ProRodeo Sports News - December 16, 2022

PRCA AWARDS BANQUET

Real Achievement Harrison receives three PRCA honors

John Harrison and his 2022 PRCA Awards Banquet haul. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

BY TANNER BARTH J ohn Harrison will go down as one of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in 2022 as a barrelman. He was honored beforehand, Nov. 30 at the 2022 PRCA Awards Banquet at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas. He was honored with not one, not two, but three year-end awards in front of the sellout crowd. Harrison was named the PRCA Comedy Act of the Year for the second time, the PRCA Coors Man in the Can for the fifth time, and the PRCA Clown/Barrelman of the Year for the first time in his career. “You know it’s special every single time you are honored with something like this,” Harrison said. “I have never won Clown of the Year. It’s an award that I think Justin Rumford is going to win every year and he’s always so deserving. My heart is so happy, it’s a feeling that’s going to stick with me for the rest of my life.” John, his wife Carla, and four children are affectionately known as “The Clown Family” among rodeo fans and professionals. You rarely see John at a rodeo without his family by his side. He said none of this would be possible without their support and the backing of the rodeo community. “I couldn’t do it without my rodeo family, they’re are just the best people out there,” he said. “What I do for them out on the dirt feels so minimal compared to what they do for me and my family. This is how we pay our bills at home. The committees out there give us jobs. We couldn’t go up and down the road without them and the stock contractors. “It’s a ton of things that come together in the grand scheme of things. It’s the announcers, the sound guys that make us sound good, the bullfighters that help me with the act that make this all possible. I also couldn’t do this without my wife. She is behind the scenes doing all the things that nobody wants to do. From warming up horses, picking stall, and all those things. I couldn’t do what I do without them.” Harrison became a member of the PRCA in 1999, as a trick and roman rider, and trick roper. He later diversified and added barrelman to his PRCA card. The rest is history. the most decorated and accomplished barrelman and rodeo clowns in the sport. Harrison made his 11th appearance at

2022 PRCA AWARD WINNERS • Nutrena Horses of the Year presented by AQHA: Pocketful of Light, “Pockets” – owned by Caleb Smidt (Tie-Down Roping), Dashin Haze, “Tyson” – owned by Curtis Cassidy (Steer Wrestling), Jess A Moose, “Grey” – owned by Jim Donnan (Team Roping Header), Kadabra King, “Turbo” - owned by Patrick and Christi Smith (Team Roping Heeler), JS Frostys Badger, “Goose” – owned by Scott and Kelli Snedecor, Famous Lil Jet “Rollo” – owned by Jordon and Justin Briggs (Barrel Racing), Baybe Bullet, “Baybe” - owned by Taylor and Joey Williams (Breakaway Roping) • John Justin Standard of the West Committeeman of the Year: Tim Baldwin • Pendleton Whisky Let ‘Er Buck Stock of the Year: Gun Fire, Frontier Rodeo (bareback) Black Tie, Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics (saddle bronc) Smoke Stack, Beutler & Son Rodeo (bull riding) • Media Award: Excellence in Broadcast Journalism: Taylor Sheridan • Media Award: Excellence in Multimedia Journalism: The Cowboy Channel • Polaris Remuda Awards: Stock Contractor: J Bar J, Inc., Rodeo Committee: Fort Worth Stock & Rodeo • Hesston Sowing Good Deeds: Reno Rodeo – Reno, Nev. • Coors Man in the Can: John Harrison

• Photographer of the Year: Click Thompson • Music Director of the Year: Benje Bendele • Clown/Barrelman of the Year: John Harrison • Timer of the Year: Molly Twitchell • Dress Act of the Year: Bobby Kerr • Comedy Act of the Year: John Harrison

• Small Rodeo of the Year: Abbyville Frontier Days – Abbyville, Kan. • Medium Rodeo of the Year: Black Hills Roundup – Belle Fourche, S.D. • Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year: Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo – Fort Worth, Texas • Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year: Pendleton Round-Up – Pendleton, Ore.

• Pickup Man of the Year: Matt Twitchell • Bullfighter of the Year: Cody Webster • Announcer of the Year: Garrett Yerigan • Secretary of the Year: Eva Chadwick • Veterinarian of the Year: Gregg Veneklasen • Stock Contractor of the Year: Frontier Rodeo • Donita Barnes Contract Personnel Life Achievement: Bronc Rumford

ProRodeo Sports News 12/16/2022

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