‘The Voice,’ top officials to call U.S. Junior Steer Wrestling Championship in Marble Falls

CAPTION: Randy Schmutz, “The Voice” of The American rodeo, is calling the action of the U.S. Junior Steer Wrestling Championship. Courtesy photo

The best young bulldoggers aren’t the only ones coming to Marble Falls for the U.S. Junior Steer Wrestling Championship and Leon Bauerle Cowboy Reunion Sunday, Oct. 9.

So are the industry’s most recognizable voices and faces.

The U.S. Junior Steer Wrestling Championship and Leon Bauerle Cowboy Reunion, hosted by The Gunner Thames Memorial Foundation, is at the Charley Taylor Arena, 3053 U.S. 281 in Marble Falls, and allows young men 19 years old the opportunity to determine who is the best Junior Steer Wrestler in the nation.

Gates open at 1 p.m with festivities starting at 2 p.m. and steer wrestling beginning at 3 p.m.

Admission is $10 per vehicle at the gate with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Gunner Thames Memorial Foundation. The $10 is a donation and spectators who can not to donate won’t be turned away.

Sitting in the arena to call the action are 

Randy Schmutz, “The Voice” of The American rodeo at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The American rodeo is the richest single-day rodeo in the world and the premier bull riding event.

Butch Kirby, the 1978 World Champion Bull Rider who was inducted into Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2020. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo eight times. After he retired from bull riding, he became a pro official for the PRCA for 27 years. He also has been a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo official for 30 years. He is married to Marble Falls High School graduate Jo Cox.

Matt Reeves, the 2019 Wrangler NFR steer wrestling champion, who is married to Marble Falls High School graduate Savanah Koenig. Reeves is a PRCA official.

The U.S. Junior Steer Wrestling Championship is drawing the top junior steer wrestlers from states known for producing great rodeo athletes. These contestants are state champion steer wrestlers who compete on various circuits and at the top rodeos around the country.

When the U.S. Junior Steer Wrestling Championship steering committee examined the elements of a tremendous rodeo, the members knew immediately having great officials and announcers to match the talents of the contestants was the priority, committee member Todd Fox said. It was a no-brainer to ask these men to be a part of it, he added.

“This is a world-class event,” he said. “This is an opportunity to promote these kids. So when they start appearing on The Cowboy Channel, people will recognize them. This is how it should be done.”

He noted it didn’t take long for the trio to say yes.

“Randy and Butch are excited to come do it,” Fox said. “We tried to get the best we could.”

Go to usjsw.com for more information, to register and for a list of contestants.

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