An award-winning rodeo clown came back home for the Abbyville Frontier Days PRCA Rodeo this weekend. Justin Rumford, who was born in Abbyville, won the PRCA Clown of the Year award, a record-breaking nine times - from 2012 through 2020.
Rumford, who is in high demand throughout the country, was excited to come home to where he started his rodeo career by following his father, rodeo legend Bronc Rumford around the circuit.
Rumford s grandfather, Floyd Rumford along with his father Bronc, helped build the Abbyville Rodeo. It s now in its 59th year.
Before becoming a rodeo clown, Rumford wrestled steer and rode saddle broncs, eventually ending up on a full scholarship to Northwestern Oklahoma State University. After graduation, he steer-wrestled nationwide in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. During that time, he realized he had a gift for making people laugh - so he tried his hand at being a rodeo clown, and since that day, he has not looked back.