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As long as he can remember, Blaine Partridge has been a rodeo
fanatic. He has competed in various rodeos, throughout
Nebraska
, for nearly 20 years. His specialty was bull riding.
"the most dangerous of all the rodeo events", and he has
tried almost all of them. His past rodeo experiences and his
love for the rodeo is what makes Blaine Partridge so good at
what he does today, rodeo announcing.
"I was a city kid, but I wanted to do something other
than ride a bicycle," says Partridge. "So I rode
calves at junior rodeos." He competed in his first
junior rodeo when he was only ten years old, nearly 37 years ago.
Blaine credits Bill Held, stock supplier, for most of the
junior rodeos that he competed in, with "taking me under his
wing and encouraging me to pursue the cowboy lifestyle."
"I guess I like the thrill of conquering something that
weighed more than I did," claimed Partridge.
Partridge suffered some broken bones and many other injuries,
but continued to ride. "I got a big rush from
competing, it was an obsession," says
Blaine
.
That obsession is the reason that becoming a full time rodeo
announcer seemed like the only thing for him to do when he decided he
was through with bull riding.
Today, he has announced over a thousand rodeo performances.
One of the highlights of his career was co-announcing at the 1994
North American Rodeo Association's World Finals Rodeo in
El Paso
,
Texas
.
Nebraska State Rodeo Association, Iowa Rodeo Cowboys
association, and the United Rodeo Association are just a few of
the associations that have sanctioned the rodeos in which
Partridge has announced.
"Rodeo announcing has been my bread and butter,"
says
Blaine
. "The money I've made from announcing has pretty much
paid the bills from 1988 on."
Partridge has announced in rodeos nationwide, from
Arizona
to
South Dakota
to
Texas
and places in between.
"Basically, my job is to help the audience enjoy and
understand the greatest sport on dirt." Partridge
claims.
Charles Sampson, former World Champion bull rider, once said
that announcers can make or break a rodeo. "To have a
good rodeo, you need a good announcer." says Sampson.
"That's way I try to do a lot of research prior to any
rodeo I'm announcing," Partridge says" I like to
know all about the rodeo contestant and his family. I also
like to know something about the stock he's riding or roping.
I can tell what the competitors are thinking and what they're
feeling because I've been in their shoes before. Besides
keeping the spectators informed, it's important to keep them
entertained. You want them to have a great time."
In 1982 Partridge was named "announcer of the Year by
the Mid-States Rodeo Association. He was recognized as one
of the "Outstanding Young Men of America" in 1988.
He has also been master of ceremonies at various events.
When he isn't at a rodeo, he also enjoys going to auctions,
not necessarily to be a buyer but rather to be an auctioneer.
He has performed many benefits auctions throughout
Nebraska
such as The Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Justin Crisis Fund in
Lincoln
,
Nebraska
, which is an insurance fund for injured cowboys who don't have
insurance.
He helped with
Scotia
's Homecoming new event-bull riding, and for North Loup Popcorn
Days' team penning. He has announced the Popcorn Days team
penning since 1995.
Currently,
Blaine
resides in
North Loup
,
Nebraska
and is an active member of the Scotia Community Club. He
spends as much quality time with his daughter, Michaela, as his
busy schedule permits.
Looking towards the future,
Blaine
expects to keep announcing and auctioneering. Hoping to
announce at some event sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo
Cowboys Association (PRCA).
This is what he wants to do with the rest of life
because it keeps him involved with the "greatest sport on
dirt!"
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