GERRY – Rodeo kid…teenage bull rider…college student…schoolteacher…bull fighter…rodeo clown. That’s the unusual resume of rodeo clown and barrel man Rob Gann, who is headed to the 78th annual Gerry Fire Department’s PRCA rodeo next week for four performances, Wednesday through Saturday, August 2-5.
Gann, who is in demand as an entertainer through out the country, works about 150 rodeo
performances throughout the year. At the time of this interview, he was in the process of working 16 performances in 14 days in Oklahoma and Kansas. He has been a bull fighter 13 times at the International Finals Rodeo and has worked as the clown at the Southern American Region Finals Rodeo.
The American Pro Rodeo Association recently named him as their “Clown of the Year”.
A native of Lonoke, Arkansas, he was born to parents who owned a rodeo, so rodeo has always been in his blood. Doing rodeo chores was not exciting enough so he began riding bulls as a teenager and was so successful that he earned a rodeo scholarship at Arkansas State Jonesboro, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree. He then became a public schoolteacher, teaching construction and agriculture.
However, rodeo continued to draw him back, so after three years, he decided to return to bull riding. Several years and a number of injuries later, including broken bones, he decided to try bullfighting, a job where he tries to protect the cowboys from the bulls during that dangerous event. This did not prove to be a less dangerous occupation as a bull hooked him with a horn, throwing him into the air, and he landed awkwardly, splitting his pelvis.
Not willing to give up rodeo, he made the decision to try rodeo comedy and for the past ten
years, he has been honing his skills and is fast becoming one of the top entertainers in pro rodeo. His job is to not only provide humorous acts, but to fill in any slow spots in the performance with that same humor. As far as his acts go, he says “think Three Stooges”. He says he loves pyrotechnics and enjoys “blowing things up”.
Gann is looking forward to coming to Gerry because of the number of years the fire department has been providing top notch pro rodeo action. He is also excited to reunite with his long-time friend, announcer Greg Simas, one of the most experienced and respected announcers in rodeo. He adds that their previous experience of working together should add much to each rodeo performance. He is also hoping that his wife and two daughters will be able to fly up from Arkansas to spend some time with him.
This rodeo is now the longest consecutively running rodeo east of the Mississippi will draw
approximately 250 pro cowboys and cowgirls from more than 30 states to compete for $50,000 in eight traditional evets. The stock contractor, Painted Pony Pro Rodeo, will be providing over 100 head of stock for the competition.
The event also features the famous beef barbeque dinners cooked over open fires and served nightly in the air-conditioned dining hall beginning at 5:00 each evening. A midway with more than 20 vendors with everything from Western wear to cotton candy is open before and after each performance. The rodeo itself begins at 8:00 and will go on rain or shine.
Presale tickets are available at the Country Fair stores in Gerry and Fredonia and at the Exit 12 Quik Fill on north Main Street in Jamestown or on-line at the rodeo website www.gerryrodeo.org and by phone at (716) 985-4847 or 1-888-985-4847. Use the same website or phone numbers for additional information.
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