NFR 2025 contract personnel: announcers, arena crew and safety teams

Archive: the December 4–13, 2025 Finals

This article concerns the 2025 Wrangler NFR at Thomas & Mack Center. Personnel selections are annual, so these names should not be used as a current-year list. The 40th Las Vegas edition combined world-title competition with anniversary production and an experienced arena crew.

Why the contract personnel matter

Announcers explain the competition and title stakes. Timers and secretaries support the official record. Livestock and chute crews keep the right stock and contestants moving through the arena. Music, specialty entertainment and the safety teams provide different kinds of support; they are not interchangeable jobs.

Announcers and the anniversary voice

Wayne Brooks, Roger Mooney and Anthony Lucia

The 2025 announcers were Wayne Brooks, Roger Mooney and Anthony Lucia. The selection announcement described Brooks’ 13th appearance, Mooney’s ninth and Lucia’s NFR announcing debut. An arena announcer’s work differs from a television commentator’s role, even when a viewer hears both during the broadcast.

Special announcer Bob Tallman

ProRodeo Hall of Famer Bob Tallman was named the special announcer for the anniversary year. His inclusion connected the milestone celebration with the event’s longer announcing history.

Livestock and arena management

These roles organize the practical flow of competition. They coordinate stock, equipment and timing behind the scenes so that the arena can move between events without treating every reset as an entirely new production.

Secretaries and timers

Competition administration

Sunni Deb Backstrom and Jennie Murray were the secretaries. Backstrom’s selection marked her twentieth consecutive year in that role. The office work matters because a championship depends on accurate entries, results and the documentation behind the standings.

Official timing crew

Vicki Pack, Kris Fleener and Nancy Dorenkamp were selected as timers. A timed-event result includes the official measurement and applicable penalties; a viewer’s impression of a quick run is not the final competition record.

Music and specialty acts

The sound of the performance

Brad Narducci and Josh Hilton handled music-director roles. Music supports contestant introductions, transitions and the pace around the competition; it is separate from the booked opening artists.

Specialty entertainment

The published personnel included Tomas Garcilazo, Rider and Bethany Kiesner, and Haley Proctor. Their performances supplied entertainment and skill demonstrations while the arena moved between competitive segments.

Barrelman, pickup men and bullfighters

Barrelman

Dusty Myers was the 2025 barrelman. The role combines entertainment with arena awareness and should not be confused with the specialist bullfighters.

Pickup men

Tyler Kraft and Matt Twitchell were the pickup men. They assist roughstock riders with dismounts and help manage the end of a ride as the animal leaves the arena.

Bullfighters

Dusty Tuckness, Cody Webster and Austin Ashley were the bullfighters. After a bull ride they work to draw the animal’s attention away from the rider and create an escape opportunity. Their role is central to what happens immediately after the whistle or a buck-off.

What this meant for the 2025 viewing experience

The crew connected the competition, official results and arena presentation. Knowing the roles makes it easier to understand the people moving in the background of a replay. For the current 2026 competition, use this site’s homepage personnel section and the organizer’s new annual release rather than carrying this historical list forward.

Frequently asked questions