Matt Merritt is the reigning PRCA Clown of the Year, and he will be one of the featured entertainers at this year’s Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo in Gunnison.
(PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN)

 

GUNNISON, Colo. – Matt Merritt knew early what he wanted to do with his life.

“I was pretty young when I realized I wanted to do the clown thing,” said Merritt, the reigning PRCA Clown of the Year. “I didn’t do the whole transition from bullfighter or that I was a bull rider or a bronc rider. I’ve just wanted to be a clown my whole life.”

That’s how he makes a living, and he will share his comedic flair with the big crowds that make their way to the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, set for 6:45 p.m. Thursday, July 9-Saturday, July 11, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison.

“Rodeo is the last affordable sport or venue of any kind, and families get to come and experience just the real joy of watching what we do,” said Merritt, originally from northern Louisiana but now living in North Carolina. “Where I’m from, rodeo was like any other sport like baseball, football or basketball.

“It wasn’t crazy or different or weird, so my buddies rode bulls, and I dabbled in steer riding and chute-dogging when I was a little kid.”

Still, rodeo has carried him across North America, and he will be in Gunnison for the first time.

“There’s nothing better than when world champions come Gunnison to compete,” said Kevin Coblentz, the rodeo’s general manager. “In Matt’s case, he is pretty much the 2025 world champion clown, so getting him to our rodeo is a bit of a coup on our part.”

It’s also a benefit that thousands of fans will enjoy at the fairgrounds.

“My comedy is definitely off the hip,” Merritt said. “I have gimmicks that I use, but typically what I’m saying and what I’m doing is off the cuff.

“I tried telling jokes I found on the internet. They’re funny, and they have a punch line. I had a car act, and I had a dog that dug holes and did all these things. I realized that as soon as I started those acts that people would kind of turn me off because they had a phone in their hand, and they knew there was a joke coming. So, I just started shooting from the hip.”

He’ll take aim at the longest-running continuous rodeo in Colorado. This is the 126th year of Cattlemen’s Days, which was established long ago as a way to celebrate the community and bring families together. That tradition continues, and so does the town’s Western heritage.

“We’re in a place where we want to honor our legacy, but we also know that things evolve,” said Tyler Hanson, president of the Cattlemen’s Days committee. “I think we’ve done a good job of mixing the two parts of Cattlemen’s Days together.

“For 126 years, we’ve built something strong. We are still building on that. We have the best stock contractor in rodeo with Stace Smith; we have the best announcer with Andy Stewart; and we have the Clown of the Year with Matt Merritt.”

When world-class ingredients are combined together, the flavor just pops.