Justin Rumford will return to the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. A 10-time PRCA Clown of the Year, Rumford was raised on rodeo and is a natural comedian. He is also one of the most sought-after clowns in rodeo.
(PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER)
LOVINGTON, N.M. – In all his years in the rodeo industry, Justin Rumford’s first time to this southeastern New Mexico community occurred last summer.
He was in town as one of the featured entertainers at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, one of the sport’s hallmark events with nearly a century of excellence. He returns to this year’s rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5-Saturday, Aug. 8; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 4.
“I really like to go back to a rodeo for a couple of years,” said Rumford, a 10-time PRCA Clown of the Year and one of the preeminent funnymen in the game. “When you’ve never been to a rodeo, you don’t really know how everything works. You don’t know where different types of people sit. You don’t know where the fun people are, where the die-hards are.
“After being there last year and working the Xtreme Bulls and having Miranda Lambert there on Saturday night and seeing great horses, I have a better understanding. It’s just a fun place to be.”
That’s why the fair and rodeo has been a regional attraction, not just a local happening. Fair-goers come from many miles to be part of the festival, and that includes a world-class rodeo. The Lea County Fair Board and its army of volunteers work diligently all year to plan for the nine-day exposition, and the rodeo committee members try to set a tone with excellence.
“Once we had an opportunity to sign Justin as our clown, we did so for three years,” said Kyle Johnston, a fair board member and chairman of the rodeo committee. “Everybody wants Justin, so we were happy to get him when we did.
“He fit in with this crowd, and I think that makes a difference on the people who come to our rodeo.”
It certainly does. In addition to witnessing rodeo’s elite in competition, fans pile into Jake McClure Arena to be entertained. Few do it as well as Rumford, who was raised around rodeo. His grandfather, Floyd, established Rumford Rodeo, a Kansas-based livestock contractor. The family has been part of rodeo production all his life and then some.
He’s wrestled steers and ridden broncs, driven tens of thousands of miles in 18-wheelers and worked the back-pens of rodeo arenas across the country. His personality shined through it all. Gregarious by nature, he could make anyone and everyone laugh. He got into clowning about 15 years ago, and a star was born.
“People want to laugh at each other more than they want to laugh at something,” Rumford said. “When I’m in the arena, I’m saying the same stuff I’d say if I wasn’t clowning. It’s just me being me.
“This clowning deal is the best thing I’ve ever had. I’ve been involved in rodeo my whole life. I’ve never done anything else, and I’ve never wanted to do anything else.”
Of course, there’s a connection he has with the fans. That might be Rumford’s greatest attribute.
“I think my specialty is walking and talking and being in the arena,” he said. “I feel like I can connect with the crowd pretty good. Even when my microphone isn’t on, I’m still talking to fans. You can do a lot without saying a word.”