Greg Simas – Rodeo Announcer 
Rodeo announcer for the 43rd annual U.P. Championship Rodeo is Greg Simas of Danville, Pa.
Simas was born and raised in Elk Grove, Calif. and found his love of rodeo while serving with the Marines for six years, honorably discharged as a sergeant in April 1999.
He began riding bulls while in the Marines for the Military Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1996, riding bulls for some four to five years.
Announcing started out as an accident for him, he said. After getting on his last bull in August 2000, he continued to go to the weekly jackpots with some of his friends. One night, the announcer of the jackpot was sick and he was asked if Greg minded filling in.
Since it was just a small deal with maybe 50 spectators and 20 contestants that he knew, Simas didn’t have a problem with it and grabbed the microphone.
From there, he was asked to help out with the PHSFR in June 2001. Simas announced a couple more events that year with rented equipment and thought that was it. Then calls started coming in for the 2002 season.
That is when he decided to give this a shot and quit his two jobs. Simas has since dedicated his time to becoming a professional rodeo announcer and is now announcing at more than 100 performances a year.
He also announces for the U.S. Hot Rod Association Monster Jam tour in March and April, he said.
When home, he enjoy spending time with his son, Tyler James, 6, and wife, Jen.
“Tyler is quickly becoming quite the horseman and is currently learning how to throw a rope, even though it is still pretty tough keeping him away from playing bull riding,” said Simas.
“My wife, Jen, enjoys training barrel horses when not attending rodeos in the First Frontier Circuit of the PRCA. I enjoy playing golf when time permits and, of course, look forward to hunting and fishing season. But most of all I enjoy tending to our small farm of just under 10 acres.”
Rory Meeks - Rodeo Clown & Specialty Act
Rory Meeks, as a rodeo clown or bull fighter, his primary job is to protect the rider from the bull after he dismounts or is bucked off, by distracting the bull and providing alternative targets for the bull to chase. Rory says he played football in college and that getting run over by a bull isn’t much different than getting run over by a big linebacker.
Rory Meeks and Harry the World’s Strongest Chicken will be entertaining rodeo fans during the performances in Iron River. Harry pulls his trainer and rodeo clown in a specially designed chicken chariot.
“He lifts weights, eats a lot of corn, the starch that’s what gives him the big muscles,” says Meeks.
Rory, in his trademark spotted shirt, hails from Marion, Iowa, and is ready to entertain at the U.P. Championship Rodeo in Iron River.
Dustin Nelson and Ben Meyer - Rodeo Bullfighters
Bullfighters for the 43rd annual U.P. Championship Rodeo at the Iron County Fairgrounds are Dustin Nelson of Custer, Mont., left, and Ben Meyer of Decorah, Iowa. Nelson has been a member of the PRCA since 2005; Meyer, since 2004. (Three Hills Rodeo Inc. photo)
Three Hills - Stock Contractor for U.P. Championship Rodeo
IRON RIVER—Stock contractor for the 43rd annual U.P. Championship Rodeo here is Three Hills Rodeo Inc. of Bernard, Iowa.
The stock contracting and production company has been in existence since 1986 and features award-winning livestock and quality production. The ranching operations features a bucking horse and bull breeding program as well as a commercial cow/calf herd and registered quarter horses and paints.
Three Hills takes a personal interest in the communities they service, note owners David and Marla Morehead.
“We have helped raise over $150,000 for breast cancer treatment, education and personal assistance through the Tough Enough to Wear Pink Organization and the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation over the past two years,” said the Moreheads.
“A new initiative we began in 2007 was Cowboys for Kids to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Evansville, Ind. It was a great opportunity for cowboys and our staff to brighten the day of others by visiting the hospitals and to give back to the communities supporting our events.”
Three Hills ranch, located in the lush, green hillsides of eastern Iowa is home for over 300 head of bucking horses, 150 bucking cows and calves and 200 bulls.
“The Three Hills ‘Born to Buck’ program started 26 years ago is so successful that 100 percent of our bucking string, both bulls and horses is bred, born and raised on our ranch. After many years of improvements in bloodlines, we have achieved great uniformity and athleticism across the board.
“Three Hills is committed to exceeding the highest standards for care and treatment of our animals. We have instituted new back stage tours for our spectators to see the horses and bulls up close and see what great shape they are in, to look at the equipment we utilize and see personally that we provide the best of care on and off the road for our animal athletes.
“ Our proof is in our product, a nationally recognized breeding program known for strong, athletic bulls and horses that are truly born to buck.”
