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Longhorn Rodeo Founder
From a working ranch cowboy in Montana, Wyoming, and West Texas to years of rodeo competition and announcing, W. Bruce Lehrke, brought a lifetime of cowboying experience to our rodeo. His production and promotion expertise helped the company earn more than 50 prestigious awards from its peers.
All 2008 rodeo performances are dedicated to the memory of this rodeo legend.
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President, Wonago Productions, LLC
Heather Lehrke has spent her life in and around the Longhorn and its rodeos. As a competitor she qualified in Cowgirls Barrel Racing for the International Finals Rodeo. After her father's death, she formed Wonago Productions (named for her father's first rodeo at his parents' farm in Mukwonago, Wis.) and is carrying on her father's legacy. ral
E-mail her at: heather@longhornrodeo.com
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Circuit & Facility Manager
Kevin Debusk has covered rodeos as a reporter and photographer since 2000. The University of Tennessee graduate oversees publicity, rodeo preparation and facility details for all Longhorn Rodeos. .
E-mail him at: kevin@longhornrodeo.com |
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Arena Director / Stock Contractor
Wendel Ratchford is the man responsible for the arena and the livestock at every Longhorn World Championship Rodeo. He's the one who sees to the day-to-day care of the animal athletes that thrill rodeo fans. He's also responsible for setting up the equipment needed to stage the rodeo. A former World Champion Bull Rider, he now specializes in breeding championship rodeo livestock.
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Rodeo Announcer
Jerry Belles is the voice
of the Longhorn World Championship Rodeo. He's one of those people
who just can't get enough of rodeo. Belles turned to announcing after
more than 20 years of bull riding, steer wrestling, and team roping.
A legend in the business, he's been an announcer at the International
Finals Rodeo on several occasions. |
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Lighting Coordinator / Timer
Jeanne Belles, wife of rodeo announcer Jerry Belles, is another of those people behind the scenes who make the rodeo so enjoyable for fans. Among her responsibilities is the task of coordinating the lighting at each performance. She shares the responsibility for timing many of the rodeo events and provides her husband with much of the information he needs as rodeo announcer.
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Rodeo Secretary / Timer / Publicist
Johna Cravens has spent more than two decades as a publicist for Longhorn Rodeo. After longtime Longhorn Rodeo secretary Jackie Cannon retired, she assumed the range of duties that begin long before the event gets underway and extends long after it ends. She handles mounds of paper work, from the time contestants register for an event until the winners are paid their prize money. |
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Staging Manager
Bobby Rowe, a former world champion saddle bronc rider, spent 18 years as arena director and livestock foreman for Longhorn Rodeo. A rodeo producer in his own right, Rowe returns to Longhorn this season to take charge of the staging and assist Heather Lehrke in her rodeo producer duties.
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Livestock Foreman
J.D. Daugherty, a former bull rider, takes care of the broncs, bulls, calves and steers during the rodeo circuit. He's worked for stock contractor Wendel Ratchford since he was 15, feeding and caring for the animals. He also drives one of the semi tractor-trailer rigs to transport the animals and is the one who maneuvers the broncs and bulls into the chutes during each performance.
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