Episode 008 - The Official Entertainer of the PBR, Flint Rasmussen

Taylor McAdams: You're listening to the kick your boots up podcast where we swap stories of the West. Whether you're just waking up or getting in for the day, come on in and kick your boots up. Joining us on the Kick Your Boots Up Podcast today is the legendary Flint Rasmussen. Flint, it's so good to have you on the podcast. You know, a lot of people know you as the Entertainer of the PBR and super public but what's really cool is your two daughters get to call you dad, Shelby and Paige. Paige just graduated college, so shout out to her Montana State University. That's awesome. And Shelby was a former National High School Rodeo (NHSRA) President, youth president as well as she's doing big things as a rodeo coach today as well. He's an eight-time Wrangler National Finals, rodeo barrel man a seven-time Coors man in the can. And just an all around cowboy from Billings, Montana Flint, thank you for taking the time on your day off from entertaining to be on the kick your boots up podcast.

Flint Rasmussen: Yeah, it is I have a little day. Here. I'm here at PBR World Finals. And we get kind of a little we go three days have a little break. And then finish off with four days. So my body appreciates sitting in this chair just talking to you. And but I'm glad you bring up my girls that there's a public thing, you know, anybody who's kind of in the public eye, but I've said it a lot. If if people look at me and say, I think that's Paige and Shelby's dad and that's all I'm good with that. And so they're my, they're my favorite subject for sure those two.

Taylor McAdams: Well, and I have to commend you to you've done an incredible job raising them knowing personally and respecting Shelby back in high school for high school rodeo at the national finals. And then seeing them both continued to go on and do big things today. That's gonna make you feel good as a dad, right?

Flint Rasmussen: It does. Uh, you know, I always say, people know me and know them as my girls, but their, their mom probably did more. My job took us into the rodeo industry and brought awareness by complete immersion into the lifestyle. It was me making a living out of that took em took em there, but but somebody had to be there to, you know, get him to school, get them on their horses, and their mom, Katie, who was she was a circuit finals, barrel racer, and really great horse trainer. She's kind of the one that got them performing as well as they do. You know, and hopefully I chipped in there, here and there. But I told that we told them at a very young age, a couple of things, you know, with rodeo, first of all, you know, win with grace, lose with grace, you better learn to lose the right way. Because you're going to lose in rodeo way more than you're going to win. And the other thing we've tried to teach em from day one is you can be successful, you can win all the gold buckles you want or whatever saddles, but what people will remember, is how you are to them outside of the arena. And I know a lot of people talk about that. But it is. It's so true. And I tell them all the time, your life and your success in life is about relationships and connections. And a lot of people don't like that. Like, there's a saying well Oh yeah, well, they know they knew this person to get him in here. Yep, that exactly. But the great thing about rodeo and you know this, and a lot of the people watching know this, you're gonna have all the ins you want. You can know all the people you want in in this rodeo world. But you still got to win. Like there's no, it's not like getting a part in a movie. It's not like getting a record deal. You can enter, but you got to win. So they have done well Paige recently won the all the goat tyingnher fourth region goat tying title, The Big Sky region, and her second all-around title. So and now Shelby is her coach at Montana State. So we get to spend a week at the College National Finals Rodeo, and I love it because all I get to do is be a dad and get nervous and pace up and down. And that's my week there. So it's great.

Taylor McAdams: What a cool outlook on that. Thank you for sharing. And I can tell you're so passionate about your daughters a proud dad we have right here. That's very, very incredible. And I can't wait to learn more about them. But I want to kind of back up just a little bit and learn more about you personally and more specifically, how did you get started in the industry? I know it's kind of taken it's wild turns and so share your story with us for everyone out there that doesn't know it.

Flint Rasmussen: Yeah. I too. You know, I talked about my girls by immersion just a similation of the sport. I was a little bit the same way but maybe on a smaller scale. My dad was a rodeo announcer And he really just stayed around Montana, you know, he had all of us he had a family too. So our summers were loading up in a camper on a pickup my mom timed to the rodeos. My dad announced the rodeos and we got to go to little rodeos around Montana. That was our childhood. I mean, that was that was how we spent our summers we never went camping. Camping to us was camping in the in our camper on the big cup, but it was in the infield of a at a fairgrounds somewhere and that was good with us. That was okay. But my mom always says, we learned the sport from the steps of an announcer stand. So I grew up watching rodeo from the back, you know, the back of the chutes just watching. And I'm that kid, I'm still that guy. I watched football that way I watch everything that way. Whereas as a little kid, I just sit and watch everything that was going on. And I really didn't. Rodeo wasn't my thing. I and now I have a brother my brother Will is a great rodeo announcer he was a little the same way. We have another brother Pete who really is a cowboy. I just didn't I was a football player basketball basketball track. I did a lot of music and stage stuff. But rodeo was not really on my radar to ever make a living at it. But I always performed I was always pretty funny as a kid. And really, it stemmed from a conversation when I was about 19 years old and thought rodeo clowns that I have seen my brother and dad work with. I thought I could do better like and I opened my big mouth about that. And they dared me to do it once. And it turned into a summer job through college. I had no expectations. I had no goals I had, I didn't like do one summer of this and go, Hey, I'm going to be at the NFR someday. It was just it was just a fun thing. While my other friends were doing actual real jobs. I was this was my summer job and got a teaching job after college and kind of thought I was done with it. And I just kept getting more and more phone calls. And you know, low and behold these five, six years that I was doing little rodeos in Montana, northern Rodeo Association rodeos. I was really getting pretty good. And I had patients I didn't I see, you know, with all due respect, and if the shoe fits somebody out there, I see young guys come in and go Well, I want to do it. He does. So I'm going to do one year of scraping up rodeos or bull ridings and then shoot, I'm ready for the Pendleton Round Up. You know, I did a lot of years of small stuff. And then when I joined the PRCA, I worked my way up and, and so it kind of took off, you know, my my rodeo career took off the PBR I was kind of on the ground floor of a lot of production through guys like a guy named David Allen and Jerome the late Jerome Robinson. I fit the PBR style. So I spent a lot of years doing rodeo and PBR, and then ‘06, I just went strictly PBR. And it has I guess it's gone. Okay, I, I quit teaching school in 1993, to see if maybe it would work for a couple of years. And here we are, a couple years later, and it seems to still be working a little bit.

Taylor McAdams: Oh, yeah, I'd say what you're doing is exactly right. And I think I want to back up to whenever you made the comment about becoming a teacher, my father-in-law mentioned that you're a teacher, and I was like, No, Flint wasn't a teacher. How cool is it now for those students that you taught to look back at you now on this stage, and with such a following, and such a big important job being a clown, you know, entertaining the crowd? What do you think it's like for those kids?

Flint Rasmussen: Well, it's funny because I when I was there, they knew what I did in the summers. And they knew when I quit teaching what I was going to try and do those, those kids that I taught, I mean that's 30 years ago, I run into them and or I get messages, and some of them still call me Mr. Rasmussen. Coach, some of them call me coach, which to me is the second greatest title behind Dad. Hey, Ras, they'll call me Ras but they're doctors and teachers and you know, those kids I ran into a kid not long ago, fastest kid I ever coached and track he had the state record and 100 for a while and and ran into him at a basketball tournament. And like, how old are you now? I'm 48 right? Oh my God. So it's great guys I coached with it's been really, honestly, that's a great point because it's cool to see them. I see they were on Facebook the other day. The last class I taught was advertising to get All together for their 30th high school reunion, and I chimed in and said, looks like I gotta go, and it just blew up, you know? So that that's a good point. That's really fun for me, actually.

Taylor McAdams: Yeah, that's so cool. And for them to even be able to follow your journey so easily with social media and technology today. That's so so awesome. But before we kind of move on to the next segment, I want to touch really briefly on your first memory, your favorite memory of working your first PBR. What it was like versus now obviously the nerves are way different. You prepare way different, you do your makeup way different, I'm sure. So talk to us about that those first few memories.

Flint Rasmussen: Well, PBR wise PBR was in a different place. When I first came around, I'm thinking 1996 ish, when I first got hired, really run and structured more like a rodeo, but just with bull riding, we are all independent contractors, we were, they were hiring different people. So it was a real different experience. But for me, in 1996, I'm, you know, not, you know, I'm 28 years old or whatever. I was 27 years old. And I go, I remember going to like Portland and Kansas City. Here's Tuff Hedeman, Jim sharp, Ted Nuce, Aron Simis, Michael Gaffney, Adriana. Mariah, and I'm like, What the hell am I doing here? I, it was crazy. And I had so much energy back then, of course, but it was such a thrill. And, and the great thing was, it allowed me to fill a schedule in the winter, which is hard in the rodeo world. So I jumped in and was really able to stay busy and get better and better, but that my first memory is I was a little starstruck for sure.

Taylor McAdams: And I love that you mentioned that too, because you're walking proof of not only do you encourage your girls to work from the bottom and start there and work their way to the top and still win. That's exactly what you did. You walked in as a young buck and made the most of it. And now you're the legend that you are today. And there's a lot of kids out there and you might realize this or you might not but there's a lot of kids out there that want to be you. You know, for Halloween for school dress-up days for rodeo, themed weekends, whatever it is. That's got to feel so cool, too. Right?

Flint Rasmussen: Yeah, people forget the starting at the bottom. You know, I got married, I sold cars, I substitute taught, and my wife at the time, got a teaching job. She was a great teacher had been a teacher. She kind of supported us while this took off. That's forgotten, everybody. All they see is what's happening now. And there's a lot goes into it. And yeah, for young people, you got to be ready for that. You got to accept it and embrace it. And just run with it a little bit.

Taylor McAdams: Oh, yeah. Can you do that so gracefully. Maybe not running gracefully, but-

Flint Rasmussen: I used to be way more graceful running for sure.

Taylor McAdams: No, I love watching you in the arena, entertain the crowd. It's just so there's a way a professional way about you that you just own the room. And it what's so crazy to me is it's such a large room wherever you go. And stadiums I'm talking. You know, this is places where like Carrie Underwood performs in these same places that you get to step into. So talk to us a little bit about that. What's it like entertaining the person on the front row, the lowest two, all the way up in the nosebleeds? I know that's kind of what I was used to as a rodeo queen. You kind of had to get the hearts and the attention of everyone but on a different level for you being a rodeo clown. What's that? Like?

Flint Rasmussen: Well, yeah, you got to pull everybody in. I think you got to make everybody feel like they're part of the invited to the party. And I remember a year 30 years ago, the first Garth Brooks special on TV, it was on NBC I'll never forget. And he did this deal where he went up and sat he said every show he does, he goes up and sits way at the top and looks and says how do I make this person feel like they're a part of what's going on? And I have that same mentality and you know, I you know, differences, I sometimes even go up in the crowd. I've been known to go in the top level if I can get up there. And that's a big thing. I just think what I've always tried to do is, you know, people may not believe this, it's never about this. It's about this. It's about everything going on from the announcers to now music’s such a big part of what we do. And now PBR was lucky to have amazing lighting and concert sound. And so that makes it a little easier, but it's fun. It's you know, it's a dangerous sport, but I'm supposed to bring levity to it and fun. And there's a there's a little trough to hey, we're going to have a little party here and you need to come to the party. And by the end of the night, it's your party and we're invited to your party. I watched different performers that I relate to in their energy in bringing joy to the crowd because their show is such a joy. Garth Brooks was always that guy. I finally got to meet Garth Brooks not very long ago. But I didn't get to tell him. It what I'm not very good at that. I don't want to bother anybody, but I wanted to tell him you, rodeo clowns weren't my inspiration people like you are my inspiration. I recently not to give somebody a plug. But recently was a part of concert by Ian Munsick. He's now big in the country music world. He brings joy. Everything he does is saying to the crowd, we're having fun. Let's go. That's why I think he's another big thing and lucky enough to kind of know him and was part of his show the other night. And so I watch that stuff. What makes me happy? And that's what I tried to do. So. I don't know. I I think people have fun. What at our shows. That's the point, right? We're not curing cancer. We're not stopping terrorism. It's freaking bull ridin’. It's rodeo. It's fun. Let's just have some fun. So yeah,

Taylor McAdams: I couldn't agree more. Anytime I go, I'm looking around. I'm thinking you're gonna start like flying from the ceiling. At some point. I'm always wondering, Where's Flint gonna end up? Where is he going to be? I love that you get to do the fan of the night on occasions.

Flint Rasmussen: Yeah.

Taylor McAdams: Just fun things like that. That gets the crowd looking forward to something else other than the event that they spent their hard earned money to go to that they want to go to, of course. But I've got to ask you, this is a personal question of mind that I'm so curious about. Whenever you have your full face and makeup. Are there any kids that maybe start crying when they see your face?

Flint Rasmussen: Yeah, it's funny, because parents pretend that their kids are excited to see me. When a lot of times it's the parents that are excited to see me. Oh, my God, will you sign this shirt? It's for my daughter, she loves you. Yeah, you do too mom, but whatever. But they'll they'll grab their kid who knows no better. A two-year-old kid who really, you know, doesn't know. And they just stick the kid in my face. And he's screaming here, hold my kid and take a picture. I'm like, listen, no. That there's a reason now they're gonna be freaked out the rest of their life. So yeah, there's, there's a lot of people, hey, it's funny. There's adults out there, that they're just like, I'm sorry, I can't I I'm freaked out by clowns. And I always say, I'm not a clown. I'm just a guy with some stuff on my face. And I have had people tell me, “I had a phobia of clowns. As a kid growing up and you with you? It's different. I don't mind it. It's just different.” And I agree, but I've got a lot of that, too. So so that's kind of an honor. You know, break somebody's phobia of clowns. What a deal, you know?

Taylor McAdams: and you're not afraid of clowns, right?

Flint Rasmussen: No, but I don't I'm not a fan of clowns. Does that make sense like-  As a kid, of course, being in rodeo little enthralled with, with rodeo clowns. There's been ones through my life that I just never, I don't know. I never pictured myself as it but I can say through rodeo. There's certain ones I watched. Maybe a name you're not familiar with, but rodeo people. People I really watched Butch Lim Cooler I thought was a an underrated legendary rodeo clown. He was the original guy on the trampoline. He helped me very physical expressions. Of course, Lecile Harris and I the late Lecile Harris. We got along very well. He I never really got to watch him work because I was always somewhere. But we'd get together in Vegas. And I think he knew what I was going for. Lisa was a brilliant guy. And we had some really good conversations about how to navigate things. And I mean, there's a lot of them out there but and I remember Butch really helping me and the I just thought he was deep and I don't know that he's kind of an intellectual. I dug that that was cool. So but circus clowns and stuff out there kind of creepy. I don't know. Yeah, weird. I know.

Taylor McAdams: I agree with you. Which is so funny because your job is to entertain and be funny. And a lot of tough people are using clowns nowadays and haunted houses and stuff because there is a fear like that. So way to go for not doing the whole super scary thing and just trying to be funny, but I'm kind of kind of going along those same lines at the behind-the-scenes. I am so curious to know your behind-the-scenes day-to-day life. I know right now you're at the biggest show, essentially, you know you're at the World Finals, it's busy. Talk to us about your day-to-day life. Like I'm so serious break it down to like production meetings, what time you put your makeup on, because by now you're about to retire and you have it down to a science. So tell us about the behind-the-scenes.

Flint Rasmussen: Yeah, I'll give you a little insight into what we do here at PBR World Finals. Now, this isn't, you know, we they've gone back to two weekends. So this is we have some off days. But you know, when I start here coming up, I'm helping with our telecast a little bit for a little transition in my career. So I'm doing the CBS pre-show which two segments we tape in the morning Matt West who is an amazing PBR announcer and TV guy, which is a hard balance. We do a couple segments in the morning so I get up We're there by 10 o'clock in the stockyards, there's a set there. We do some of that we go over at all. I finished there, do some other things. And then our first production meeting at Dickies Arena is at three o'clock for for a 7:45 start. So we got three o'clock, we go through every element of the show, because when you're live TV, we work in conjunction and are controlled by TV. And that isn't always the case in the rodeo world. There's this, “Well, TV can wait on us”, we don't get to do that. We're live TV that pays the bills. So we do a lot there. We finish that meeting, they feed us we get a catered meal, then we go do some of the elements of the openings. And I go to all of that, that I think a big difference between maybe just the rodeo clown world and what I do, I am a member of the production team with PBR. So I go to all those meetings when we're going through the opening, I can go hey, you know, I think that's, I think you should bring them out of here instead, not that they always listen to me, but I can say, and then go get ready for a 7:45 start. You know, if I need some sports medicine, we walk around, we have a great locker room atmosphere, it's kind of our own space. Seven o'clock is kind of my deadline to put the makeup on and it doesn't take very long. It's a necessary evil of my job. It's not some I go, honestly, when it's done, put my makeup on I go, Oh God, I forgot to put my makeup. I gotta put my makeup on. You know. And so I do that. Get everything ready there sings I wear microphones and an earpiece on tape and stuff on. There's just a lot of little things. But we all we all need that time for everybody just leave us alone. When I go out in the arena, I don't necessarily have things prepared. I prepare my mind to just open up and take it all in. Because I feel that's when I'm at my best. I think one reason I'm tired in my career is I've never walked out the arena and recited Okay, I'm gonna do this joke here. And this joke here. It's all been alright, mind. Look around, what can we do with what we've been dealt here? And it's kind of exhausting mentally as well. And my physical, the way I've done my job physically. So you know, then it's a we finished by 10:15 10:30. And wind everything down. By when it's all said and done. I'm at the arena, eight hours. And that's without the stuff in the morning. It's it's a great job. But it is it is a job. And there's a lot of little things people don't see balancing when you eat. So physically, you're okay and who you talk to it's Yeah, which I thrive on it. It's great. But there's a lot. So I hope that helped.

Taylor McAdams: Oh, that helps so much. And that immediately made me want to have a million more questions that I know you don't have time for. But I am curious to know what's it like knowing that there's a bunch of younger people in the organization and, and even people guys that have been there forever part of the production team? I love that you would you'd said you're part of that. I know they hold a hold on to every word you say especially now more than ever. So what's it like for you knowing that you're the experienced one in the room, and you can provide some very valuable insight because you have those memories of the finals in the past or the PBR events in the past?

Flint Rasmussen: That's a good question. Because I don't always know if there's turnover as far as structure of PBR and who's got a new title and people come and go, that's just the natural way. And I don't know if they do always take in the guys I work with do. I've heard it every Announcer And every you know, so yeah, that's cool, I think to be able to have a little say in things now. Structurally, you know, PBR, I sometimes get a well, you know, well, I've been here longer than you. So, you know, every once in a while. I gotta throw that out. Listen, I've seen more of these than any of you I don't very often but every once in a while, but I appreciate. We have an amazing team. Have it No, a lot of it brings up a good point in rodeo, you know when you get to a rodeo you Okay, who's the announcer you might be working with Wayne Brooks one week and Randy Corley and Will Rasmussen and Bob Tallman. So you get that hey, let's you know, be sure and watch for this. Who's the music guy who's doing the sound? Where am I going to park my trailer? You do all these things. When I walk into the, into a PBR for the most part. It's Matt West and  Clint Atkinson announcing and it's the it's Richard Jones on music or Brad Narducci Those guys I work with it's Jared runs all the lighting structure that we use Mike’s on sound the same guy on the out gate to say it's a concert tour. When you walk in, everybody's in the same place. A lot of trodeo people think well, that'd get boring. With us. We are we have created a seamless production. And there's a reward in that there. There's a reward when you finish a show and go, Yeah, we, we kicked its butt tonight because we know where everybody's going. To me that's not boring. To me that's painting a beautiful picture. And being proud of what you've produced. So I think I'm pretty lucky to, to have that. And it's kind of my gig. And when I transitioned to PBR, I was just thought I could do everything I did in rodeo and PBR kind of seemed like my kind of gig for a while. So it is turned out to be.

 

Taylor McAdams: And Flint, it's so cool to hear your perspective on the business side of things. That's not a lot of people get to see you in that light. And so I kind of want to humble you a little bit more though. And remember or refer back to a social media post I saw just the other day for the first night of the World Finals. When you were with Kid Rock wearing a furry coat. A lot of people were so jealous. What was that like?

Flint Rasmussen: So I years ago, I rewrote the song All Summer Long, to all season long, and I kind of there's a middle of verse and the end of the song, where every year I always rewrote it to fit. Who was doing what that year. So I had a fur coat I used to have a red Fedora like is and the sunglasses and I sing the Kid Rock song all season long. While Kid Rock was there on night number one on the PBR Finals and went up and got introduced to him. He was great. He's he has wanted to come to a PBR. It's not like we paid him to he just wanted to come. And he had a ball cap on and his hair tucked up. You know, you wouldn't have known it was him. Well, Sean Gleason, our CEO said sing Kid Rock kind of wants you to sing your song. I'm like, You're full of crap. You know? No. Well, I have we have a mutual friend, Kid Rock and I who is with him. And he said, Yeah, Bob wants you he thinks it'd be cool for you to sing the song,

Taylor McAdams: Bob. Of course, his name is Bob.

Flint Rasmussen: Of course. Yeah. So about the time I'm putting the fur coat on getting ready to go. I look over. I'm telling you the whole story. Kid Rock’s, got his hair down. And the hat and the sunglasses. I'm like, he suited up. Like what's going on? And I did this to our boss, Shawn Gleason. I said, What am I doing? Do I sing just my all season long. So yeah, just sing your song. He's gonna come out the gate when you're done and yada, yada. And I'm like your lyin’. But whatever. Go out, I start the song. And I keep looking over my shoulder because I'm thinking there's something going on. Sure enough. I'm in the second verse. Through the gate, Kid Rock walks the length of the arena. And I can hear the crowd just going crazy. Because they didn't know he was there. And at that point in my mind, I said, I don't care what I'm singing what I'm saying, because it doesn't matter. Because freaking Kid Rock. It's here. And he climbed up on stage and was there and shook my hand and thanked me and that was it. I can die now. Right? I sang. Technically, I sang on stage with Kid Rock. It was my stage. But I still was on stage with Kid Rock. Yeah.

Taylor McAdams: What a way to end your career in your retirement right there. It's like Mic drop. You're finished. Right? Like, you know, I have a fun idea for you. So you always do life outside the barrel, especially during the NFR. That's a big thing on The Cowboy Channel. I love watching. But now since it's your retirement, what about life after the barrel? That can be a fun new thing for

Flint Rasmussen: After The Barrel? Yeah, well, except that see, we always call it OTB Outside The Barrel. What about OTB? You know, I'll tell you that name came from a guy, legendary broadcaster and rodeo announcer from South Dakota named Jim Thompson. He had a show for a great radio. He had a show called on the road again with Jim Thompson. He had this cool voice. And he had been doing segments years and years ago, late 90s on his radio show, I'd call him from the rodeos. I was out and just talk about things in general. And he came up with I'm not thinking outside the box. I'm thinking outside the barrel. And I took that and ran with it. And the point of the show is introducing cowboys and me not as a clown in a barrel but outside the barrel and we we've taken that and run with it. So that's where that name came from. I forget that sometimes but Jim reminded me of that not too long ago, so yeah,

Taylor McAdams: yeah, he's probably ready to pay up for the royal for the royalties on that.

Flint Rasmussen: He wants the money or something. Yeah.

Taylor McAdams: No, I really do love that I love getting to see the cowboys from your perspective as their friends and their, you know, you work alongside them. But then also Yeah, the the fact that you shed light on their personal lives and stuff too. But the more we want it, the more we want to talk about life after the barrel for you. I'm sure there's a lot of tears, joy, laughter I'm sure you felt it all throughout your career. And I kind of want to take this time to do one last final look back at your whole entire career PRCA even before then, you know, when you were still a teacher just trying to scrape by for the summers. And then PBR What do you think is if you could sum it up in one, you know, answer one statement, what would you say about your entire career and maybe some fun memories, funny memories, whatever.

Flint Rasmussen: Um, I think big picture. I mean, specific, specific memories are, are hard. Sometimes I go on YouTube and watch myself. So I remember what I did. But I'll give you kind of a big picture. I, I was a few years into this. And I realized this is going pretty well. You know, it's in the PRCA. ‘94, ‘95, ‘96. And I started to feel momentum. And I finally did set a goal. I said, I want people to I want to get people's attention, who normally wouldn't pay attention to a rodeo, I want to be recognized for what I'm doing outside the barrel, outside the arena, in a different market than would be normal for a rodeo clown. And so that turned into my goal. I don't want to be just another one I want, I want to take this somewhere different. And I think I have, then, you know, it turned into Okay, now that I realize I found this niche of a style and things that I'm doing. Now I want to set the bar and the expectations a little higher for these guys, for the job when people come to a rodeo or a PBR. That's the expectations they have. And I think I've done that. And not always consciously but you know, and I don't know if it necessarily answers your question. But that's the big picture part of when I look back on my career, now I've reflected a little although I've been pretty immersed in the job still. It's like, man, I was doing some pretty cool stuff like it not everybody likes it. And that's okay. They liked the traditional I like traditional rodeo clowns. But I don't know, I just think now. The you know, when somebody hires someone else for that position, hey, this is what we expect. And that's what we're all about. If we don't raise each other up, you know, what is the point, rodeo has to move and shake and change as much as some people don't like it. There's a lot to do in this world. And there's a lot of access to everything in this world. Right here. I'm on my phone right now. And with that, we have to create something that makes people want to go and pay attention, because everything else they have is right in their hand, especially young people so we can get young people to go, we're accomplishing something. And the only way that's going to be accomplished is to provide them something that sparks their brain. And that might be a little different than it used to be. But that's okay. As long as we stay true to our roots and who we are and where we came from, we can still present a product that interests those people as well. So I don't know if it answers your question, but I think a lot about it. Every time I step in the arena, I say what can I do tonight, to spark somebody to inspire somebody? Sincerely, that is my nightly goal. What am I going to do here tonight to make these people feel better when they leave than when they got here?

Taylor McAdams: I love that so much. And you know, I'm starting to think about the timeline here. And your daughter Paige just graduated high school and so this is your retirement year.

Flint Rasmussen: College!

Taylor McAdams: Oh, I'm sorry, college. I totally knew that totally wrong. No, but essentially, she finished college. You're finishing your career and I can't help but think you're good at sitting on your hands and doing what you know doing that thing in the retirement life. Do you have any future plans?

Flint Rasmussen: Yeah, I'm calling it more of a transition because I can't retire. I am. 55. But you know that you're here. Honestly, financially. No, I can't retire. I gotta keep working. I've said that to a lot of people. Well, I gotta keep working. Well, I know that is boy, I'd go crazy. Oh, no, I'd be fine with that. Keep working. But you know, I've dipped my toe in some TV stuff for a long time with my outside-the-barrel show. I've hosted things. I have a podcast According to Flint I do some weekly stuff active there. And that's going well, I enjoy that. Doing the CBS pre-shows here I am on the broadcast team for the PBR Team Series late summer into the fall, I'm going to be doing some color commentating there, then I gotta decide moving on into the new year what exactly my role will be, I think I have things to offer in the production world, behind the scenes, some evaluation of young talent, to help young guys to point them in a direction with what rodeos and PBR needs. I think I have things to say, I think I think there's things I have to offer. So whether it's TV or behind the scenes, I'm working on all that. And so I'll put it out there if anybody, I'll give you my number. If you if anybody needs anything, let me know.

Taylor McAdams: That's awesome. Yes, I'm wishing you the best already, I know, it's gonna be such a bright future for you, you're very driven and always have been, it seems. So I know, without a doubt, you're going to find something and be something and it's going to be so awesome to see you behind the scenes, not so much in the limelight, that's going to be really cool. And I can already see the auditions going now for the new clown. But you know, I've just got to say like, You got to be in there, and you've got to be tough on them and make sure that they know what they're getting into. And That’ll be fun to watch.

Flint Rasmussen: yeah, we'll see the PBR. I think there's a plan there. You know, there's been some guy working the lower level tours, but, you know, I, if I could say something to whoever takes my job are out there. You got to be proud of what you're presenting as an individual, a style that's your own, and stick with that. Yes, imitation is the biggest form of flattery, whatever the saying is, but you got to be your own person, you know, you can't just get this job. And because you fit the uniform, it's, it's got to be bring your own style, your own what's in here, it takes thought and, and so yeah, I hope to see some young guys, you know, I think I had an advantage coming up as a young guy, because I just always wanted to be a performer. It's not like I was a cowboy that decided to move into all I ever wanted to be was a performer. And this was, you know, looking back now, thankfully, my avenue to do it because of my family connections. And I just remained a performer. And hopefully, there's some performers out there that that can come and inspire some more young people.

Taylor McAdams: Without a doubt in your your stage background in the very beginning has helped you so much for that. And again, I commend you on all aspects of life. You're a role model to so many and a legend and even more me, you know, people's eyes. That's so incredible. And I'm sure people want to keep up with you, they're probably going to want to reach out with job opportunities, things like that. So I know you have a website. So tell us where can we find you your social media website, all of it.

Flint Rasmussen: Yeah, there I have a flint rasmussen.com. And it people can message you there. I'm on Facebook, I have a public page on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, all of its, you know, find me at Flint Rasmussen and I'm out there and we try I try to stay active social media, a lot of people. Social media can be such a great thing. You mentioned staying connected with kids I taught, I mean, that's wonderful. And it's a necessary evil in our industry, as you know, to sit that's how we stay connected to the fans, and let them know, this is what we're up to everything's okay, look what we got to do. It's just part of what we do now. And if we do it right and the right way, it's, it can be a very good thing.

Taylor McAdams: And I couldn't agree more, and I'm so glad that you're not gonna be hanging up your hat forever, we'll still see you around the PBR scene, you know, here, there and everywhere. And that's so exciting to see. But Flint, I've just want to wish you the very best and say thank you so much for spending your day off talking to us here at the Kick Your Boots Up corner. I've learned a lot about you. And I know there's a lot of people including myself that are big fans in the respect you so much. So thank you for everything you've done for your many, many, many years of service in the rodeo industry, bull riding industry, all of it. I just got to ask one final question. You can leave us whenever we go. What's it going to be like to hang up your hat for the final time? Are you going to cry?

Flint Rasmussen: I haven't. I've tried to compartmentalize it all. So I'm I can't predict yet. I'm tired. My knees hurt. You know, which is helped. But I don't know if it'll be relief or heartbreak. I'll let you know on that.

Taylor McAdams: Find out after you know this podcast will already be out so we'll get to see it.

Flint Rasmussen: We'll see. We'll see. Yeah, well. It'll be bittersweet. How's that?

Taylor McAdams: Yes, that's a great great two words to say for it because it really will for everyone will be will be crying with you laughing with you smiling with you. So again, congratulations on such an awesome career. We wish you the very best and thank you for being a part of Team Justin for all those years as well.

Flint Rasmussen: Yeah, all those years all these years. It's good to see you again, by the way.

Taylor McAdams: Yes, absolutely. Well, Flint, thank you so much again.

Flint Rasmussen: Thank you.

Taylor McAdams: Thanks for joining us on kick your boots up. Thanks for joining us on kick your boots up. I'm your host Taylor McAdams and we can't wait to share the next story of the West. Until then, feel free to like subscribe and leave us a review. Follow us on social media at Justin boots to keep up with our next episode. And we'll see you the next time you kick your boots up.