By Cal Bryant

Special to the News-Herald

 

Georgia native Jake Wilcox became a rodeo clown during his time as a University of Georgia student and still continues to perform in cities across the nation.

Wilcox, originally from Winterville, Ga., owns a degree in agriculture business from UGA.

So, how did he become involved in rodeo clowning?

“I have a natural tendency to be goofy. I started working for a stock contractor who paid me $100 per performance.

It snowballed from there. I work about 40 rodeos a year, some of them two to three nights long,” Wilcox said.

He added that his acts are primarily to make the crowd laugh, keeping them entertained during lulls in the rodeo.

“My favorite part of the job is just the fact that I get to do something that’s fun, get people laughing and smiling,” he noted.

As far as his favorite act, Wilcox bragged that he does a “pretty kicking interpretation of Michael Jackson dancing. I can really shake my booty.”

While the clowning around is fun, Wilcox admits he’s had some close calls.

“Every once in awhile you’ll get hit in the barrel and it’ll go rolling out across there and you can imagine riding in a washing machine. That’s about what it’s like,” said Wilcox.

Wilcox will be protecting bull and bronc riders and serving as the featured comedy act at the 18th annual Gates County Rodeo to be held Friday and Saturday at the Slo-Go Ranch located off Paige Riddick Road. Action gets under way each night at 7:30 p.m.

This marks his second consecutive year at the Gates County event.