There’s a new clown in town

Colten Ulmer, who will be appearing at the Linn County Rodeo on Friday and Saturday Nights, Aug. 7 – 8, is a fresh face on the PRCA circuit. However he has already picked up several Clown of the Year awards. (Submitted photo)

By John Teagarden

Journal contributor

MOUND CITY – There will be a new clown in town for the Linn County Fair's Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) rodeo Friday and Saturday, August 7 – 8. Colten Ulmer, Mt. Vernon, Missouri, will “Bring The Energy” each night for the 8 p.m. rodeo.

Ulmer has been voted "Clown of the Year" multiple times by no less than five amateur rodeo associations throughout the Midwest and Southeastern United States. He started his arena entertainment career at the age of 4, helping in his father’s acts. His father, Mike Ulmer, is a veteran rodeo clown with 35 years entertaining arena crowds.

A year ago, the Linn County Rodeo committee reached out to Dusty Myers, 2025 NFR barrel man, three-time Top Five PRCA “Clown of the Year," regarding Myer’s availability for the 2026 rodeo. Myers was committed to the Sikeston, Missouri, rodeo on the same evenings as the Linn County rodeo.

“Contact Colten Ulmer," Myers said. "He’s one of the new generation of funny men in professional rodeo. He will do you a great job.”

Linn County rodeo Chairman Charley Johnson of Prescott said he also had solid recommendations on Ulmer.

"Our announcer, Troy Goodridge, and Boom Boom Thompson – Mound City’s clown for the past three years – concurred,” Johnson said..

Fair board President Austin Stroup, Centerville, pointed to the fair's reputation for choosing young, little-known talent only to watch their career blossom on down the road.

“The Linn County Fair & Rodeo has a track record of picking entertainers a little green," Stroup said.

He pointed to country-western legends Reba McIntire, who performed at the fair's music show in 1985, and Garth Brooks, who headlined the 1990 show. The rodeo has also picked some acts that have gained national fame. The One Arm Bandit, first introduced to local rodeo fans in 1989 and has returned several times since, and rodeo cloon Boom Boom Thompson, who has provided rodeo entertainment for the past three years.

Besides his ever-expanding rodeo comedian and entertainer career, Ulmer, 33, has a day job.

“I’m owner and manager (and head backhoe guy) of Ulmer Excavating, a business my grandfather, Roy Ulmer, started in 1965," he explained.

Make plans to catch the new funny man in town and all the other entertainment at the Linn County Fair PRCA Rodeo at the Mound City arena on Friday and Saturday, August 7–8.