DILLON — Flint Rasmussen, a world champion rodeo clown, was
presented with the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award..
Rasmussen is a native of Choteau. He is a 1990 graduate of
Western with a degree secondary education with majors in both
mathematics and history.
Upon graduation, he accepted a teaching and coaching job at
Havre High School. Rasmussen taught history and math, and was an
assistant football and track for two years at Havre.
Rasmussen comes from a family steeped in the traditions of
rodeo.
His dad, Stan, was an announcer and his brother Will was on the
microphone at the 2000 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in
Pocatello, Idaho. Growing up, there was often laughter in the
Rasmussen home.
So he comes by his gift of entertaining naturally. Prior to
1994, Rasmussen's rodeo work had been strictly a weekend and summer
job through college, and during his two years at Havre.
In 1994, Rasmussen made the decision to enter the rodeo arena on
a full-time basis and joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboy
Association.
"Nobody is in his league," says bull fighter Joe Baumgartner,
who frequently works with Rasmussen. "There's never a lull in the
arena, and there is never any rehearsal."
Rasmussen is the six-time Professional Rodeo Clown Association
Clown and Barrelman of the Year, the five-time Coors Man in the Can
and was selected by the PRCA to perform at the National Finals in
Las Vegas. That trifecta of rodeo honors in the same year had never
been done before.
Flint and his wife, Katie, are the parents of two daughters,
Shelby and Paige.
