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2026
KANSAS BIGGEST RODEO PERSONNEL
Announcer Randy Corley
His job at the
rodeo:
“It’s my job to make sure the cowboy
has an introduction, to relate
information about the person, to
engage the audience. I inform them
of who the competitor is, and I
really work with the clown or
contract act, to do them the very
best job I can.”
About the Phillipsburg rodeo:
“Phillipsburg is one of the highest
ranking rodeos on my list. It’s the
celebration for the community, it’s
the people, it’s the committee. I go
to town and I’m greeted by people by
name. I love that rodeo.”
How many years he’s worked the
Phillipsburg rodeo: since 1983.
Night owl or morning person:
“I was a morning person forever,
because I did the morning show on
KODY radio in North Platte for
years. Now I’m more of a night owl.”
Salty or sweet: “Sweet. My
favorite candy bar as far back as I
can remember is the Twin Bing with
the cherry center. I know the stores
that carry them. If I’m on a trip, I
know the places that have Twin Bings.
But I only buy one at a time,
because I’d eat as many as I’d buy.”
Android or iPhone: “I am
thinking of going back to a flip
phone,” he laughs, “if there was a
way I could get a map on a flip
phone.”
Social media: Facebook.
Coffee or tea: “If I’m at a
rodeo, I’ll start the day with a cup
of hot tea and honey (for his
voice.) I like coffee, but I like
sweet iced tea too.”
Mountains or beach: “Both. I
like to snow ski, but I like the
beach, too. I’m a certified scuba
diver.”
Rodeo accomplishments: 24-time
National Finals Rodeo announcer;
12-time PRCA Announcer of the Year.
Home: North Platte, Nebraska
Family: wife Michelle; three
daughters, one son, five
grandchildren and one
great-grandchild. |
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Co-announcer Bob Edmonds
His job at the
rodeo: “My job as announcer is
to entertain and inform fans about
the sport of rodeo.”
This is Bob’s first year to work
Kansas Biggest Rodeo.
Night owl or morning person:
“I’m more of a night owl, as I get
older.”
Android or iPhone: iPhone.
Social media: Facebook and
Instagram
Coffee or tea: Coffee, “sweet
with a little bit of creamer. We
call it sissy coffee.”
Favorite vacation spot:
Hawaii. “We went once, and we loved
it. I loved the snorkeling. I’m not
much of a swimmer. But I had a blast
doing that.”
Summer or winter: Summer.
“I’m a fair-weather person. That’s
why I’m in Arizona in the winter,
working rodeos.”
Rodeo accomplishments:
15-time Mountain States Circuit
Finals Rodeo announcer; six-time
National Circuit Finals Steer Roping
announcer; the 2018 WPRA Announcer
of the Year.
Home: Kersey, Colorado
Family: wife Brandy; twin
daughters Koree and Kaycee. |
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Rodeo Clown Matt Merritt
His job at the
rodeo: “My job is to spread
God’s joy, to spread happiness. I
have the best job in the world.”
How many years he’s worked the
Phillipsburg rodeo: This is Matt’s
second time to Phillipsburg.
Night owl or morning person:
“Both. I’m a midday napper.”
Android or iPhone: iPhone.
Social media: Instagram.
Coffee or tea: Coffee, black.
Favorite vacation spot:
“Anywhere where I can shoot at ducks
or deer. I prefer waterfowl,
though.”
Summer or winter: Winter,
“because I work in the summer so
much. Winter is vacation for me. And
I grew up in Louisiana with its
humidity.”
Rodeo accomplishments: 2025
PRCA Clown of the Year award winner.
“When they said my name, it was
surreal. I framed a photo of that
day and put it in my living
quarters. I never dreamed when I was
young, that I would ever be in
consideration for it. It’s very
rewarding to have won it.”
Home: Olin, North Carolina.
Family: wife Bonnie;
daughters Ruia and Etta.
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Specialty Act Ruia Merritt
Ruia Merritt
(pronounced ROO ee) is a specialty
act that does liberty work with
horses. The daughter of rodeo clown
Matt Merritt, she will perform at
the rodeo this year. She will be a
high school senior this fall.
Her job at the rodeo: “I do
liberty work with horses, using
vocal commands, and they do tricks
like follow me around like a dog.
The horses don’t have any
headstalls, saddles, bridles, bits,
lead ropes or halters. I also ride a
horse without a bridle or saddle. He
goes around fire torches, working
off vocal commands and footwork.”
Her horses are Comanche, Trigger,
Bunny and Goose.
How many years she’s worked the
Phillipsburg rodeo: this is her
first trip to Phillipsburg
Night owl or morning person:
“I’m definitely not a morning
person. I like my sleep. I can stay
out till 2 am, just do not expect me
to get up at 6 am.”
Android or iPhone: iPhone.
Social media: “I like
Facebook Marketplace, because you
can look at horses. But I like
Instagram because I like sending
funny reels to my dad, uncle and
best friend.”
Coffee or tea: “Creamer with
a side of coffee. I like caramel
cappuccino with a little bit of
caramel macchiato creamer. It’s the
stuff. It’s so good. My dad loves
coffee and drinks it 24/7. I got
that from him.”
Favorite vacation spot:
“Destin, Florida. The beach is so
beautiful.”
Summer or winter: “Definitely
summer. I would take sweat over
winter. I don’t know how my friends
in Canada do winter.”
Home: Olin, North Carolina.
Family: parents Matt and
Bonnie Merritt; sister Etta.
“I am grateful to my mom and my
sister for helping me. My sister
helps set up props, and my mom is a
homeschool teacher, driver, groomer,
pyro expert. She warms my horses up,
she helps cool them down, she helps
me braid and oil hair, she helps me
with run-throughs, and she makes
sure my outfits look good. She’s
everything.
“And my sister helps me with my
props. She helps me load hay, feed,
pick out the trailer, and in the
practice pen, she gives the
criticism that I don’t want to
listen to, but that I need.”
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Bullfighter Ryder Rich
His job at the
rodeo: “We’re there for the
safety of the bull riders. That’s
the biggest objective we have. And
then, we’re there for entertainment
value, too. We showcase what we do,
with the fighting bull.”
How many years he’s worked the
Phillipsburg rodeo: “This is my
second year.”
Night owl or morning person:
“Night owl, easily.”
Android or iPhone: iPhone.
Social media: Instagram.
Coffee or tea: “Black coffee,
every morning. Straight coffee. I am
not a coffee snob.”
Favorite vacation spot: “I am
a Mexico lover. I’ve been to Cancun
and Puerta Vallarta, and I love it.
You walk out on the beach, and
everything’s right there. There’s
nothing better.”
Summer or winter: “Summer. I
would so much rather be hot than
cold.”
Home: Shamrock, Texas
Family: wife Cameron; brother
Roper (who is also a bullfighter in
Phillipsburg); parents Kevin and Amy
(Kevin was a bullfighter at Kansas
Biggest Rodeo and was part of the
Wrangler Bullfights there.)
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Bullfighter
Roper Rich
His job at the
rodeo: Protecting the bull
riders after each ride. “I love it
when they get off and they’re safe.
You know you’ve had a good day when
you have cowboys patting you on the
back, saying thank you. It’s the
best job there is. It’s a little
kid’s dream.”
How many years he’s worked the
Phillipsburg rodeo: This is his
second year.
Night owl or morning person:
Night. “We come alive at night.”
Android or iPhone: iPhone.
Social media: Instagram.
Coffee or tea: Coffee, black.
“Cheap McDonald’s coffee is the
best.”
Favorite vacation spot:
Cancun, Mexico. “It’s so laid back.”
Summer or winter: Summer.
“Being from Colorado, the winters
get too cold and you’re housebound.
It’s a whole bunch better in the
summer.”
Home: Eaton, Colorado
Family: fiancée Kyndall Deal;
brother Ryder (who is also a
bullfighter in Phillipsburg);
parents Kevin and Amy (Kevin was a
bullfighter at Kansas Biggest Rodeo
and was part of the Wrangler
Bullfights there.)
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Stock Contractor Beutler and Son
Rodeo Co.
Their job at the
rodeo, in Rhett’s words: “The
job of a stock contractor is to
bring a good set of bucking horses
and bulls, to give the cowboys a
chance to win, and to entertain
fans.”
How many years he’s worked the
Phillipsburg rodeo: the Beutler
family has brought horses and bulls
to Kansas Biggest Rodeo since 1960;
Rhett has come since he was 8 years
old. “I don’t think I’ve missed the
rodeo since then.”
What Rhett enjoys about the
Phillipsburg rodeo: “It’s the
rodeo family and the community. You
know everybody, everybody welcomes
you. I’ve grown up there and know a
lot of people. It’s a small-town
feel, when everyone welcomes you
with open arms and is glad to see
you. There are places you go that
you don’t get that feeling.”
Night owl or morning person:
Night owl.
Android or iPhone: iPhone.
Social media: Instagram.
Coffee or tea: Coffee, black.
Favorite vacation spot: At
home. “We’re gone so much, I like to
be home with family. Every now and
then, Tracy and I will duck off for
a few days, but it’s nice to be
home.”
Summer or winter: Winter. “It
slows down a little, and I like to
go hunting deer, big game,
waterfowl, anything. We try to go
somewhere for a fall hunt.”
Home: Elk City, Oklahoma
Family: wife Tracy (married
26 years); daughter Taylor and son
Jake. Rhett is the fourth generation
of Beutlers in the rodeo contracting
business, including his dad, Bennie,
Bennie’s dad Jiggs; Jigg’s dad Elra,
and Elra’s brothers Jake and Lynn.
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