06/07/2026
Zack Ekstrom is one of Idaho’s rising voices in rodeo announcing, bringing a blend of authenticity, competitor insight, and hometown pride to every performance. A Pocatello native, Ekstrom grew up just 30 minutes from Idaho Falls, and his connection to the War Bonnet Round Up runs deep. He first entered the arena as a calf roping contestant, competing at the War Bonnet for years before ever picking up a microphone.
His path to announcing began unexpectedly. After years of competing through high school, college, and the pro‑rodeo circuit, Ekstrom found himself losing the competitive spark. When he was asked to announce a small high school rodeo, he discovered a new passion, one that felt “very natural” from the first moment he stepped behind the mic.
In the year that followed, Ekstrom announced around 25 rodeos across Idaho, quickly building a reputation for his energetic personality and his ability to connect contestants with the crowd. His talent and work ethic caught the attention of PRCA announcer Kade Rogge, who became both a mentor and a professional influence. Their friendship, forged while working together at a livestock sale barn, opened the door for Ekstrom’s first professional announcing opportunity: returning to the War Bonnet Round Up not as a competitor, but as a rover, the dynamic, on‑the‑ground announcer who moves through the arena to interview athletes and bring fans closer to the action.
Ekstrom describes the War Bonnet as “an iconic rodeo in Idaho and the western states,” and stepping into a production role at his home rodeo marks a major milestone in his emerging career. With his background as a competitor, his natural stage presence, and his deep respect for the sport’s history, Zack Ekstrom represents the next generation of rodeo announcers and a proud Idaho voice shaping the future of the War Bonnet Round Up.
115th celebration in Idaho Falls, Idaho, powered by Toyota
July 29th-August 1st, 2026 - Skilling Arena Sandy Downs
📸 Micheal Pintar Photography . .
