SPOONER — They dress up in bizarre, multi-colored make-up, baggy clothes and strange wigs, cracking jokes and performing outrageous skits to provide comedy relief for the rodeo. But the job of a rodeo clown and barrel man is deadly serious.
The clown is not in the rodeo arena to set off explosions and do falls that would make the Three Stooges proud. Their job is to protect the cowboys and cowgirls of professional rodeo, especially during the bull riding competition. If a cowboy gets hung up or in trouble, the clowns, also known as bullfighters, are right on the spot, putting themselves between the athlete and the bull. And none do it better than Dale “Gizmo” McCracken, a Heart of the North Rodeo fan favorite who will be returning to the Spooner arena again this July 11-13 for the historic 70th Spooner Rodeo.
McCracken has entertained the crowds at the Spooner Rodeo on many occasions throughout the years. He became a member of the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) in 1992, working rodeos all across the United States.
His long list of accomplishments has grown beyond belief, and continues to grow. He has worked 19 PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeos in 10 of the 12 circuits. He worked the 2023 NFR OPEN, Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days, was nominated “Coors Man in the Can” three times, was nominated “Clown of the Year” in 2017 and nominated for Comedy Act of the year 11 times.
McCracken was voted onto the short list for the Wrangler National Final Rodeo Barrel Man in 2017 and a feature act at the 2005 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
McCracken grew up around livestock, helping his father break ponies. He began bullfighting as a teenager, working rodeos and keeping cowboys safe from hard-charging bulls. He started his career as bullfighter and moved into stand-up comedy on a show in Branson, Mo. With his background as a comedian, he easily transitioned into the role of rodeo clown.
McCracken takes pride in the fact that his humor is good, clean, family-style comedy. He travels the country from Canada to Texas, from the East Coast to the West Coast, logging thousands of miles a year through dozens of states.
“I like to keep people looking for me and wondering what I am going to do next,” he said, stressing that the acts share a high-energy, clean, family-oriented feel.
McCracken is the best comedy entertainer in the sport of professional rodeo, plus a dedicated protector of the cowboys in the arena. Over the years, he has become a favorite in Spooner, and fans can look forward to his high-energy, family-friendly performance at the 70th Spooner Rodeo.
Get tickets
The 70th Spooner Heart of the North Spooner Rodeo will take place July 11-13. Along with three action-packed rodeo performances, enjoy Exceptional Rodeo for special needs children, live music nightly by Savannah Rae, Nickel Scramble for Kids, Spooner Rodeo Parade, Lions Club Bar-B-Que, Breakfast at the Rodeo Grounds, Cowboy Church and more.
For tickets, call 800.367.3306 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. only). Purchase online at www.spoonerrodeo.com. Purchase over the counter at Washburn County Information Center, 122 River St., Spooner, WI 54801.
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