The “man behind the microphone” at the Phillipsburg rodeo for the 40th year.
Started with Kansas Biggest Rodeo in 1984, even before he was married to his wife Michelle.
Is a 22-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo announcer and 12-time PRCA Announcer of the Year.
Works with his wife, Michelle, who is a timer; she helps with announcer’s “homework” – daysheets and standings.
“She drags me along” to rodeos, he jokes. But they make a good team. “She’s a lot better than I ever deserved, but I’m not giving her back,” he laughs.
Loves the people of Phillipsburg. “You see people at the rodeo, and they say, ‘nice to have you back.’ Then you go into town, to the grocery store, and they say, ‘hey, Randy, good to have you back.’ It makes it really fun, really nice.”
Is a father to three daughters and a son and a grandfather to four girls.
Favorite holiday: Christmas, “because it’s about Jesus and grandchildren and being with the family.”
Favorite beverage: “That has changed, over the years. A good cabernet, or a glass of ice water.”
Morning or evening person: “That has changed, too. I used to do the morning shows in North Platte on KODY and KX (radio). I got up at 4 am and I loved it. Now I’m an evening person because most of my work is in the evening.”
Jerry Thornton, Specialty Act
Will provide the special entertainment during each performance of Kansas Biggest Rodeo.
Travels with his horse, Mr. Bojangles, a black stallion
Mr. Bojangles is a Hurricane Katrina survivor and found a new purpose in life: entertaining rodeo fans!
Jerry rescued the horse and taught him to do liberty work and tricks.
Jerry and Mr. Bojangles travel the country, performing for rodeo fans from coast to coast.
Mr. Bojangles works on liberty commands, voice commands from Jerry, does the twist with Chubby Checkers, sits, kneels and waves to the crowd.
Mr. Bojangles is a loved part of Jerry’s family. His grandkids have learned to ride on him, and he loves Jerry’s six-year-old granddaughter. The horse “stands there, and watches her, and lets her love on him.”
Cody Sosebee, Rodeo Clown and Barrelman
The comedy man and barrel man in the arena.
Will make his first trip to Phillipsburg this August
Hails from Charleston, Arkansas
Was a bareback rider in the IPRA before he began clowning.
Joined the PRCA in 2003, and when he was making more money clowning than riding bucking horses, decided to retire from competition and focus on rodeo clowning.
Has been clowning at PRCA rodeos for the past 20 years.
On the side, is part-owner of a sale barn, runs the largest poultry sale in Arkansas (think Chicken Mafia!), and helps with his family’s huge pumpkin patch
Loves his job: “It’s allowed me to see and do a lot of things I normally wouldn’t have done, growing up in a little bitty town in Arkansas. I’m still amazed, when I’m on a plane flying into Las Vegas, seeing the lights below me. Or driving into a small town and seeing the rodeo lights from across the distance.”
Morning or evening person: Evening, “by far.”
Coffee or tea: Sweet tea. “I’m from the south and they put sweet tea in our bottles when we’re born. We get it in the hospital.”
Winter or summer: Winter. “Definitely. I hear somebody prefers summer, and I think they’re nuts because it’s too hot.”
Family: is “Uncle Co-Co” to seven nieces and nephews and two more on the way.
Weston Rutkowski, Bullfighter
Is one of two bullfighters for Kansas Biggest Rodeo, alongside Dusty Tuckness
Played college football for a short time, but switched to bullfighting
Is a self-professed “gym rat.” “I’m constantly perfecting my craft, to be the most balanced athlete I can be, so I’m able to do the best job possible for the bull rider and my fellow bullfighter.”
Is also a freestyle bullfighter; has won the BFO championship four times.
Is married to his wife, Avery.
Hails from Cleburne, Texas
Favorite holiday: Christmas, “because I love spending time with my family and enjoying good food.”
Favorite beverage: “Beer, but I don’t drink a lot of it, so I can stay in shape.”
Morning or evening person: Evening. “My job as a bullfighter requires some late nights.”
Dusty Tuckness, Bullfighter
Is part of the duo of bullfighters who will work the Phillipsburg Rodeo, alongside Weston Rutkowski
Grew up in Meeteetse, Wyo.; now lives in Oklahoma
Has worked the Phillipsburg rodeo since 2009.
Is a fourteen-time Wrangler NFR bullfighter and a ten-time PRCA Bullfighter of the Year.
Loves coming to Phillipsburg: “to be able to come back to a rodeo like Phillipsburg humbles me and makes me feel good, that I’m still doing my job.”
Favorite holiday: Christmas, “because of the birth of my Savior, Jesus.”
Favorite music genre: old school country, alternative Christian rock, and Christian music.
Morning or evening person: Evening.
Beutler & Son Rodeo Co., Stock Contractor
Bennie and Rhett Beutler have been bringing bucking horses and bulls to Phillipsburg since 1960.
The Beutler family has been in the rodeo stock contracting business since 1928, when Bennie’s grandfather Elra and Elra’s brothers Jake and Lynn took horses and bulls to rodeos.
Bennie is a 2010 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee.
Beutler animals, like bareback horse Killer Bee, saddle bronc horse Wound Up, and bull Voodoo Child have won numerous pro rodeo awards.
Bennie and his wife Connie live near Elk City, Okla.
Rhett and his wife Tracy live near Canute, Okla. with their daughter, Taylor, and son, Jake.