Clowning like a champ: SLE Rodeo brings John Harrison to Montgomery this weekend
When John Harrison clowns around this weekend at Montgomery’s SLE Rodeo, take notice. This might be the only time he’ll do that particular act.
“A lot of my stuff’s not canned. It’s improv,” said Harrison — the clown, featured act and barrelman making his first appearance at SLE Rodeo at Garrett Coliseum on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “It kind of makes it fun for me, and for everyone else in the stands.”
He must be doing something right, because Harrison was named both 2022 Comedy Act of the Year and 2022 Clown of the Year by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). He’s won comedy act of the year seven times now.
“He is wonderful, and just good as gold, too,” said Sarah Hunter, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association director of rodeo programs.
From coast to coast, Harrison has proved he’s also pretty good at taking a hit from 2,000 pound charging bulls. He’s the guy who jumps in the beer can-shaped barrel to get a bull’s attention away from bullfighters running on the dirt. Harrison is an eight-time barrelman veteran of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and has won the Coors Man in the Can award six times — including last year, when he was also the PRCA WNFR barrelman.
“It’s fun. We truly enjoy it. My kids even like it when I get hit,” Harrison said.
Harrison has been performing in rodeos for 24 years, and has been a clown for the last two decades.
Another part of Harrison’s act is trick riding, which he’s been doing since he was 6 years old. His professional career began with trick and roman riding and trick roping in 1999.
“I’ve been going 35 years on that,” Harrison said. “I will say that it’s a young man’s thing. When you’re in your 20s it’s a lot easier. In the 40s now, I’m not going to say that you’re not sore the next day.”
He said Montgomery would see a new riding act from him, with a horse that’s been in training for two years.
“This is kind of his debut season this spring before he goes on a summer run,” Harrison said. “He’s had two years of training before we get to Montgomery.”
Harrison said he highly recommends that everyone come out to SLE Rodeo, especially for those who haven’t experienced it before.
“You’ve got the best stock contractors, announcers, personnel. It’s a mixture to be one of the best rodeos in the country,” he said.
SLE Rodeo is part of the NFR playoff series. Hunter said they have 500 cowboys and cowgirls from across the nation coming to compete in Montgomery.
“Our rodeo is ranked in the top 60 out of 700 PRCA rodeos in the U.S.,” she said. “We have Frontier Rodeo Co. as our stock contactor. They are the eight-time and current Stock Contractor of the Year for PRCA. ”
Hunter said SLE Rodeo is also a fundraiser for youth and agriculture.
“Come have fun. That’s what the rodeo is all about. Bring your grandma. Bring your kids.”
SLE Rodeo highlights for 2023
Rodeo performances are Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday 2 p.m. at Garrett Coliseum.
Some of the major highlights of this year’s SLE Rodeo include:
The noon rodeo kickoff parade through downtown Montgomery on Friday will feature rodeo participants, horseback riding flag girls, wagon train riders, and Harrison.
The four performances (two on Saturday) include saddle bronc, bareback riding, bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and WRPA breakaway roping.
“Concert on the Dirt” on Friday after the rodeo by the Autaugaville band Shackelford Lane. It’s free with the purchase of a Friday ticket.
Three days of team roping are taking place in W.O. Crawford Arena.
Ultimate Bullfighters are back on Friday, Saturday night, and Sunday. This is freestyle bullfighting is described as a wild game of tag between man and beast.
A Western Festival for kids is being held on Saturday from 8:30-10:45 a.m.
At 5:45 p.m. before performances Friday and Saturday, and at 12:45 p.m. Sunday, they’ll have stick horse rodeo for kids age 8 and under.
A dozen kids ages 4-8 have signed up for mutton bustin’ at 7 p.m. Friday.
Saturday at 1 p.m., a calf scramble for ages 12-14 will let the youth race to try to pull one of three flags from the tail of a calf for a cash prize.
Cowboy Church is held Sunday, 10-11 a.m. in Teague Arena.
Tickets and the full event schedule are available online at slerodeo.com.
Harrison’s rodeo family
Family is extremely important to Harrison, who has been around rodeos his whole life.
He’s the grandson of the late rodeo legend and 1962 world champion bull rider Freckles Brown, who was known for riding the “unrideable” bull, Tornado.
Harrison said his wife Carla and two of their children will be traveling with him to Montgomery. They’re often called “The Clown Family.” Rodeo is a life that’s rubbed off on a new generation, but may be finding different ways of expression.
“My son (Caz), he’s riding steers and he wants to rope,” Harrison said. In years past, the father-son duo have dressed alike and opened three times for WNFR.
“My youngest daughter (Charlee) is 7,” Harrison said. “She shows a little interest in trick riding, but she mostly wants to do gymnastics.”
His oldest daughter Addy is well on her way to becoming a sports journalist. For the past three years, she’s been posting “Addy’s Behind the Scenes of Rodeo” videos with info kids — and adults — would want to know about, while showing amazing interview skills
“She’s done a lot of interviews with cowboys for her YouTube channel,” Harrison said. “She really enjoys that.”
Follow Addy’s rodeo channel on YouTube @addyharrison5639.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Clown champ: SLE Rodeo brings John Harrison to Montgomery this weekend
