MATT TARR MAY not be from New Mexico, but the Land of Enchantment has a special place in his rodeo-clown heart. “They were the first big rodeo to take a chance on me,” says the Cody, Wyoming, native. “It is very special to my family. It’s like our second home.”
Like any big production, rodeos have lots of moving pieces. Clowns smooth the transition between events by keeping the crowd engaged. “I’m an insurance policy,” says Tarr, who was the 2024 National Rodeo Finals Open barrelman.
So if equipment breaks down or there’s a stop in the action, Tarr goes to work performing his award-winning 14-foot trampoline routine. “I want to make everybody feel like they’re a part of something that’s going on, instead of just watching,” Tarr says. “We want to make sure we entertain you.”
During bull-riding events, Tarr helps riders escape after a fall by distracting the bull and jumping into a brightly colored barrel just before the 1,500-pound creature slams into it. “There’s a fine line between brave and stupid—and we play with it a lot,” he says. “It’s like being in a car wreck sometimes.”
Beyond the exaggerated makeup, silly outfits, and entertaining antics, the job has a serious side. “We’re all adrenaline junkies,” Tarr says. “If something hits that barrel, and not one of my buddies out there, then that’s a good night.”
➤ Meet another rodeo star in the arena: tie-down roper Seth Hall chasing victory at the fair.
Chevron PRCA Rodeos are held September 10–11 at 6:45 p.m. and a matinee on September 14 at 4 p.m.