Beloved entertainer Rasmussen still having a blast

Flint Rasmussen isn’t just a funny guy.

There are actually numerous ways to describe the 46-year-old Choteau, Mont., resident who has been entertaining rodeo folks for two decades. Clown, barrel man, comedian, funnyman, show host, ambassador, entertainer — they all apply to Rasmussen.

The last one, entertainer, is the one he likes best. I chatted with the eight-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo barrel man and eight-time PRCA Clown of the Year, who also works as the Professional Bull Riders chief entertainer, backstage after his “Outside the Barrel” show Monday afternoon at Cowboy Christmas and found a man who is happy with his place in the sport.

Rasmussen, who also won seven Coors Man in the Can awards during his PRCA days, has hosted the wildly popular show each day during the Wrangler NFR for 10 years now, and he shows no signs of losing his gift for making people laugh and feel entertained. He also co-hosts the nightly Wrangler NFR buckle presentations at the South Point Hotel, Casino &Spa with Wrangler NFR announcer Randy Corley during the 10-day rodeo, so Rasmussen’s plate is constantly full.

The former high school teacher who joined the PRCA in 1994 and I chatted about a variety of things, including his life in and out of the arena, his role as rodeo ambassador and his drive to continue to entertain people.

Rasmussen was as engaging as ever and had a lot of great things to say. Here are the highlights:

Q: You’ve been doing your “Outside the Barrel” show for a long time, but it doesn’t appear that it’s become old for you. You still look like you’re having a great time doing it.

FR: The week gets long, because I have this and the 11 o’clock show, so I don’t schedule a lot of other commitments. This show is one of those deals you have in your life that, no matter how tired you are, as soon as I step up there on stage — and the arena is the same for me — that’s where I’m most at ease. It’s almost peaceful, because you’re doing your thing without outside influences. I get a boost of energy when I get up there.

Originally, this show was a way for people to meet cowboys other than hearing, “Hey, that was a good ride. Tell me about your ride.” Now, as you look around the city, there are a lot of other shows and autograph signings that take away the availability of cowboys. We still do things with the cowboys, but we try to also do some kind of comedy or music. Music means a lot to me, so I try to work it in there.

Q: How many events do you work for the PBR, and do you still enjoy them?

FR: I’m under contract to do all of the Built Ford Tough Series events and did a few other touring pro events, so that was about 28. So, I was plenty busy. I enjoy my job. I change jobs in the arena, but I feel like I’m contributing to what all this is about. With the stage show and the buckle presentations, I feel like I’m almost recognized more and am making more of a contribution in what I’m doing now than when I was in the arena. When I was at the NFR and was working the barrel, I’d roll the barrel out there for 15 bull riders, stand there and then roll it back out of the arena. I’m doing more now, and I feel like I’m contributing more.

Q: Having your show at Cowboy FanFest is perfect, and you have a lot of fans who want to meet you afterward.

FR: You have a fan base built right in. It used to be that people would just go shopping and then go to the rodeo. Then, it was shopping, my show and the rodeo. Now, there’s a bunch of interactive things going on at Cowboy Christmas, so people come early, funnel back here and save their seats for the show. On a Monday afternoon, I had 800 or 900 people gathered around for a show. That’s pretty darned good. I feel like the show has become a destination, and that’s a thrill.

Q: You’ve always been a fan favorite, and people really connect with you on a personal level. They love you. Has that been difficult to accept?

FR: It took a while of my wife (Katie) telling me that was so to accept it. It’s hard to see yourself that way, but I’ve come to accept that a lot of people do recognize me. I take it and run with it, and let’s make a positive impact. If I’ve got to be that guy who’s up here every day and people get to know me, I try to make that connection. Rodeo people are fun, too, because a lot of them don’t want to be fans. They’re your friends. At the PBR, we have fans, and they’re rabid. In rodeo, it’s Jim from North Dakota saying, “Do you remember me?” So, it’s a different connection. I like to think I have both – hardcore fans and people who want to be friends.

It’s fun when the cowboys are fans. They trust us on this show and know we’re not going to mess with them and make them look bad. We lead them through an interview and talk about the things they want to talk about.

Q: How did your heart attack in 2009 affect you?

FR: It was a shock. It was no good. It was a major heart attack, and it’s affected me in that it’s taken a while to get over the frustration that I can’t give everything all the time and push, push, push. When I get tired, I rest. When I’m thirsty, I drink water. When I’m hungry, I eat. But also, I’m easier to be around. Usually, about this time of the week, I was grouchy and short-tempered. It’s not worth it. It was completely stress-related, and there’s no history of it in my family. I’m not curing cancer on this show. It’s just a show, and it’s more of a big deal because it’s now on TV, but it’ll be fine. It’s all good.

Q: You attended your first Finals in 1990 and were selected to work your first NFR in 1998. How have you seen the rodeo and the city evolve?

FR: When we came in ’90, we stayed at Circus Circus and our rooms were $19.99 a night. Over the years, it’s funny to me to see how now every property has a viewing party. Tens of thousands of people just come to Las Vegas, and they don’t have tickets for the rodeo. That was the scary part about it possibly leaving. Vegas is an excuse for people to come to the NFR, and the NFR is an excuse for people to come to Vegas. To me, they’re one in the same now. The NFR is Vegas.

Q: How long do you want to keep doing all of this? Do you ever think of hanging up the cleats for your in-the-arena work?

FS: I honestly had considered next season being my last (in the arena). I was going to retire. The week before I came down here, I got a fan letter from an older couple. The man said, “I don’t know if we’ll ever make it to another PBR Finals because of our age, but we want you to know you make a difference.” I read that long letter, and I told my wife, “I’m not quite ready yet.” I’ll keep doing this show, and this is what I really love. I never want people to want me to leave. I’ll never do that.

Neal Reid is a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based freelance writer who spent five years as editor of the ProRodeo Sports News. He has written for Western Horseman, American Cowboy, The Ketchpen, Persimmon Hill, USA Today, Newsday, MLB.com, ESPN.com, ESPNW.com, the Colorado Springs Gazette and Denver Post, among others. Reid, a member of the Rodeo Historical Society, covered the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, for the Olympic and Paralympic News Service and is a veteran of 10 Wrangler NFRs. Follow him on Twitter @NealReid21.