Yuma County Rodeo Manager Cassidee Rogers has revealed the announcer and rodeo clown that will perform at the PRCA rodeos during the fair, August 6 and August 7.
Anthony Lucia is returning to Yuma for the second year as announcer. Lucia, from Weatherford, Texas, is a highly sought after announcer, as well as specialty act, skillfully entertaining the crowds with his trick roping.
Lucia’s abilities do not stop there; he is also a competitive team roper.
Where Lucia gets is talent from is no secret. His father, well-known rodeo performer Tommy Lucia, who owned and trained Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey, raised Lucia in the rodeo world. Traveling the country with his father since he was four years old, Lucia began joining him in rodeo performances at age 8, and has not stopped since.
His achievements include a roping performance on “America’s Got Talent,” named the 2010 Great Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo Specialty Act, and the 2010-13 National Finals Trick Roper. He continues to announce rodeos all over the United States, and hosts the show “Live with Lucia” in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo.
And he will be here in Yuma in a couple of weeks.
Gizmo McCracken
Award-winning Gizmo McCracken will be making his first appearance at the Yuma County Fair & Rodeos as the rodeo clown.
The 2017 Comedy Act of the Year winner has been entertaining crowds across the country for many years. He became a member of the PRCA in 1992. Since that time the list of accomplishments has continually grown. He has worked 19 PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeos in 10 of the 12 circuits, the 2023 NFR Open, Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days, was nominated Coors Man in the Can three times, Clown of the Year, Comedy Act of the Year 11 times, and was voted onto the short list for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Barrel Man in 2017, and a feature act at the 2005 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
According to his website, Gizmo takes pride in the fact that his humor is good, clean, family-style comedy. Gizmo 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.
Gizmo started his career as a bullfighter, and moved into stand-up comedy on a show in Branson, Missouri. Gadgets and gizmos that went sour were often part of his routine, hence the name “Gizmo, The World’s Greatest Inventor.”
Clowns today are changing fast, but Gizmo holds on to the core of the Rodeo Clown as it was designed years ago. Gizmo works the rodeo from start to finish. He has a wide variety of acts to suit any need, and can provide variety by using multiple acts.
“I like to keep people looking for me and wondering what I am going to do next,” he said.
Look for him at the Yuma County Fair PRCA Rodeos on August 6 and 7.
As for rodeo contestants, Rogers said entries begin next week, likely attracting a strong field of cowboys and cowgirls as in years past.