Contract Personnel

Stock Contractor, Frontier Rodeo Company

Frontier Rodeo Company

Jerry Nelson’s Frontier Rodeo Company was established in 1991 and is based in Freedom, Oklahoma on approximately 9,000 acres, with 400 head of bucking horses, 70 rodeo bulls and 350 head of commercial cows. Frontier Rodeo Co. is owned by Jerry Nelson. Our Rodeo Manager is Heath Stewart and General Manager is 8X PRCA Bull Riding World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall-of-Famer Don Gay. Nelson makes his home in Winnie, TX where he owns and operates Maverick International, Inc. He has owned a plethora of championship bucking bulls and horses over his long career in the rodeo/bull riding business. Stewart has been with Frontier since 2005 and lives in Freedom, where he manages the ranch and rodeo business. Gay resides in Terrell, Texas. He’s been with Frontier for 12 years and is in charge of public relations, commentating events and is also Jerry’s pilot. Frontier took its first animal to the National Finals Rodeo in 2005. They had one saddle bronc horse, Linda Lou, nominated that year. In 2018 they took 23 head of livestock to Las Vegas for the WNFR. Frontier Rodeo Company has been awarded PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year and is proud to provide livestock to rodeos across the country. We are honored to work with our 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)

Soundman, Benje Bendele

Benje Bendele, sound man, is the preeminent sound and effects producer in Pro Rodeo, and there is a good reason why. Benje has made this his life. If it happens in the arena, the speakers will rumble with a complementary sound. Whether it's the perfect musical transition or just the right sound effect, Benje has a way of making the ordinary extraordinary. Really, it's just a testament to his passion and understanding of rodeo. Benje has been around the sport most of his life. A young cowboy, he was part of the rodeo team in college and got his start in the production side of the sport when, in 1988, he filled in for an absent announcer. While he worked as an announcer for several years, he has focused his attention on the wonderful world of sound.
Now he is the most sought-after sound man in rodeo and works all the major events - the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas; the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, Alberta; the Calgary (Alberta) STampede; and Rodeo Houston. Crazy Heart Sound & Lighting also handles the production and lighting at numberous top events, including the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show and Rodeo.
The effects and music can't be choregraphed, because othe action doesn't allow it. But with split-second timing, Benje finds the right music or effect to bring together that excellent ride, fast time or explosive dismount. It's what makes him the very best.

Announcer, Boyd Polhamus

Boyd Polhamus, announcer, is a blessed man. That's the first thing he will tell you when asked about his life and his career. "God's fingerprints are all over everything that's happened in my life, which is why it's pretty good to be me," Polhamus said.
His career has put him behind the microphone at the biggest rodeo events in the world, including 18 times as the announcer for the National Finals Rodeo. He was selected five additional times as the alternate, putting him on the announcer podium in Las Vegas 23 of the last 24 years. In addition, his voice has filled Reliant Stadium at RodeoHouston for 20 plus years, along with other prestigious locations like the National Western in Denver, the Calgary Stampede, and the Snake River Stampede. "My schedule includes about 40 venues a year and close to 170 performances, so I'm busy," Polhamus said. He added that with travel he's on the road between 260 and 280 days a year.
Polhamus has been married for 21 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.
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 game 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. After Graduating from college, Polhamus began announcing for Barnes PRCA Rodeo.
Polhamus' journey includes many accolades. He's the youngest announcer ever selected to work the NFR, (25 years of age in 1990). He's been voted the WPRA Announcer of the year three times, plus the PRCA Announcer of the Year four times. He was also given the Lane Frost Memorial Award.