Talent and Contract Personnel

When it comes to excitement, PRCA Rodeo Announcer Chad Nicholson is right in the middle of it helping to make it all happen. Since 1993, he has been entertaining and educating rodeo fans from coast to coast and border to border maintaining a busy schedule annually.

Chad, a native Texan, now makes his home in the Central California farming community of Exeter. But he credits his Texas roots that initially spawned his affection of the sport. A former contestant himself, Chad has accomplished much over his 11 year professional announcing career. From being selected to announce five PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeos to the prestigious Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, he has always maintained one simple philosophy, have fun and make sure everyone else has fun too.

There are many aspects of Professional Rodeo that keeps Chad traveling 40,000 miles per year, but probably the most important to him is the patriotic atmosphere that naturally exists in rodeo. A United States Marine Corps Reserve Veteran, Chad prides his announcing ability in his powerful, patriotic openings. “The Rodeo Cowboy is one of the last free-spirits left in America today”, he says, “and we never will forget who and what gives us the opportunity to participate in and carry-on such a great American tradition that truly exemplifies freedom and heritage.” In fact, his openings have become so popular, that he receives hundreds of complimentary emails from fans, rodeo committees, and of course U.S. Armed Forces Veterans. “There are no scripts to my openings. I just speak from the heart letting pure emotion drive the moment,” Chad said. And pure emotion coupled with his extensive rodeo knowledge and a very high fun factor is exactly what you will get from start to finish of every rodeo performance he announces.

When Chad is not in the announcer’s stand, you can find him on the golf course, mountain biking in the woods, or on a beach playing with his dogs Marley and Riata. You may also find him inside your radio or television performing commercials for businesses and events around the country.

Jody Carper is a rodeo announcer with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Originally from a small town in West Texas, Jody grew through the rodeo ranks competing in tie down roping, team roping, and steer wrestling. He became a professional tie down roper in the PRCA in 1998. He has competed in numerous rodeos across the country, and was a PRCA California Circuit Finalist in 2003.

While competing in the rodeo arena, Jody also began working part-time as an announcer in 1991. Though he loved to rope, Jody found a whole new fulfillment through announcing. In 2005, he decided to focus all of his rodeo efforts toward his announcing career. That year Jody received his PRCA announcer’s card and began working to fill his schedule with rodeos, bull ridings and ropings. Drawing on his past experiences as a contestant allows him to give fans a unique and entertaining behind-the-scenes view of the sport of rodeo.

When he’s not announcing rodeos, you can find him running up and down a basketball court. Since 1993, Jody has worked as a college basketball official. He has worked in 11 different conferences and one professional league across the United States. In 2005, Jody was selected to work the McDonald’s High School All-American game on ESPN. The time he has spent on the court, has also led to other opportunities behind the microphone such as calling both basketball and football games.

Charlie "Too Tall" West has been a professional barrelman for 18 years. In fact, he is the smallest barrelman in the world. Charlie is 4 feet 6 inches tall. He first got in the barrel at 18 years old, just out of high school, on a dare.

Charlie's mother was a rodeo secretary, so Charlie grew up around rodeos and fairs. As a kid in high school he team roped, rode bulls and raised pigs in 4-H. Charlie tried getting in the barrel on a dare from his friends. The barrel was so large he had to put a mattress inside to take up the extra room. Well, Charlie survived that weekend of getting rammed by bulls and actually thought it was fun!. After getting slam-dunked off of too many bulls, Charlie said to heck with bull riding and decided to try his hand at being a barrel man.

Charlie, his miniature horse Magic, and his Jack Russel Terrier Ziggy, love entertaining people. In addition to the rodeos, together they visit hospitals and rest homes. Charlie has also done commercials and has been in a few movies.

In his spare time, Charlie raises miniature horses in Loomis, California with his lovely girlfriend Mitch. He also enjoys spending time on the golf course.

Charlie rodeos nearly 12 months out of the year. Most of his jobs are in California but he has also worked rodeos in Hawaii, Canada and Alaska. The thing Charlie loves most about his job is seeing the smiles on the kids faces, the applause, and the interesting people he meets.