ENTERTAINERS

Tomás Garcilazo, a native of Mexico City and currently a resident of southern California, was introduced at an early age to his family heritage and tradition of "La Charrería" which is a skill performed through the generations only by the Mexican Charro. Charros take extreme pride in their highly developed horsemanship and roping abilities. Tomás, a third generation Charro, has devoted his life to sharing Mexico's National Sport, La Charrería, with the world.

Tomás' proficiency as a skilled horseman and roping artist define him as one of the finest Charros presenting La Charrería today.Tomás has performed throughout Europe, Canada, the United States, and Mexico. He has appeared on Broadway in New York City and has toured the United States with the Will Rogers Follies. He was a featured performer at Disney's Wild West Show in Paris, France and the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show which toured Holland and Germany. Tomás has performed numerous times for Mexico's Presidents as well as guest performances at the White House and Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

The only difference between Justin Rumford and a stand-up comedian, is that he’s doing his job from the middle of a rodeo arena instead of a stage with a spotlight. Rumford, who lives in Ponca City, Okla., is a rodeo clown at events from coast to coast. His job during the rodeo is twofold. He provides the laughs and banters with the announcer. But during the bull riding his more dangerous job begins. Rumford is a barrelman: the cowboy who works the barrel, providing an oasis of safety for bullfighters and bull riders, in case an angry bull decides to chase them.

Rumford grew up in a rodeo family and competed in junior high, high school and college rodeo. He was a full time steer wrestler, but then blew out his knee. While he recovered, he worked as an assistant rodeo coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. After his knee healed, he helped with the Cody (Wyo.) Night Rodeo for three seasons, then began as a livestock truck driver for North Platte’s stock contractor, Bennie Beutler of Beutler and Son Rodeo. He never considered being a full time rodeo clown, but after a few tries as clown, he changed his mind. “I worked the Pretty Prairie (Kan.) bull riding, and they gave me $1000. And I thought, why the heck am I working so hard for $800 a week when I can make more than that in a night? So I jumped ship for the clown life.”

And lucky for rodeo fans, Rumford is still clowning, and winning honors at it. In 2012, 2013, 2014,2015,2016, 2017 he’s been honored as the PRCA’s Clown of the Year. The award is voted on by his peers and rodeo committees, and Justin is humbled to get it. “I don’t know if I deserve it, but I’m fortunate to accept it. It’s unbelievable.” In September of 2013, he and his wife Ashley became the parents of triplets, daughters Livi and Lola, and a son, Bandy. “I have a 44 foot trailer,” he said, “and I can bring the whole family with me."