“It’s Rodeo Time!”

The 41st Annual Licking Chamber of Commerce Rodeo is fast approaching, with just over a week to go before festivities begin. This year’s rodeo will see the return of Outlaw 5J Rodeo, announcer Chris Pyle and professional rodeo clown Blake Potts.

Outlaw/5J Rodeo Company begins their 2026 rodeo season at the Licking Chamber of Commerce Rodeo. Since 1988, Outlaw/5J Rodeo Company has entertained more than two million fans across the Midwest, and this will be their fourth consecutive year stocking and producing the Licking Rodeo.

Outlaw/5J Rodeo Company promises to deliver professional, fast-paced rodeo and bull riding entertainment that keeps crowds engaged from the grand entry to the final buzzer. Quality livestock, experienced personnel, polished opening ceremonies and a commitment to professionalism are their hallmarks. They want to give every fan an unforgettable rodeo experience.

Outlaw/5J Rodeo Company was founded in 1998, by Lance McCollum, a three-time Bullfighter of the Year who worked events across the PRCA, MRCA, URA, NFPB and more. McCollum and his wife, Joey, began building 5J Rodeo Company, a premier rodeo company with top-quality bucking horses and bulls.

In 2001, 5J Rodeo Company partnered with Outlaw Rodeo Productions, and after more than a decade of partnership, the McCollum family purchased Outlaw Rodeo Productions in 2015. Today’s Outlaw/5J Rodeo Company is a true family operation. Lance McCollum picks up broncs, Joey secretaries the rodeos, daughter Kacey coordinates opening ceremonies and carries flags, daughterEmma helps operate the bucking horse program and brother Jeff runs the bucking chutes.

For the McCollum family, rodeo isn’t just a business—it’s a way of life. And so…the legend continues.

Here in Licking for his 20th appearance as an announcer, Chris Pyle is a welcome sight to local rodeo enthusiasts.

Pyle and his wife, Lisa, live in Pilot Grove, Mo. Besides being a rodeo announcer, Pyle raises cattle, including Pyle Bucking Bulls, trains colts, and is the assistant superintendent for the Sedalia School District. He has been a PRCA member since 2003.

Pyle has been hooked on the sport of rodeo since the age of 11. He earned three Missouri State High School Bull Riding championships and finished in the top fifteen nationally twice while in high school. He continued to compete at the collegiate level. After 15 years of riding, he announced a bull riding event as a favor to a friend. He enjoyed it so much that he pursued it as a career, continuing to ride while developing his announcing skills until he finally focused fully on announcing.

Chris has earned 30 Finals Announcer and Announcer of the Year awards, including 17 trips to NFPB finals. Chris concluded his 2015 season as the Chris Shriver MBR World Finals Announcer during the PBR Finals in Las Vegas. Chris has announced in 35 states, including the PBR’s premiere series and at special events during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and PBR Finals in Las Vegas.

Chris remarked, “Rodeo in my opinion is one of the greatest sporting events in the world. It doesn’t get any more challenging than what these men and women will face so they truly need our help. Let’s have a great time and cheer them on!”

Professional rodeo clown Blake Potts started his 2026 season at rodeos in Arkansas and Kansas, so he will be warmed up and ready to entertain when he returns to Licking on May 29 and 30 for the Licking Chamber of Commerce Rodeo.

Potts entertained and was barrel man at last year’s Licking Rodeo. He is from Sedalia, Missouri, and has traveled all over the country, entertaining rodeo and bull riding fans.

Potts’ dream as a little kid was to become a professional rodeo clown, and he started making his dream come true at the age of 16. He entertains audiences while demonstrating professionalism and hard work behind the scenes at the rodeo.

Potts is thankful to his Lord and Savior for letting him do what he loves as a professional rodeo clown. He is also grateful to have the support of his beautiful family, wife Kendell, daughter Briley and son Wyatt.

“Thank you so much to all of the fans and sponsors that make the sport of Rodeo possible!!” writes Potts. “Let’s have a great, blessed, fun weekend!”