Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch Road Trip Guide: Tri-Cities to the Yakima Valley

The Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo brings talented competitors from throughout the Pacific Northwest to the Tri-Cities each year. During this year’s event, Bri Larios from Speck Dealerships had the opportunity to visit with breakaway roper Joclyn Arnold of Glenwood, Washington. Joclyn shared how she became involved in rodeo, what happens during a breakaway roping run, her advice for aspiring competitors, and what life on the rodeo circuit is really like. Joclyn Arnold: Born Into a Rodeo Family For Joclyn, rodeo has always been a family tradition. She grew up surrounded by the sport and developed a love for its competitive nature and the opportunity it gives her to work closely with her horses. “My family is big on rodeoing, so I was just kind of born into it,” Joclyn explained. “I love it because it’s competitive, I get to do it with my horses, and I just like all the parts of it.” What Happens During Breakaway Roping? Breakaway roping is a fast-paced event in which every fraction of a second matters. For spectators watching it for the first time, Joclyn offered a simple explanation of what to look for. The competitor begins by nodding her head to signal that she is ready. The calf is released, the rider follows and attempts to rope it, and the horse then comes to a stop. When the rope breaks away from the saddle horn, a flag signals the completion of the run. When Joclyn is waiting in the box for her turn, she tries to keep her approach simple. “I just take a deep breath and make sure everything is right,” she said. “Then I don’t really know what happens after that—I just do it.” Although the difference between winning and losing can come down to a fraction of a second, Joclyn does her best not to let the pressure take over. “I just try to go fast and let whatever happens, happen.” Competing Close to Home The Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo gives Joclyn the opportunity to compete in front of a large Tri-Cities crowd while remaining relatively close to home. “It’s huge,” she said. “There’s a lot of money here, and it’s good to be close to home.” Joclyn has also had a front-row seat to the rapid growth of women’s breakaway roping. She began competing as the event was gaining greater recognition and has enjoyed watching its popularity increase each year. “It’s been really cool,” Joclyn said. “I came up right when it started to get big, so I’ve been a part of it. Seeing it grow each year has been really cool.” Advice for Young Rodeo Competitors in Eastern Washington For young girls in Eastern Washington who want to participate in rodeo, Joclyn recommends finding experienced people who can help them develop the right skills. “I would find somebody who knows what they’re doing, go to clinics, and learn from somebody who knows what they’re doing,” she advised. Working with knowledgeable riders, trainers, and instructors can help young competitors build confidence while learning how to care for their horses and compete safely. A New Truck for the Rodeo Road Travel is a major part of rodeo life, which means competitors need a dependable vehicle capable of keeping up with a demanding schedule. Joclyn recently purchased a truck from Speck Chevrolet of Prosser after working with Johnny and the dealership team. “We had just started looking for a truck, and then we got ahold of Johnny,” Joclyn recalled. “I think I had a new truck within a week.” When Bri asked how she was enjoying the truck from Johnny Sloan at Speck Chevrolet of Prosser, Joclyn responded, “I love it. It’s been everywhere so far.” Rapid-Fire Questions with Joclyn Bri finished the interview with a few rapid-fire questions to help viewers get to know Joclyn beyond the arena. Favorite rodeo: Prineville Favorite rodeo food: Chicken strips Favorite road-trip snack: A cotton candy Alani and Nerds Gummy Clusters Boots or sneakers: Sneakers Favorite part of rodeo life: Making memories Toughest part of rodeo life: Getting everything to go right—and the expense Mountains or the beach: Mountains Sunrise or sunset: Both One thing that’s always in her rodeo bag: Baby powder Favorite part of the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo: The added money Ford, Chevy, GMC, or Ram: Ram Life on the rodeo circuit requires hard work, preparation, reliable horses, plenty of travel, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. For Joclyn, however, the memories she makes along the way make the challenges worthwhile. Speck Dealerships is proud to support the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo and the hardworking competitors who make it such an exciting Tri-Cities tradition. Thank you to Joclyn Arnold for taking the time to speak with us, and congratulations on being part of the continued growth of breakaway roping. Watch the Interview with Joclyn

For more than four decades, Roger Mooney has helped bring the excitement of professional rodeo to life. During the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo, Bri Larios of Speck Dealerships sat down with the longtime voice of the Horse Heaven Round-Up to learn how he became an announcer, what makes the Tri-Cities crowd special and what life is like after 42 years on the road. Roger also shared a few memorable mishaps from behind the microphone, explained why barrel racing and bull riding receive such big reactions and reflected on his admiration for Dolly Parton. Roger Mooney: A Career in Rodeo Announcing Roger’s career began unexpectedly in 1984 while he was a 17-year-old member of a college rodeo team. When an announcer suffered a heart attack, Roger was asked to step in and handle the announcing duties that night. That opportunity quickly turned into a career. “My freshman year in college, I did 40 rodeos,” Roger told Bri. “And 42 years later, I’m getting to stand next to you.” Since then, Roger has become one of the most recognizable voices in rodeo, traveling across the country and announcing hundreds of performances. The Preparation Behind Every Performance Rodeo announcing involves much more than simply describing the action in the arena. Roger explained that each performance requires hours of research and preparation. For an event like the Horse Heaven Round-Up, he prepares sponsor announcements, live and televised activations, contestant histories, livestock information and other details needed throughout the performance. Roger estimates that he spends between eight and 11 hours preparing for each show. That preparation also includes learning about the organizations and local sponsors that make the event possible, including Speck Dealerships. Life on the Road Although Roger says he has the best job in the world, the career comes with sacrifices. He spends more than 300 days each year traveling away from his family and three farms in Georgia. Because of that demanding schedule, Roger said he watched much of his children’s childhood through social media, videos and pictures. Still, he found a way to add his trademark humor to the subject. “I think they’re still there because I keep sending checks, and they keep cashing them,” he joked. “So evidently, everything’s okay at home.” When he isn’t traveling, Roger enjoys returning to his farm near Ellijay, Georgia. Instead of his usual cowboy hat, he may be found wearing a baseball cap—or no hat at all—while working on a tractor or relaxing by the pond with his son. What Makes the Tri-Cities Crowd Special? After returning to the Tri-Cities for approximately 30 years, Roger considers the area one of his homes away from home. Over the years, he has developed friendships and an extended rodeo family in the community. He compared the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo crowd to a rocket preparing for takeoff. “On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the fuse is lit,” he said. “By Friday and Saturday, we’re in the stratosphere.” Roger described the Horse Heaven Round-Up as the hottest ticket in the Tri-Cities, featuring “cowboys, cowgirls and you” along with plenty of broncs, bulls and rodeo excitement. Which Rodeo Events Get the Biggest Reaction? According to Roger, the Horse Heaven Round-Up offers something for fans of every age. From the opening ceremonies and displays of American pride to the speed and athleticism inside the arena, each part of the rodeo creates a different kind of excitement. He said Tri-Cities fans appear to especially enjoy barrel racing. “They love the girls, and they love the speed,” Roger explained. That excitement leads into bull riding, which typically provides one of the biggest reactions of the night. As Roger put it, once you experience bull riding, “you can get hooked on it.” Roger’s Admiration for Dolly Parton The conversation eventually turned to Dolly Parton, whose hometown region is only a couple of hours from Roger’s Georgia farm. Roger explained that his wife is from Nashville and recalled Dolly visiting her school to read to the children. He praised Dolly for her work providing books to children and families who otherwise might not have access to them. He also admired her humor, business success and ability to remain authentic throughout her career. Beyond her accomplishments as a singer and actress, Roger highlighted the many jobs and opportunities created through Dollywood and her other businesses. Most importantly, he said Dolly’s story demonstrates that a person’s beginnings do not have to determine their future. “It doesn’t matter where you start,” Roger said. “It’s where you finish that counts.” Celebrating Rodeo in the Tri-Cities From his unexpected start as a teenage announcer to becoming the longtime voice of the Horse Heaven Round-Up, Roger Mooney has spent more than 40 years entertaining rodeo fans across the country. His preparation, humor and genuine appreciation for the sport are part of what makes each performance memorable. For Roger, the Tri-Cities is more than another stop on his schedule, it's a community filled with longtime friends, familiar faces and rodeo fans who know how to make some noise. Speck Dealerships was proud to support the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo and spend a few minutes behind the microphone with Roger Mooney. Watch the Full Interview Want to hear more from Roger Mooney? Watch the full interview online to hear Roger share more stories from his 42-year announcing career, discuss what makes the Tri-Cities rodeo crowd special and reveal some of his funniest moments behind the microphone. You’ll also hear his memorable thoughts about Dolly Parton and the impact she has made throughout her life and career. Watch the Interview with Roger Mooney

The crowd may come to the Horse Heaven Round-Up Rodeo for the bronc riding, barrel racing and bull riding, but rodeo clown JJ Harrison plays an essential role in keeping fans entertained throughout the action. During the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo, Kimberly Howard of Speck Dealerships sat down with JJ to discuss how he became a rodeo clown, what goes into entertaining thousands of spectators and how dangerous the job can be. JJ Harrison's Path to Rodeo Clown JJ’s path to the rodeo arena wasn’t exactly traditional. Before becoming a professional rodeo clown, he earned a master’s degree in education and spent eight years teaching school. Although education appeared to be his career path, JJ’s background in rodeo and love of adrenaline eventually led him in a different direction. In 2005, he started working as a rodeo clown as a side gig, thinking it would simply be something fun to try. His first opportunity came from Pat Beard and Beard Rodeo Company at a bull-riding event in Vancouver, Washington. The performance went well, and JJ began working amateur rodeos throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 2007, organizers in Walla Walla wanted him to perform at their PRCA rodeo so badly that they purchased his professional card for him. Since then, JJ has entertained rodeo crowds across the country at events he considers some of the best in the world. Learning to Entertain Thousands of Rodeo Fans JJ admits that he had plenty of nerves during his first performances. Being naturally funny was one thing, but learning how to entertain an entire arena filled with thousands of people required a different set of skills. “I’m a goofy guy, but the reality is, how do I take just being a goofy guy and let it entertain 8,000 people?” JJ said. After more than 20 years in the arena, he has developed a successful combination of natural humor, experience and learned behavior. While JJ keeps a mental collection of jokes and routines he knows will work, he estimates that approximately 75% of each performance is improvised. He adjusts his comedy to the crowd, the arena and whatever happens during the rodeo. That ability to react in the moment keeps each performance fresh and ensures fans never see the exact same show twice. The National Anthem Means It’s Time to Work Many performers have a specific song or routine that helps them prepare before a show. For JJ, that song is the national anthem. Because every rodeo begins with the national anthem, hearing it has become his signal that it’s time to go to work. Even when he attends a sporting event as a spectator, the anthem can make him feel like he should be preparing to enter the arena. Patriotism is an important part of rodeo culture and something that means a great deal to JJ personally. Putting on his signature makeup is another part of his pre-rodeo routine. JJ also enjoys sharing the rodeo lifestyle with his family. His son joined him at the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo and helped operate a camera during the event. Working With Rodeo Announcer Roger Mooney At the Horse Heaven Round-Up Rodeo, JJ works alongside announcer Roger Mooney. Despite their natural back-and-forth during the show, very little of their interaction is scripted. JJ may give Roger a general idea of what he plans to do or ask him to guide the conversation in a certain direction, but both performers leave room to improvise. According to JJ, audiences can usually tell when a routine is overly scripted. Their role isn’t limited to entertaining the audience. If a contestant or animal is injured, JJ believes it’s important to be honest with the crowd, pause the comedy and allow everyone in the arena to focus on the situation. How Dangerous Is Being a Rodeo Clown? Although fans primarily see the comedy, JJ also has an important, and dangerous, job during bull riding. As a barrel man, he must position and move his barrel around the arena while watching the bull, the rider and the bullfighters. His goal is to make himself and his barrel the bull’s target before anyone else gets hit. “If something gets hit in the arena, it’s me,” JJ explained. “I don’t want a bullfighter to get hit. I want a bullfighter to be able to use me as a punching bag and hide behind it.” The role of Rodeo Clown requires timing, awareness, athletic ability and the willingness to put himself in harm’s way to help protect others. Coming Home to the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo JJ has performed at the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo for approximately 16 or 17 years. Although he travels to rodeos around the country, returning to Kennewick feels like a homecoming. What makes the event special isn’t only the arena or the size of the crowd. It’s the relationships he has built with the rodeo committee, fair board and local community over the years. With a new stadium and another exciting week of rodeo action, JJ looked forward to helping fans create a new collection of Horse Heaven Round-Up memories. Watch the full interview and learn more about JJ Harrison’s journey, his funniest costume, his favorite fair food and what it takes to have a great night at the rodeo. You can watch the entire interview with JJ Harrison online. Watch Now