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Show . .. . Professional Clown Layne Torgerson, Richfield, is showing what lie does best helping a cowboy out of a bullishly field chief of police and now a Sevier County Sheriff's deputy. Because of his enjoyment of the sport, he and younger brother Dusty and Maxey White helped start the Sevier County High School Rodeo Club, saw Mrs. Torgerson. After going on to collegiate . competition, Layne went professional and now makes $123 to $150 a performance, she says Not only did he clown in amateur and professional rodeos, but Layne also went to clown school in Linsbu.0h, Kansas. In a telephone conversation from a Cortez, Colo., rodeo, he said, "my parents really support me. I feel like I'm doing what I like and getting paid for it." He added, "I hope to make this my "orcer." Although he rode bulls for six years, Layne likes to protect the cowboys riding the bulls and do his clowning. Torgerson wears no padding and doesn't use barrels to climb into for protection. He is always on the outside-always working with the bull and the cowboy. Layne's first priority is to the cowboy. At the same time, he respects the bull, "but you don't have time to be scared. You just make your moves and do what you can." dangerous situation. Torgerson will be performing at the Garfield County Kodeo at the county-city fairgrounds, July 23-24. Rodeo Clowning Serious Business Professional Clown Layne Torgerson, of Richfield, is showing what he does best helping a cowboy out of a bullishly dangerous situation. Torgerson will be performing at the rodeo in the county-city fairgrounds in Pangutich on July 23-24. The 6 foot-4, 24 year-old Torgerson is a professional clown. The lanky Richfield cowboy has worked professionally since 1978 and since September 1981, now works for Buster Webb, WA Rodeos, Blanco, New Mexico. After the Panguitch rodeo, Torgerson will go on to August rodeos in Durango, Colo., Price, Spanish Fork, and Lehi. Torgerson is not new to clowning or rodeo. His mother, Muriel Torgerson said Layne's dream while a youngster was always to be a professional. Since contracting to do the rodeo circuit with the Blanco outfit, Layne not only fights Brahma bulls, but also rides bucking broncs. He also pitches in at times as rodeo announcer and drives the boss's trailer from one rodeo to another in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Colorado and occasionally Utah, says Mrs. Torgerson. Torgerson's interest in rodeo began when his parents encouraged him to compete in the Little Buckaroo Rodeo, an event started by an LDS elder's quorum and later sponsored by the Southern Utah Peace Officer's Association through Layne's father, Neldon, a former Rich Layne explained if a cowboy is right handed and gets bucked off the left side of the bull, he can get bound up. When that happens, he is dependent on the mercy of the bull. That's when Layne tries to get in and get the cowboy loose. Crowd reaction is also important to the rodeo clown. "I've had crowds where I just walk into the arena, they laugh and you have them in the palm of your hand. I've also worked where you couldn't get a laugh. It seems like it's either heaven or hell out there in front of the people." Layne admits rodeo life is hard, but I like it. I'm my own boss moot of the time and I have a lot of freedom. I don't have to be anywhere at any particular time, except the rodeos-it's not an 8 to 5 job." He adds, "clowning is a serious business. It's my life." |