Talk Rodeo at the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Talk Rodeo is a 5-day a week, 3 min., year-round rodeo interview show, featuring the biggest names in rodeo. The show was started over 15 years ago by Rick Thompson from North Dakota, as a way to keep the public informed on what is going on in the rodeo world. In 2009, Thompson was joined by Wyoming Native, Derek Barton, as a partner in the Talk Rodeo Shows. Barton, a PRCA Announcer and Radio broadcaster for over 30 years, brought to the partnership a vast background of broadcasting, technical and promotional experience to the mix. With Thompson, a walking encyclopedia of rodeo knowledge and history, the show grew to the next level, with today’s radio and internet exposure.   Barton then went forward on developing and maintaining the shows internet and social media sites, and does all the editing and production off all the shows, which increased the shows listenership to several hundred radio stations and listeners from all over the world.

Talk Rodeo also is a very recognized fixture in the media room at the Wrangler National Finals every year. Besides the daily Talk Rodeo shows, Barton and Thompson also air 2-4:00 WNFR shows for all 10 rounds from Las Vegas. One show features each nights round winners and audio from those winners on their winner runs. The other show keeps listeners up to date on the current World Standings and the WNFR Average standings as well. Those efforts, hard work and passion, were rewarded in 2010, when Talk Rodeo received the “PRCA Excellence in Broadcast Media” award at the annual PRCA Year End Awards Ceremony.
With today’s internet, the exposure to video and audio for rodeo coverage has increased by leaps and bound and Talk Rodeo is always trying to stay fresh and up to date on that coverage. Barton says that “the most important thing, Talk Rodeo, does, it to make sure that rodeo fans around the world, can stay on top of what their favorite cowboy and cowgirl are doing. We hope that Talk Rodeo as accomplished that and will continue to do so.”