OklahomaHorses Magazine March 2023

O klahoma rodeo announcer Gar- rett Yerigan received his second consecutive Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Announc- er of the Year Award on November 30, 2022, at the South Point Hotel and Ca- sino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 28-year- old Pryor native is the youngest person ever to receive the prestigious award, and he joins several people who have received consecutive honors. The award has been presented to only eight individuals since it was first given in 1982. “To be among these great rodeo announcers is truly an honor and a highlight of my career,” Yerigan said. “Announcing the American Rodeo in Arlington, Texas, and the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Wyoming are also among the highlights of my career so far.” The American Rodeo is considered the richest weekend event in all of western sports. The Wyoming rodeo, known as “the daddy of ‘em all,” is the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and has been held annually (excluding 2020) since 1897. Yerigan still gets a little nervous before events, but he explained that preparation is vital. He does his homework so that he not only knows the contestants and the latest news in the world of rodeo, but he also studies the rodeos themselves to get a better feel for the flow and their particular rhythms. Rodeo announcers juggle a lot of information on the fly during an event and must be very responsive to real-time situations. With current technology, information is readily available to the announcer in addition to what is happening in the arena. 24 OklahomaHorses • March / April 2023 BALANCING INNOVATION AND TRADITION Rodeo Announcer Wins Second PRCA Award by Leigh Ann Matthews The youngest person ever to earn the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Announcer of the Year Award, Garrett Yerigan has now racked up two consecutive wins. Photo courtesy of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.