Garrett Yerigan graduated from high school last May and is hoping to make rodeo his career. “I would use college as a backup plan – but right now rodeo is my main gig. I think I can make that work, but you never know what tomorrow will bring.”
He is checking one goal off his bucket list this year by announcing the International Finals Rodeo, in Oklahoma City, Okla. January 17-19, 2014. “Announcing the IFR was on the top of the list,” said the 19-year-old from Pryor, Okla. Garrett started as a technical director of the IFR several years ago. “I handled the lights, the video, oversaw the music, and built the performance outlines – pretty much one step down from the production manager.” His dad, Dale, is the General Manager for the International Pro Rodeo Association, so Garrett has worked many angles of the event over the years. “I never competed. Everybody always thought I was crazy especially having a dad as the bulldogger. But I looked at the for sure paycheck and did the back end work instead.” Garrett started announcing when he was 11, locally at some rodeos and barrel racings in the Claremore, OK area. “When I started, I just used the equipment that was there, and now I have a sponsor – Red Master Harrow – that provides the tractor and harrow that I use is for my jobs working ground. Floyd Fain, who owns the company out of Amarillo, comes to the event now. I’ve been with him almost two years.” Another one of his sponsors, Cody Jensen with Oxbow Tack, helps advertise anything that he’s doing. “That company is a family company and I appreciate those kind of people – that’s how our country keeps turning. Anybody that can make something out of nothing is impressive. I and I have a pair of chaps, saddle, and breast collar made by them.”
Garrett considers announcing as a conversation between himself and the audience. “I’m not going to talk at you, I’m going to talk to you. I like to think of myself as a person that can relate to the audience, wether they are watching rodeo for the first time or the 500th time. It goes back to the sports broadcaster – our job is to explain the event – things that people may not realize, but we’re educated to make them aware. The toughest part of that is coming across in a way that is understandable to the first time rodeo fans, but not obnoxious and elementary to the people that watch week in and week out. I don’t ever feel like I’m going to work, I’m going to have fun.”
He does his homework before showing up at an event. “I get day sheets and find out what contestants are there – hometown, money won and even some personal interest stuff. Then I take a look at the livestock coming and the accolades of that. I meet with sponsors and producers – there’s a lot more to it than showing up and picking up a microphone.” He is announcing the IFR with Brandon McLagan – it is Brandon’s second trip. “Brandon and I are great friends and we talk on the phone several times a week. Once we get closer to the date, we will talk a lot more. Whose doing what will happen the day of.”
Garrett has learned a lot about public relations through FFA. He joined in 2008 and has won two National Awards through that association. The first one was the National Ag Communication Proficiency Award for FFA, which he received Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, in Indianapolis at the National FFA Convention and Expo.
After winning the title for Oklahoma, he moved to the national competition. “They start with 51, then the top four are the national finalists. We moved on to the interview process, which included an application, interview, and a fifteen minute question and answer session. The hardest question was how do I look when I go to a new location as an announcer, I’m taking someone’s position that was there the year before, does that change your mindset or are you yourself. I told them that if the committee liked what I did in another location, they will like me there – I don’t change my style – I’m going to be myself wherever I’m at.”
His second title was achieved this year – the Outdoor Recreation Proficiency Award. “After the state level, they crown three winners. The state winner from every state goes to summer judging, where the application is judged. The top four become national finalists. The final live interview is 75% of the score. My SAE, Supervised Agricultural Experience, is Rodeo Announcing, Sound and Music – all the things I do in rodeo.” Because the FFA is such a prestigious organization, these awards looks great on Garrett’s resume. Garrett is still trying for one more award – the American FFA Degree – the highest any single member can receive. That will be something I’d go to convention for next year. It’s a lengthy application that you submit and get judged on.”
Garrett came upon his love of rodeo naturally. His dad, Dale, was an eleven time IPRA World Champion steer wrestler. His mom, Kathy, was an IFR barrel racer, who now works as an office manager at a local hospital. “Dad grew up in Minnesota playing hockey and wrestling, he got into high school rodeo through friends of the family. Mom is from Ohio; she was born into rodeo; her mom and dad were both competitive (Barbara Ink, Bob Ink – IFR judge multiple times, bareback riding). My other grandparents, Dean and MaryLou, were not involved in rodeo, but they supported my dad the whole way, just like they do with me. Both sides are very supportive of continuing the family tradition of rodeo. I’ve got a phenomenal support system at home. Whatever path I go down, my parents are going to be behind me one hundred percent.”
Garrett spent years collecting music and sound effects. He has more than 15,000 songs on his computer – that includes songs and sound effects. “I can do both announce and music. If I can concentrate on one or the other, I can be more responsive and not concentrating on something else. Music is fun because of the mood setters and you have some control over that feel. On the other side, you get to accent the music by setting the scene of what the ride means for the cowboy. There are some guys that I work multiple events with, but every event is different.”
Along with his expertise in sound and music, Garrett is also sought out for his expertise in ground work. He was part of the ground crew for the International Finals Youth Rodeo for several years and works the ground for several barrel races around his house. “Diversity is definitely there. I’ve always been a personal tractor nut. Growing up I’d spend time with my grandfather in Minnesota. He was a farmer and I drove big John Deeres up there.”
Come Jan. 19, when the IFR is all done, Garrett can check that one off his bucket list. “I would love to announce the NFR, obviously, and the bigger ones like Cheyenne, Houston, and the National High School Finals. I did get selected for the National Junior High Finals in DeMoines, Iowa in 2014. There’s always expansion in my future and growing – rodeo and announcing is where I’m headed.”
