Contract Personnel

Frontier Rodeo Company

Frontier Rodeo Company was established in 1991 and is based in Freedom, Oklahoma, on approximately 10,000 acres, with 400 head of bucking horses, 80 or more bucking bulls and 350 commercial cows. Frontier Rodeo Company is owned by Jerry Nelson. Rodeo Manager is Heath Stewart and General Manager is eight-time PRCA Bull Riding World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall-of-Famer Don Gay. Nelson makes his home in Winnie, Texas, where he owns and operates Maverick International, Inc. He has owned a plethora of championship bucking bulls and horses through out his career in the rodeo/bull riding industry. Stewart has been with Frontier since 2005 and lives in Freedom, where he manages the ranch and rodeo business. Gay resides in Terrell, Texas and oversees public relations, commentating events and he is also Jerry’s pilot. Frontier Rodeo Company took its first animal to the National Finals Rodeo in 2005.They had one saddle bronc horse; Linda Lou nominated that year. Since then, the number of livestock nominated has grown tremendously. They are the current PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year and have been awarded this honor six times. They are proud to provide livestock to rodeos across the country and honored to work with great rodeo committees in keeping the Western Heritage alive.

Among the achievements of Frontier Rodeo and its livestock are:

-4X PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year (2015-2016-2017-2018)

-4X PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year (Medicine Woman 2011-2014-2015-2016)

-2X PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year (Full Baggage 2011 & 2013)

-2013 PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year (Maple Leaf)

-PRCA Remuda Award (2012 & 2016)

Ever gone to a rodeo and wondered how the sound and music fit so perfectly with events that couldn’t have been choreographed? You probably have Benje Bendele to thank.

Benje, owner of Crazy Heart Sound & Lighting LLC, is the very best sound producer in professional rodeo. Proof of his status is in one simple statement – he is the official soundman for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and almost all of the largest events in the sport.

The key ingredient that makes Benje the best is an insider’s understanding of what takes place in the arena. Beginning at age 9, Benje began his competitive rodeo career in tie-down roping and team roping.He competed through his college years, and then got into announcing by accident – when an announcer was unable to make it to his appointed post, Benje jumped in. What happened after that has become ProRodeo history.

Benje served many years as an announcer and sound technician. As he developed his skills, Benje noticed there was an avenue of production that had primarily been untapped. “Rodeos have picked up this format,” he said. “They’ve left the traditional brass bands, and they realize that this is another aspect of the performances.”

Really, it’s just a testament to his passion and understanding of rodeo. It’s what makes Benje Bendele the very best.

A dedicated fan of the cowboy as both athlete and individual, Boyd Polhamus’ career has put him behind the microphone at the biggest rodeo events in the world. Polhamus started this life and career as a cowboy in Wisconsin. He was the state’s first three-time All-Around Champion Cowboy on the High School level. That feat earned him a scholarship to compete on the college level in Texas; and that’s where his announcing career began. “It was clear that God gave me a lot more talent with a mic than he did with a rope; so it was an easy decision to go with the announcing,” he said.

Polhamus’ schedule includes about 40 venues a year and close to 170 performances, and that adds up to being on the road between 260 and 280 days a year. Boyd has been married for over 25 years to his wife, Sandee. She travels with him as much as she can, while at the same time taking care of their “Band-Aid Ranch” along with all their pets and animals in Brenham, Texas.

Noted for his depth of research Polhamus’ journey includes many accolades, including Announcer and Production Manager for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas, Nevada. He’s the youngest announcer ever selected to work the NFR, (25 years of age in 1990).He’s been voted the WPRA Announcer and Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association Announcer of the Year multiple times.