2012 Cave Creek Fiesta Days Rodeo Contract Personnel
STOCK CONTRACTOR:
CERVI CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO
Please welcome the new generation of Cervi’s – Binion, Chase & Scotty – the owners and operators of Cervi Championship Rodeo. The CCR company is not only bringing their World Champion bucking horses and bulls, but also a vast amount of energy and experience to the Cave Creek Fiesta Days Rodeo this year!
BINION CERVI is a 27-year old out of Stoneham, CO who is extremely well versed in all things rodeo. He has performed trick riding for President George Bush Sr and other world leaders. He manages the breeding program for the Cervi Rodeo Company and raises 90 to 100 head of horses annually that adds to the 700+ head of bucking horses and bulls in the Cervi herd. Binion is the front end of communication between CCR and the rodeo committees that hire them as well. Add in all the travel from rodeo to rodeo and this remarkable man still manages to keep up the fast paced, high quality rodeos that make the Cervi Championship Rodeo who & what they are today!
CHASE CERVI is Binion’s younger brother and is easily considered one of the best pick-up men in the PRCA as evidenced by his 2010 WNFR selection by Champion Cowboys. Chase is the head of the breeding program for CCR’s bucking bulls and also supervises the stock and crew at each rodeo. When Chase Cervi is not on the road going to one of the 150 annual productions, he can be found at the Roggen, CO ranch watching his cow/calf operation closely.
SCOTTY CERVI is the cousin of Binion and Chase and CCR’s top flankman for the two Cervi outfits. Scotty has learned the mannerisms of each and every of the 700+ bucking horses and bulls and applies his special touch while flanking, sorting, feeding and loading these animals. His extensive knowledge of the stock allows him to get the most out of each animal which makes him extremely valuable to the business and to the cowboys who compete on the Cervi livestock.
ANNOUNCER:
Mr. DOUG MATHIS - PRCA Rodeo Announcer
“Every day is a good day because we get to rodeo” is the mantra of Professional Rodeo Announcer Doug Mathis of Cleburne Texas. Mathis, a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 1995, is ranked as one of the top announcers in the country. In a career filled with highlights, announcing the 2005 Dodge National Circuit Finals in Pocatello, Idaho and the 2009 National Finals Steer Roping put feathers in his cap, as well as placing seventh out of all PRCA announcers for “Announcer of the Year” voting in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Also in 2005, 2006 and 2007 Doug was chosen for the TV Broadcasting job on The Altitude Channel for The Greeley Independence Day Stampede – Extreme Bull Riding.
Mathis has been behind the mike since he sustained a career ending injury as a bull rider. He has announced in 23 states and averages 50,000 miles a year on the road. He jokes that he gets his mail in Cleburne, but that he really lives on the road. Doug says, “My friends are on the road and part of the fun of working in this industry is reconnecting every year.” He is excited to be adding the Cave Creek Fiesta Days Rodeo to the list of Pro Rodeos he announces in 2012.
When he’s not announcing rodeos, Mathis can be found on his family ranch overseeing his 65 head of mother cows and calves
SECRETARY:
Ms SUNNI DEB BACKSTROM of Congress, AZ is our Official Rodeo Secretary. Sunni was born and raised in Missoula, MT and has been around rodeo her entire life. Her mother Ellen was the first woman to be inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the only female to serve on the PRCA Board of Directors. Sunni’s father Marty competed professionally on broncs and bulls, worked as Arena Director and as a rodeo Scoreboard Operator. Sunni has worked for Reg Kesler Rodeo, Flying U Rodeo, Mesquite Rodeo and Cervi Rodeo over the past 32 years.
Here are a few of Sunni’s achievements throughout her rodeo career:
Ten-time Pro Rodeo Secretary of the Year; Nine-time National Finals Rodeo Secretary; Three-time Assistant NFR Secretary; Three-time NFR Timer; One-time NFR Office Manager; Five years as Assistant to NFR Rodeo Manager, Shawn Davis; Rodeo Secretary at the College National Finals since 1989.
TIMER:
Terri Gay is a Three-time Wrangler National Finals rodeo timer. Terri is married to Eight-time World Champion Bull Rider and Pro Rodeo Announcer, Don Gay. Terri and Don have one daughter named Talli. Terri also serves as the Rodeo Secretary for the Mesquite Rodeo and works for the Cervi Rodeo and Frontier Rodeo companies.
Terri Gay (left) and Sunni Deb Backstrom (right)
SOUND TECHNICIAN:
Cave Creek Fiesta Days welcomes Mr Josh “Hambone” Hilton of Rockstar Productions this year. Josh Hilton hails from a small town in southwest Iowa known as Sidney. Growing up a cowboy in a town known as “Rodeo Town USA” it is easy to see where he grew his passion for the sport of rodeo. Josh learned early on that his roping talent wasn’t going to cut it in the big leagues so he started looking into other aspects of the business. Having always had a knack for entertaining, he found a natural progression into production.
His first opportunity came as a part of the production team at the Tour Finale in Omaha, and from there, onto the Finale in Dallas, Texas. Those experiences really put the taste in his mouth for production. In 2005, Josh got a call that changed his life—Mike Cervi offered him a music production job with Cervi Championship Rodeo. Josh immediately started working their smaller rodeos. During this time he was fortunate to observe and study under the best in the business.
Josh’s natural ability to entertain was really continuing to grow when he got the call from National Western in Denver to head up their music production. “That was my big break….it just took off from there!” he recalls. Since then Josh has been blessed to be a part of some of America and Canada’s biggest and best rodeos. He looks forward to every rodeo, big or small, as a chance to do his best work and make each production better than the last.
NATIONAL ANTHEM SINGERS:
Miss HOLLY JO SAMSILL performs Friday night, March 30th at 7pm
Holly Jo Samsill is an 18-year-old country singer hailing from Wickenburg, Arizona. Rodeo genes run thick in Holly Jo’s blood; tracing all the way back to the 1920′s, her family has been actively involved in the rodeo world. Her father is a PRCA team roper who has won the Cave Creek Fiesta Days Rodeo several times over the past few years.
Holly Jo always had a love for country music, and being able to perform at rodeos has allowed her to combine her two passions of rodeo and music.
She is currently in the process of recording a demo CD and plans to pursue her singing career by moving to Nashville in the future.
Ms JENNY KOCH performs Saturday & Sunday afternoons prior to the start of the MUTTON BUSTIN’ Competition & Finals
Jenny Koch, an Arizona native, was raised in the small town of Cave Creek and was an active volunteer with the Fiesta Days Rodeo since its inception until she relocated to Colorado in 1997 then to Wisconsin in 1999, where she currently resides.
Jenny is one of the founding members of Chris’ Cowboy Kitchen, which services the contestants, stock contractors and volunteers that come together to make the CCFDR experience better for everyone. Ms. Koch credits Cave Creek Fiesta Days Rodeo for providing her start in music, as it was the first place she ever sang in front of a crowd performing the National Anthem at the young age of fourteen.
Recently, Jenny has been touring with the Bear Creek Band as one of the lead female vocalist for the group. With the Bear Creek Band, Jenny performs a variety of music from Loretta Lynn to Lady Gaga at casinos and nightclubs throughout the Midwest.
Ms BRITTEN TILLINGHAST performs Saturday night, March 31st at 7pm
As an Arizona resident and Louisiana native, Britten Tillinghast has a unique style that charms and captivates. Her strong vocal talent and stage presence instantly makes her a fan favorite. Britten performs locally at Handle Bar Js with the house band, The Herndon Brothers. The talented musician also performs acoustically in Arizona as well as in Louisiana and other states.
STAFF SARGEANT MARQUIA GILES performs Sunday, April 1st – Wrangler National Patriot Day
We are honored to welcome back SS Marquia Giles from Luke AFB again this year. The Wrangler National Patriot Day is very special to our rodeo in that money raised helps veterans and their families. We are so proud to have members of the military involved with Fiesta Days. SS Giles accepted our invitation to perform in spite of the fact that she will be 8 1/2 months pregnant when she walks into the Cave Creek Memorial Arena to sing the National Anthem. To SS Giles and all our military, we tip our cowboy hats to you and thank you for protecting our Freedom!
BULL FIGHTERS:
Mr LUCAS LITTLES - PRCA Bull Fighter
The 26-year old, Missouri native has been fighting bulls professionally for the past two years of his five-plus years of experience in Bull Fighting. His love of rodeo stems from his ranching background as he was raised on a ranch in Southwest Missouri. Lucas earned his Bachelors degree in Biblical Literature from the Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO.
Mr WILL O’CONNELL – PRCA Bull Fighter
Photo courtesy of Marty Welter / rodeoflicks.com
Will O’Connell is a 25-year old professional Bull Fighter from Zwingle, Iowa. He has been a PRCA member since 2005 (Saddle Bronc & Bull Riding) and in 2007 he became a PRCA Bull Fighter. Here are just a few of Will’s achievements thus far in his rodeo career:
2x Great Lakes Circuit Finals Bull Fighter 2010, 2011; First Frontier Circuit Average Champion Bull Rider & Top 8 at the Dodge National Circuit Finals 2006; Bullfighter at the World’s Toughest Bulls & Broncs Finals 2008; and he fights bulls at the Snake River Stampede, NPRA Finals and South Dakota 4-H Finals
Will attended college on a full rodeo scholarship after being a four-time qualifier to the National HS Finals Rodeo in both Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding. When he is not on the road fighting bulls, Will enjoys hunting and breaking / raising colts.
BARRELMAN:
Mr. JUSTIN C. RUMFORD – PRCA Barrleman
This 3rd generation rodeo cowboy out of Ponca City, Oklahoma has been in the PRCA since 1999 as a contestant, a pick-up man and now a Pro Rodeo Entertainer. By growing up in the rodeo business [Rumford Rodeo Company, established in the 1950's] and by working for the last twelve years for stock contractors, Justin knows exactly what it takes to make a great production. Combine that knowledge with his original acts and quick wit and you have the perfect recipe for the perfect Barrelman!
