Behind the chutes: meeting the key players
The contestants may be the stars, but it takes a lot of people working behind the scenes to put on a good rodeo. The following are some of the key players in this year’s Rail Town U.S.A. College Rodeo.
Boots and Phillips
Stock for the 2015 Rail Town U.S.A. College Rodeo will primarily be provided by the Boots and Phillips Rodeo Company based out of Lexington.
Owned by Justin Boots and Tom Phillips, the rodeo company was named the Nebraska State Rodeo Association (NSRA) “Timed Event Contractor of the Year” and “Rough Stock Contractor of the Year” for 2015.
Lance Heikel and Chase Freeman, who work for Boots and Phillips, were named as the NSRA’s “Pick-Up Man of the Year” and “Bullfighter of the Year” respectively. Boots and Phillips also produced the NSRA’s “Small Purse Rodeo of the Year” in Elwood.
They provided stock for about 25 rodeos in Nebraska this year. At the Rail Town U.S.A. College Rodeo, Boots and Phillips will supply all the timed event cattle and half of the bucking horses.
“The audience can expect to see good quality stock, some of which has been to the NSRA Finals and the Mid-States Rodeo Association Finals (MSRA),” said Boots. “These animals have been placed on and won on at a lot of amateur rodeos.”
Boots will also serve as one of the pick-up men – a profession he’s had since 2001.
Jared Slagle
Calling the rodeo action will be Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announcer Jared Slagle, of Callaway. Slagle has been named “Announcer of the Year” four times by the NSRA and twice by the MSRA.
His career has taken him to rodeos across the nation. In addition to announcing at the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association Finals this year, Slagle has announced at the NSRA Finals four times and the MSRA Finals twice.
He has also been featured as the voice of the Wichita Falls PRCA Rodeo in Wichita Falls, Texas and was co-announcer for the Richland County Fair and PRCA Rodeo in Sidney, Mont.
Slagle prides himself on providing an exciting, interactive experience for spectators. As a descendant of several generations of ranchers, he is passionate about passing on to fans a knowledge of the cowboy lifestyle and the importance of preserving the sport of rodeo.
When not on the road, Slagle spends time working with his cattle and horses in Custer County. He is active in various marketing ventures, including a rodeo and a bull riding that he helps produce.
Rowdy Moon and Coltan Kovarik
Rowdy Moon and Coltan Kovarik will be the bullfighters for the Rail Town U.S.A. College Rodeo. Moon, of Sargent, is sponsored by MPCC. Kovarik, from Thedford, has been bullfighting for about three years.
“I began riding bulls when I was a kid,” said Kovarik. “Then I started stepping into some practice pens, trying out the bullfighting. I liked it, so I went to a bullfighting school in Sumner and liked it some more. It’s the adrenaline. It’s addictive.”
He’s fought at open bull ridings as well as amateur and high school rodeos throughout Nebraska and Missouri. Kovarik also fought last year at the Rail Town U.S.A. College Rodeo.
“Right now it’s just a side business, but I’m hoping to go professional,” said Kovarik.