• PRCA headliners Rogge and Harrison announce, entertain
Cokeville’s annual Pioneer Day celebration features the Stock and Saddle Club Junior and Open Rodeos, which welcome fans Friday and Saturday, July 24-25 in the Cokeville arena. The Junior Rodeo is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday morning and opening ceremonies are set to begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday for the Open Rodeo. PRCA announcer, Kade Rogge, and professional rodeo clown, JJ Harrison headline as announcer and clown, respectively, bringing uncommon firepower to the small-town rodeos.
This year’s celebration offers an invitational bronc riding event. “We have contacted the top 30 bronc riding athletes in the nation to come and join us on this bronc riding,” said Justin McKinnon, who is an organizer with the event. “We have some added money. For the winner, we have got a silver bar that they will receive. We are super stoked about this, and we are really excited to have JJ and Kade.”
RELATED: RADIO INTERVIEW WITH JUSTIN MCKINNON –
A former high school and collegiate rodeo athlete, Rogge grew up in Southern Idaho and loves the opportunity to work small-town events in Idaho and Wyoming. “It just really means coming home for me,” Rogge said in an interview with the SVI Radio Network. “Theres something that really grabs my heart at a smalltown rodeo with volunteers who have put it together. It’s the people who work for absolutely no money all year round – that’s what really makes me buy into Cokeville. I want this to be their best rodeo they have ever had there, just because I see their passion and how hard they are working.”
Announcing rodeo helps Rogge to keep the sport close and he thrives on the excitement that fans experience. “I’m just as excited as everybody else. I’m a real person and I kind of wear it on my sleeve. There’s nothing fake about it. That’s what makes me love my job. It’s pretty fun.”
Working with Harrison, Rogge expects high energy. “He is everywhere. Never a dull moment with JJ. He doesn’t miss anything. The guy is just a character and a good guy. From start to finish, he’s like the energizer bunny. I expect no down time. I know he’s excited to go. Who knows what he has in store for us?”
Harrison joined the interview, commenting, “I have never been to the metropolis that is Cokeville, but I love Wyoming. The Wyoming [rodeo] fan is a little bit different to work, because they are kind of rodeo savvy. You don’t get that everywhere. It’s great because they know what’s going on and they know how hard my skinny butt’s working to entertain them. They appreciate that. You also have to remember that they want to make sure they get every run, every ride, so you gotta stay out of their way a little bit.”
Acknowledging that his job is one of the most dangerous in the athletic field, Harrison says his motivation is simple. “I have just been too lazy to work and too scared to steal. This is one of those jobs I just was born to do it.”
Harrison, also a former rodeo athlete, holds a Master’s degree and has taught school, but he’s drawn to a unique joy in his work. “I just want people to always be comfortable and sometimes it takes a little peanut head like me to run up and be the connection for them.” Harrison’s appeal lies in his ability to engage the crowd by involving them in the entertainment. “You want an audience to be part of your comedy. To do that, you have to wing it. I don’t know what is going to happen. There are going to be people who are going to appear in the stands who are going to be energetic themselves who are going to want to be involved, and you use them as part of your comedy, and that makes it very relevant. It makes people tell the story the next day around coffee.”
Additional offerings at the Cokeville Pioneer Day celebration include a parade at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and a live concert and dance featuring the music of “Rough Stock” following the open rodeo at 8:30 in the arena.
