(Cushing, Okla.) The 2013 Cushing Community PRCA Rodeo welcomes announcer Justin McKee back for his 21st appearance. Known for his folksy charm, humor and famous “McKee-isms,” Justin is considered by many to be one of the most popular announcers in the rodeo circuit. But not only is he a great announcer, he’s a cowboy. From time to time you will see him put down his microphone and grab his rope and head out into the arena as a Steer Roping contestant. He won the first go-round in Steer Roping at Cheyenne in 2004, and went on to place at several other rodeos, including 2nd in average at the prestigious Pendleton Round-Up. When the year was over, he just missed qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo by three spots, ending the season number 18 in the world standings. A fete made even more difficult because of his limited roping schedule.
McKee’s voice may be easily identified due to his time spent as the Voice of the PBR as well as his television credits on NBC, CBS, FoxSports, Versus and RFD-TV. However none of that happened over night. It is said McKee got his start in announcing at the tender age of seven by auctioneering baby goats at his parents livestock auction. As a senior in high school and president of his FFA chapter, he got the call to announce when his chapter put on a high school rodeo. He went on to become Kansas State FFA President in the late 80s and ran for National office the following year. Sorely disappointed when he was not selected, he shifted his focus to announcing and competing in rodeos – a story he shares with youth across the nation as a motivational speaker. That shift in focus led him to opportunities he never dreamed – he has announced some of the biggest PRCA rodeos in the country: Cheyenne Frontier Days, Pendleton Round-Up, Calgary Stampede and the American Royal.
Announcer, cowboy, and even motivational speaker, Justin McKee proves to be a class act no matter what he takes a mind to do.
But back to those McKee-isms…listen closely and you’ll find his announcing peppered with sayings such as, “He stuck to that bull like sorghum on the side of a biscuit,” “That cowboy brought him down like the steer said somethin’ ’bout his mama!” or “When he gets to goin’ he looks like a haybayler with a jet engine!”
With that kind of wit and charm, no wonder he continues to be invited back.
McKee lives on a ranch in Lenapah, Oklahoma with his wife Jeannie and daughter Kassidy. The McKees own and operate a beef cow and calf operation with herds in Kansas, Oklahoma and East Texas.
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