|
CofC takes new direction for evening entertainment |
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 07 February 2007 |
By Buck Traxler I-O Editor
Get set for a whole new wave of entertainment at the 42nd annual Chamber of Commerce banquet on Feb. 27.
The annual event will take place in Norley Hall at Blue Sky Villa. A social hour begins at 6 p.m. with the dinner beginning at 7 p.m.
Over the past number of years, the main speakers’ rostrum has been, on a rotating basis, dominated by Governors, Representatives and Senators.
Politicians, in the past, eagerly stood in line waiting their turn to speak in the friendly confines of a packed Norley Hall. On the speaking circuit, the Conrad CofC annual banquet was a “must” stop.
However, that all changed when a rookie governor declined an invitation to step up to the podium.
In looking for someone special to deliver the keynote address, the CofC board had to look no further than their own backyard.
They had only to go as far as Choteau to get Flint Rasmussen, the top rodeo clown in North America.
That statement doesn’t come lightly or as biased editorializing.
Rasmussen has built a career for himself and has been named as the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Clown of the Year seven times since 1996. He has been selected as the Coors Man in the Can six times, he has been the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Barrelman eight times, the Canadian National Finals rodeo Barrelman four times, an eight time, PBR World Finals Barrelman and the Dodge National Circuit Finals Barrelman three times.
He has always been an entertainer, even in high school where he played in a rock band.
However, before he became a rodeo clown, he taught math and history to high school students. If anyone could make grade 11 geometry funny, it would probably be Rasmussen.
Eventually he became drawn to rodeos and as he watched, he realized rodeo clowns were doing the same thing, the same routine, year in and year out. The versatile entertainer added dancing and singing to his performance production, much to the delight of rodeo fans and his popularity soared to new heights.
Always looking to improve his entertainment quality, Rasmussen borrows from top movie hits to build on his acts; such as the Lord of the Rings is a routine he calls, The Lord of the Clowns.
In the Jan. 22 issue of Sports Illustrated there is an entire page devoted to bullfighters and the lone clown, Rasmussen. Done by Rick Reilly, the story evolves over two days at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
New York City-Conrad, MSG-BSV, SI/I-O, major arena to small, anyway you want to cut it, we’ll have one of the most attractive entertainers in the country hitting the stage at the annual CofC banquet.
In addition, the Unsung Hero award and Business Person of the Year will be announced.
For more information or tickets, contact any CofC board member or Shari Richter at the CofC office at (406) 271-7791.
When you think about it, the CofC just traded one clown for another.
|
