaking the barrier" too soon results in a time penalty in each event except in barrel racing.

Barrel racers enter the arena at a fast speed past a timing device. The ultimate goal of a successful barrel racing run is to negotiate the cloverleaf pattern in the fastest time without knocking over any of the three strategically placed barrels. A tipped barrel adds five seconds to the rider's final time, and any deviation from the cloverleaf pattern results in a no score.