Ben Benavides is one of the strongest, most energetic announcers on the Texas rodeo circuit today.  He hails from San Antonio where he began his entertainment career in 1980 as a nightclub disc jockey and spent the next 17 years working in some of the biggest country western clubs in Texas.

In 1986, Ben was hired on at the Cold River Cattle Company owned by Ralph Mitchell.  During the next three years, he worked with the management team to catapult Cold River into the top 20 nightclubs in Texas.  Ben handled all the promotions for the club, including the Miss Cold River Rodeo Queen Pageant and portions of the Miss Rodeo Texas and Miss Rodeo Texas Teen pageants.  "It was there in the clubs that I gained the experience that allows me to feel comfortable in front of these large crowds."

Ralph Mitchell liked what he saw and when the Cold River Rodeo Company began producing rodeos in 1987, Ben stepped back into the rodeo arena -- only this time instead of being behind a rope as a competitor, he stood behind the microphone. "As a veteran of high school and open rodeos in both rough stock and timed events, joining the two worlds of rodeo and promotions came naturally to me.

Since first announcing the Young Cowboys Memorial Rodeo back in '87, Ben has taken his talents all over the country.  He has brought his unique style of music and sound effects to the 2003 & 2004 California Circuit Finals Rodeo in Norco, CA and both the Rodeo Royal and Calgary Stampede in Calgary, AB, Canada.

With his music background, knowledge of the sport combined with his comic dialogue with the clowns, Ben keeps the crowds entertained whether he is announcing on horseback, in the stands, or his favorite, "Down in the Dirt"