Thereβs a new clown in town, and itβs not Mark Swingler, who came back as a rodeo clown and barrelman for the 93rd annual La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros after seven years.
Instead, itβs a long-haired, blonde 8-year-old boy with a few missing teeth.
Brock Payne dressed in the typical baggy shorts held up by suspenders and a battered cowboy hat. He painted his face similar to another rodeo clown, the man who inspired him to take to the arena.
Brockβs father, Jason Payne, met Justin Rumford while in college at Northwestern Oklahoma State and quickly became best friends.
βHeβs basically family,β Jason Payne said.
Rumford has worked as a rodeo clown and barrelman in pro rodeo for eight years and has been named Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Clown of the Year four times.
And Rumford encouraged Brock to become a rodeo clown. Brock started dressing up as a rodeo clown and going out to rodeo since he was 4 years old. Heβs now been at the Tucson Rodeo and the Cave Creek Rodeo.
Payne said his favorite part of being the clown is βgoing in the barrel and being with the bulls.β
Jason Payne said his family grew up rodeoing and around horses and steer, so he isnβt really worried about his youngest being in the arena. Being the youngest of three boys also means he has to be tough.
βIt just fit his personality perfectly,β Jason Payne said.
Brock took the arena at the Tucson Rodeo on Saturday morning during the mutton busting and junior rodeo and then joined Swingler after the team roping event as the veteran rodeo clown launched T-shirts into the crowd.
βThey asked me if there was anything he could do (during the pro rodeo) and I said I didnβt really do any acts with kids, but he could help me load the T-shirts and launch them into the audience,β Swingler said.
Swingler, whoβs last stint at the Tucson Rodeo was in 2009-11, has been a rodeo clown for 31 years, 25 of those with the PRCA. The 51-year-old said heβs good friends with Gary Williams, the rodeoβs general manager, and, through him, found himself back in Tucson.
βEverybody wanted me to come back to Tucson one more time before I retire,β Swingler said.
Swingler said thereβs not much preparation that goes into being a rodeo clown because you never know whatβs going to happen in the arena. You have to play off the announcers, different situations and just keep the flow of the rodeo going.
βWeβre insurance for the dead spots β¦ and then we get the acts going,β Swingler said.
After bull riding, the last event of the day, Swingler is joined by bull fighters Nathan Harp, Wacey Munsell and Dusty Tuckness for a little bit of bull fighting. The three bull fighters run around avoiding the loose bull while Swingler takes shelter in the barrel.
βWe make it look fun, and it is, but you need to sure know what youβre doing,β Swingler said.
Notable
- Karley Guthmiller, a 22-year-old senior at Black Hills State University in South Dakota, made the trip down to the Tucson Rodeo in part to visit her aunt, Melissa Scarbough of Sahuarita, but also to photograph the event for her senior project. The Colorado native walked through the stands and behind the chutes capturing candid moments between families and amongst cowboys. Guthmiller said sheβs working on a series about rodeo lifestyle and the worth ethic and family ties that are instilled in the sport.
βI didnβt grow up in ranching, but in power sports,β Guthmiller said. βBut I just love the rodeo because itβs one piece of society that hasnβt been derailed or brainwashed.β
- Bad Influence continuously bucked around in the chutes and caused a lot of raucous waiting to get out in the bareback riding event, but proved to be a great horse for Luke Greasy who was the last contestant in the dayβs first event. Greasy managed to hold onto the bucking horse and was awarded an 88.00 for the win.
- Saturdayβs attendance bested Fridayβs by almost a couple grand, coming in at 10,800 people.
