Chief Joseph Days Rodeo Specialty Act - Niki Cammaert

Known on the rodeo Circuits as Gizmo, he has been doing rodeos for 27 years. He travels the country putting on his shows from Canada to Texas, from the east coast to the west coast. Visit Gizmo's website for more information - www.gizmomccracken.com

Cory Wall, 39, from Burlington, CO has been a Professional Bullfighter for 17 years working every major rodeo from Houston, Ft. Worth, and the PRCA Tour Finales. In 2007 he was selected as the alternate Bullfighter at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and he was nominated for PRCA Bullfighter of the Year. He has worked the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo and the Texas Circuit Finals rodeo four times. In 2006 Cory was featured on Good Morning America, Inside Edition and he made ESPN's Top Ten Plays of the Day for being thrown over the bucking chutes in Ft. Worth. Cory has worked over 230 performances at the Ft. Worth stock show and rodeo in the past seven years- more than any other PRCA bullfighter. He travels over 60,000 miles a year working at over 30 premier rodeos. Cory enjoys teaching bullfighting schools, working with young people and sharing his Faith! Cory also enjoys wakeboarding, snowboarding, golf and anything that allows him to be outside.

Most people would rather work in an office than do what 33 year-old Brittan does for a living. His office is a dirt arena. His business suit is a pair of cutoff jeans, athletic shoes, an oversized shirt and a well worn hat. The make-up on his face belies the serious nature of what he does.

Lance Brittan is a former World Champion bullfighter, he’s one of the best.

Born in April 1974, Brittan grew up in western Kansas, near Scott City. He went to Junior College in Garden City, Ks., for a year on a baseball scholarship.

Lance grew up around cattle and horses and has been around them all his life. When he first became involved in rodeo at the age of 19, he started riding bulls. “After a while, I figured out I wasn’t going to make a living riding bulls. I was spending more money than I could make and getting hurt most of the time. I saw the bullfighters got checks every weekend doing something I grew up doing.” From there his career took off.

By December of 1995, he gained professional status and started working rodeos. “It was slow going in the beginning. It’s all about developing a name for yourself and becoming respected as a cowboy saver.” In 1997 he became eligible for the Wrangler Bullfight Tour. As it turned he only got two go-rounds of the twenty eight available to qualify for the NFR.

The next year, though, things went very well for him. 1998 Lance qualified for the finals in only his second year on tour. “Rookies have a hard time handling Las Vegas and all it has to offer. There is a lot of stress just being in the arena, knowing you’re one of the top six bullfighters in the world.”

He came back in 1999, a veteran, calm, collected and qualified number one. Winning the championship in only his fourth year as a professional. His first title may be even more special because he competed against
four former world champions who, combined, owned half the world championships ever won. It is regarded as the toughest Wrangler Bullfight Tour Finals in history.

These days Lance is still bullfighting and cowboy protecting at top rodeos around the country like: Denver National Western, Rodeo Austin, Greeley Stampede, Casper Wy., Snake River Stampede, Dodge City, to name a few.

His wife, Cami, of six years and their two daughters. Madison, 3, Morgan, 2, travel cross-country together to the majority of his rodeos. “It truly is a family affair. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!”

Returning to Chief Joseph Days this year is Texas Cowboy Bob Tallman. His voice is heard and image is seen by more than 60 million people across the United States and Canada each year. He entertains and informs more than 3 million fans a year in Texas alone. From rodeo circuits to national commercials to regional charity events, his is the voice people recognize and trust.

Bob Tallman's resonance and style has become synonymous with professional rodeo. He has been voted Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association (PRCA) announcer of the year either times. He has been selected to announce the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in Las Vegas more than any other announcer in history. For 33 years he has been "The Voice" of The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. His itinerary stretches from coast to coast with stops in Texas at the Stampede in Dallas, Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Reno Rodeo, Grand National Rodeo in San Francisco, and every where in between. He is also no stranger to Canada. There he announces the Calgary stampede, the Cloverdale Rodeo, and the Canadian Finals (DFR). His ability to educate people about the spirit of the west has earned him the distinguished honor of being inducted into several Hall of Fames that include The Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, The National Cowboy Hall of Fame and The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Each year he hosts television events, commentates sporting broadcasts, appears in television commercials and is a rodeo and television spokesman. In Canada each year he hosts a popular rodeo series on CBC-TV. At home he has worked for Fox Sports, ESPN 1 & 2, ABC's Wide World of Sports, TNN and is the host on several different segments of RFD TV. Recently he was in the motion picture FLICKA, has appeared on ABC's Prime Time, and he is a past recipient of CBC's Sports Broadcaster of the Year award. He is a spokesman for Wrangler Jeans, Ariat, Dodge Trucks, Resistol Hats, Boyd Gaming and Priefert Ranch Equipment to name a few.

His greatest honor is using what he calls his "priceless gift from God" to capture the attention of a crowd of thousands or touch one person's life with his unmistakable timbre. Whether doling out cowboy philosophy and spinning descriptive vocabulary to a packed arena, his authentic personality and genuine work ethic shine through. In the year 2000 he launched a long-term campaign and established a 501(C)3 charity to operate Bob Tallman's Charities. His annual golf tournament is held in Houston and it's theme of "Give a Child Another Day of LIfe and Prevent a Cowboy from Catastrophic Injuries" benefits The Pediatric Programs at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and The J.Pat Evans Research Foundation.

In addition to his performance schedule amazingly enough, he still finds time to run his own company. Bob has designed a line of Texas Style Seasonings that have become very popular. His company is based in Houston, Texas and the seasonings are sold at retailers across the United States and Canada. They can also be found at his online store at: www.bobtallman.com. For additional information Contact: Paige@bobtallman.com

Originally formed in 1985, The McKenzie River Band performed throughout the Western United States, and was widely regarded as the top regional country band for more than 20 years. Now, after a four year vacation, (retirement), they have chosen to Re-Unite at this year’s Chief Joseph Days. They have gathered the “best of the best” from all the past members of the band. The line up includes the three original founding members of the band. Steve Talus, vocals and acoustic guitar, Joe Garland, vocals and bass guitar, and John Mannenbach, vocals and acoustic/lead guitar. Joining the reunion are long time members, Michael McIntosh, vocals and lead guitar/fiddle and Robin Suskind, pedal steel guitar, dobro/lap steel guitar, and returning members, Dave Lee, keyboards and Lou Chavez, drums and percussion.

At the height of their success, The McKenzie River Band recorded and released two albums and they were the opening band for numerous national acts, including Alabama, George Strait, The Judds, Garth Brooks, Billy Dean and Patty Lovelace. In addition, the band performed throughout the west at concerts, rodeos and fairs.

This will be The McKenzie River Bands 18th appearance at Chief Joseph Days and they would like to invite everyone to the Thunder Room after Friday and Saturday nights rodeo performances to share in the reunion with the Northwest’s premier band of the last 2 ½ decades.