Benje Bendele Professional Rodeo Annouoncer, Music and Sound Technician

In 2006 Benje Bendele will celebrate his 19th year as a professional announcer and sportscaster of rodeo and his 10th year in the PRCA. The 37 year old announcer looks forward to each and every stop throughout another record breaking year for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Benje is a San Antonio, Texas native that got his start in rodeo as a contestant in youth, high school and college rodeo. He competed in calf roping, team roping competition. His bull-riding career lasted a total of fifteen seconds, that's five bulls times three seconds a piece. "It was then and there that I decided that bull-riding was not for me"

Benje Bendele, whose career as an announcer got its start unexpectedly. In 1988 at the age of twenty, he was accompanying his younger brother John, now a country music singer www.johnbendeleband.com to a youth rodeo. There was no announcer available and Benje filled the void. "They got me talking and I have not shut up since." With his comic dialogue with the clowns, knowledge of the sport and music background that is choreographed with each performance, Benje keeps the crowd entertained whether he is announcing the rodeo horseback or in the stand.

Benje is also a licensed auctioneer in the state of Texas.

Benje has the Best Rodeo Sound and Music in the Rodeo Business, the name of the sound company is Rough-Stock Rodeo Productions partnered with his dad Ben Bendele that was started in 1999. Since that time his Dad has branched on his own with the name and Benje works under the name Crazy Heart Sound and Lighting. Crazy Heart Sound and Lighting is a full production company specializing in rodeo events. The company also provides sound for many concert events as well, with computer generated sound and music with special effects at the touch of a button. Benje really enjoys working both in front of the microphone as well as behind it.

Benje Bendele attended Southwest Texas Jr. College in Uvalde, Texas and the Gregg School of Auctioneers in Plainview, Texas. He and his wife Dawn live on their Crazy Heart Ranch in Natalia, TX and raise Brangus cattle. Benje has two wonderful children, son Baylor and daughter Brenam Rein. He is also the voice of several radio and TV commercials nation wide. He has been and continues to head up the production as manager at the First Frontier Circuit Finals in Binghamton, NY 1998-2005 and announcer 2003. Benje served as the Music and Sound Coordinator at the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, ID., and music production at the 1999, 2004 & 2005 Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo held in Waco, TX. Benje serves as the Contract Acts Director for the Texas PRCA Rodeo Circuit and was elected in March of 2000 to the Executive Council on the PRCA Board of Directors by his peers as Announcer Representative and is still currently serving that position. Music Director of the Wrangler NFR 2001-2005. All Tour Finals 2001-2005.