It’s been a wild 38 years. The first time Boyd Polhamus was “paid” to announce a rodeo was in 1985, at 19 years of age. It was his hometown college rodeo in Uvalde, Texas. No one could have predicted the next three-and-a-half decades.

 

He would receive his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) membership the following summer in 1986. By 1990, at the age of 25, he was selected to work his first National Finals Rodeo (NFR). In the next 30 years, he would be on the announcer podium at the NFR 26 times. Plus, he served a year as Production Manager of the NFR and General Manager of Production of the same event. “Very Blessed,” said Polhamus when asked to describe his career. He points to his 28 years at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and his 27 years at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho. He also points to his 23 years at the National Western in Denver, the Dodge City Round-Up in Kansas, and his 22 years in San Angelo, Texas.

 

Those are rodeos he’s worked for over two decades, but Polhamus points out that almost all of his schedule includes rodeos he’s been announcing for at least ten years or more. “Yes, being hired back is the greatest compliment you can be paid; just hopeful each rodeo I announce is better than the year before,” said Polhamus. “I try to help them getter better as a production and a business enterprise,” he continued. “I don’t want only to be paid a fee for my service as an announcer; I want to help the venue in any way I can.”

 

The rodeo industry has noticed. He’s a three-time Women’s Professional Rodeo Association Announcer of the Year. He’s been the PRCA’s Announcer of the Year four times and received the Lane Frost Memorial Award for his dedication to the sport.

 

It’s a time-consuming occupation with plenty of travel and time away from home. Polhamus was asked at age 55 how much longer he would pursue his career. Polhamus said, “As long as God wants me to, I’m here because of Him, not because of me.”