Always informative and enthusiastic, forgive Ray Champ if he takes it up another notch or two during the junior events.

While Champ works from the announcer stand at the 50thAnnual NRA Finals presented by nuWest Builders, his sons Talvin and R.W. will be competing in the arena.

“It’s huge honor for the boys to qualify,” said the proud Champ. “And I get to be at the rodeo with them.”

And the sons should be proud of their father.

The 49-year-old Champ has been selected to announce his third NRA Finals.

The NRA Finals presented by nuWest Builders is Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell.

The organization’s showcase rodeo features the top 10 individuals in each event and will determine the 2025 year-end champions from the Mountain Health Co-op Tour.

Champ called the action at Harlowton, Superior and Hamilton this summer.

“Man, it’s a blessing. It’s an honor,” said Champ who lives between Cut Bank and Browning with his sons and wife Jimi. “This is completing a journey I’ve worked so hard to do. Being able to do this is a dream come true.”

Other personnel selected for the Finals are: Torrie Eiker, secretary; Kortney Diegel, timer; Betsy Moran, timer; Kaehl Berg, pickup man; Quentin McCauley, pickup man; Beau Harrell, bull fighter; J.R. Harrell, bull fighter; Trent Freeman, judge; Martin Murphy, judge; Travis Sigman, judge; Mike Tatsey, judge.

Champ, a member of the Crow Tribe, has earned the title, “Voice of Indian Rodeo.” He has worked every Indian National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas since 2008 with the exception of 2020 when COVID cancelled the event.

“I try to bring the competitor’s emotions to the fans,” he said. “I want the fans to know the hours of hard work, the hours of practice, it took to get there. Nobody understands what it takes.

“I want the first-time rodeo fan to be a life-long rodeo fan.”

Champ’s journey to the announcing stand was filled with starts, stops and a wife who had who had full faith in her husband.

Originally from Billings, Champ attended Billings Senior before transferring to Hardin High School where he was a member of the Class A state championship basketball team.

“I tried to ride bulls, broncs and roped calves a little bit,” Champ said. “I have always been around rodeo. I always loved it and wanted to be around it.”

His life changed at a rodeo in Crow Agency.

“I entered the bull riding. I was broke. I didn’t have two nickels to rub together,” he said. “They said the announcer was not able to show up and were looking for somebody to call the rodeo.”

Encouraged by friends, Champ accepted the challenge. “Picking up the microphone, I was scared. I used my limited education I had about the competitors,” he said.

Champ got bucked off but got something better.

“My entry fees were paid and I made a little money,” said Champ. “It was, ‘They allow me to do this? I get paid to go up and talk?’ I was bit.”

Champ hustled to find rodeo jobs but they were sporadic. He was working at Blackfeet Community College on a grant but was informed the grant had run out.

“I was devastated. I was throwing up,” Champ said of an uncertain future, He had earned a couple of associate degrees at BFCC, trying to use them as a springboard into the work force.

His wife Jimi offered a solution. “You’ve been playing with this announcing deal,” she said. “Let’s give it a try and see what happens.”

They would live off her earnings as a teacher.

“I put all my eggs in one basket,” said Champ.

He hit the rodeo road. Hard.

“I worked ranch rodeos, youth rodeos, high school rodeos, team ropings … any time I could hold a microphone, I did it,” Champ said.

“Some places I traveled so far, I lost money,” he added with a laugh. But he persevered and listened.

“The older guys told me you have to get more time behind the mic to find your voice. I compared it to college tuition. You’ve got to pay your dues.”

Now Champ is at the top of his game. In demand and making a living.

“Rodeo, we’re an extending family,” he said, “It’s a lifestyle for us. “I am so thankful to be able to do this. This is my passion and I get to do something I love.

“People ask, what is my favorite rodeo? My favorite rodeo is always the next one.”

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