GUYMON, Okla. – There’s an old-school feel to the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, one that certainly lives up to the 90^th year of the grand celebration in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Cody Sosebee can feel it when he arrives at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena, a stadium built as much by the rugged terrain as anything in the region. The crevice that creates the arena floor is like a canyon, and the overlooks stand as a great place for viewing the greatness that is the annual rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8.

“I tell everyone that Guymon is a cowboys’ rodeo,” said Sosebee, who returns to “No Man’s Land” as the clown and entertainer. “Guymon reminds me of the old gym that Rocky goes to and trains at in the ‘Rocky’ movies. It’s an old, tough-guy, tradition-rich arena, and you get to experience just about every weather condition you can think of, which just brings out the toughness in contestants.

“The only thing tougher than the contestants are the fans. They can see the cowboys putting out the effort, and they appreciate it. It’s a really fun place to be.”

He’s been part of the event’s success before. Pioneer Days Rodeo regularly brings nearly 1,000 contestants to Guymon every year, and the list of world champions and National Finals Rodeo qualifiers that have earned the trophy belt awarded to its annual champions is incredible.

Sosebee just adds to the flavor. He’s not necessarily a larger-than-life persona; no, the Arkansas funnyman is more of a larger-than-most human being, and he really brings it out in his comedy and his antics. Mixing that in during dialog with announcers Andy Stewart and Ken Stonecipher makes for easy transitions from one run to another or any time the opportunities allow.

“Ken is absolutely hilarious, and when I think of Guymon, I think him and Andy have a good one-two punch when it comes to entertaining and announcing to a crowd,” Sosebee said. “I always enjoy working with them. They’re so onery and funny and super talented, and that parlays with the crowd. When we work together like that, it’s an easy way to entertain people.”

That is the goal, after all, especially for Sosebee. In 2017, he was selected by the bull riders to be the barrelman at the NFR. A year later, the voting members of the PRCA named him the Clown of the Year. Those honors are not just a sense of pride and accomplishment; they also reveal how much people in the rodeo business appreciate the work he has done. He’s a regular nominee for the association’s top clown, as well as one of its best barrelmen.

“I didn’t expect either one of those honors,” he said. “I was an old guy in my career choice. Just walking down the hallway at the NFR and bumping into those bull riders, it made me feel good because they thought of me to help protect them at the biggest rodeo they’re ever going to be part of.

“When I run into a top-end NFR bull rider and know he took time to vote for me, that’s something I’ll have with me the rest of my life. The money’s been spent, but getting acknowledged for your craft really humbles me.”

Over the years, he’s been known as one of the most athletic big men in rodeo comedy. His acts showcase it.

“Jokes are the unfortunate situations of other people, but you can’t hardly tell some jokes anymore for fear of upsetting some people,” Sosebee said. “I’ve changed my jokes in my acts to being about me; everything’s about me. I laugh at myself. I’m a big, chubby, dancing guy. I look funny when I walk. I sound funny when I talk.

“It’s OK to laugh at yourself.”

Now that he’s turned 50, there’s a little more dusting of gray in his hair. He knows some of the greatest clowns who have ever been part of the rodeo industry have shined at that age, and he’s working his magic to have it continue with him. His job is to entertain, and he takes it more seriously than it seems.

“I want to continue to do this while I’m still effective and while I’m still doing this at a pro level,” he said. “People are paying their hard-earned money to see us, and they deserve a pro level of entertainment.”

His approach is why he’s going to continue to be relevant for years to come, and he’ll be a hit the first weekend in May in Guymon.

Cody Sosebee can feel it when he arrives at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena, a stadium built as much by the rugged terrain as anything in the region. The crevice that creates the arena floor is like a canyon, and the overlooks stand as a great place for viewing the greatness that is the annual rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8.

“I tell everyone that Guymon is a cowboys’ rodeo,” said Sosebee, who returns to “No Man’s Land” as the clown and entertainer. “Guymon reminds me of the old gym that Rocky goes to and trains at in the ‘Rocky’ movies. It’s an old, tough-guy, tradition-rich arena, and you get to experience just about every weather condition you can think of, which just brings out the toughness in contestants.

“The only thing tougher than the contestants are the fans. They can see the cowboys putting out the effort, and they appreciate it. It’s a really fun place to be.”

He’s been part of the event’s success before. Pioneer Days Rodeo regularly brings nearly 1,000 contestants to Guymon every year, and the list of world champions and National Finals Rodeo qualifiers that have earned the trophy belt awarded to its annual champions is incredible.

Sosebee just adds to the flavor. He’s not necessarily a larger-than-life persona; no, the Arkansas funnyman is more of a larger-than-most human being, and he really brings it out in his comedy and his antics. Mixing that in during dialog with announcers Andy Stewart and Ken Stonecipher makes for easy transitions from one run to another or any time the opportunities allow.

“Ken is absolutely hilarious, and when I think of Guymon, I think him and Andy have a good one-two punch when it comes to entertaining and announcing to a crowd,” Sosebee said. “I always enjoy working with them. They’re so onery and funny and super talented, and that parlays with the crowd. When we work together like that, it’s an easy way to entertain people.”

That is the goal, after all, especially for Sosebee. In 2017, he was selected by the bull riders to be the barrelman at the NFR. A year later, the voting members of the PRCA named him the Clown of the Year. Those honors are not just a sense of pride and accomplishment; they also reveal how much people in the rodeo business appreciate the work he has done. He’s a regular nominee for the association’s top clown, as well as one of its best barrelmen.

“I didn’t expect either one of those honors,” he said. “I was an old guy in my career choice. Just walking down the hallway at the NFR and bumping into those bull riders, it made me feel good because they thought of me to help protect them at the biggest rodeo they’re ever going to be part of.

“When I run into a top-end NFR bull rider and know he took time to vote for me, that’s something I’ll have with me the rest of my life. The money’s been spent, but getting acknowledged for your craft really humbles me.”

Over the years, he’s been known as one of the most athletic big men in rodeo comedy. His acts showcase it.

“Jokes are the unfortunate situations of other people, but you can’t hardly tell some jokes anymore for fear of upsetting some people,” Sosebee said. “I’ve changed my jokes in my acts to being about me; everything’s about me. I laugh at myself. I’m a big, chubby, dancing guy. I look funny when I walk. I sound funny when I talk.

“It’s OK to laugh at yourself.”

Now that he’s turned 50, there’s a little more dusting of gray in his hair. He knows some of the greatest clowns who have ever been part of the rodeo industry have shined at that age, and he’s working his magic to have it continue with him. His job is to entertain, and he takes it more seriously than it seems.

“I want to continue to do this while I’m still effective and while I’m still doing this at a pro level,” he said. “People are paying their hard-earned money to see us, and they deserve a pro level of entertainment.”

His approach is why he’s going to continue to be relevant for years to come, and he’ll be a hit the first weekend in May in Guymon.