Chances are good, if you imagine right now what a ranch sorting sounds like, you’ll hear the voice of Rowdy Fewel, clear as day.

“Flag is up; cattle are ready,” the voice sings. It’s a voice Mr. Fewel has honed for the past 25 years, after getting his start in team pennings. “It was the late ’90s, early 2000s,” Fewel said. “It was kind of dumb luck. I was at the local arena one night on the sideline from some injuries, and they said that they needed an announcer for the team penning practice. So I asked them what you needed to be able to do, and they said, ‘Talk.’ I said, well, I guess I’m your guy if it pays you anything.”

As ranch sorting developed, Fewel moved into that space, growing right along with the sport.

“I’ve been blessed over the last 25 years to go all across the United States, into Canada,” he said. “I had opportunity a couple years ago to Australia and announce ranch sortings down there.” Sometimes, Fewel says with the good humor that permeates his performances, his talents developed to his own detriment.

“We were on the way out on the East Coast one evening and Mr. Wolfe, Dave Wolfe, picked us up at the airport—me and another guy,” Fewel said. “Dave said, ‘We got a really large crowd; we’re going to have to find another announcer.’ I asked him what for, and he said they were going to run three or four—I’m pretty sure it was four—sorting pens all at the same time. I said, I can do it. That weekend I announced four sorting pens for the first time—run four computers, four judges—all at the same time. It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure, but that’s kind of where it started, I guess, to be honest. I guess I was young and greedy, wanted all the work instead of just some of the work. The Lord blesses those too stupid to take care of themselves, and that’d be me.”

In doing so, the Lord also blessed the RSNC with an announcer whose unmatched talents rival only his capacity for creating a warm and welcoming environment for everyone around him, whether they’re crossing the line to start the clock or pushing fresh cattle up from the back.

“I was told growing up, don’t ever ask somebody to do something you wouldn’t do,” Fewel stated. “It doesn’t take any extra to say thank you. We’re all human. And when somebody’s talking on the microphone, people like to hear their name called, if you know somebody’s name and can speak to them and just recognize them by their name.”

It’s a feat that gets harder each year. In the same way folks used to have a whole phone directory committed to memory, the technological advancements in the announcer’s booth have made Fewel’s job both easier and more challenging. While he doesn’t exactly wax nostalgic for shuffling hand-written entry notecards for four arenas at once, the ease with which names simply appear on the screen in front of him means making the event personable requires a conscientious effort.

As a fourth-generation rancher from Oklahoma, it doesn’t take much imagination to figure out where Fewel got his try.

“I wear a lot of hats to be honest with you,” Fewel said as he was preparing to work a set of cows in between calf checks on his heifers. “My wife and daughter and I own an auction company. We’ve been in the auction business for about 12 years. We also run a cow-calf operation here in Muskogee; Angus and Angus-cross cows, some Angus bulls.”

Fewel’s daughter, Karley, is now a recent Oklahoma State University grad who, as her dad proudly reports, has been happily employed by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau since January. When she was growing up, though, she helped cure her dad of his “wanting all the work” affliction.

“My busiest year, I was gone 49 weekends,” Fewel admitted. “When I came back from the Denver National Western, I visited with my wife, and our daughter was about 8, and I told Terra, I said, ‘We’re going to have to do something different. I spent Christmas in the airport; I spent New Year’s in the airport; I spent Thanksgiving in the airport. Y’all are growing up, and I ain’t being a part of it.’”

The Fewels recalibrated, growing their herd a bit to take their foot off the travel pedal. “Fortunately, the good Lord’s blessed me that I have opportunities now where I can decide where I go and when I go, and I’m very thankful for that. I don’t take it for granted.”

Nor does our ranch sorting community. No matter the ability or the age, Fewel is a friend to all.

“The good thing about it is it’s a family event. I’ve seen guys 70 and 80 years old compete, and I interviewed a young lady at Houston six weeks ago, who won her first buckle of Houston. She is 8 years old. That’s the cool thing about our event. Doesn’t matter your age, doesn’t matter your gender, most people feel comfortable in a 50-foot round pen.”