Ten-Time PRCA Clown of the Year Justin Rumford Talks Rodeo and the Becoming a Rodeo Clown

Justin Rumford is a ten-time PRCA Clown of the Year that grew up in the rodeo business.

He attended his first National Finals Rodeo at the ripe age of six years old and he knew that he was destined to be in the rodeo arena.

Rumford’s rodeo career is long and distinguished before he became a clown. He went to the National High School Finals, competed in the Central Plains Region for college rodeo and made the college finals in both saddle bronc riding and steer wrestling before going on to compete in pro rodeo where he made the Prairie Circuit Finals in the steer wrestling multiple times.

Rumford’s clown career happened quick. After a clown was unable to make it last minute, Rumford was asked to “just give it a shot” in Pretty Prairie, Kansas. He borrowed a barrel and a wireless microphone for one performance.

“I was like wow this a thing, man this is maybe something I want to do,” he said.

In 2011, he made the decision to go forward with being a rodeo clown. It kept him involve with rodeo and he already had a relationship with a lot of people that he would end up working with.

Fast forward and he holds the record for PRCA Clown of the Year and it household name among rodeo fans.