Steamboat Springs — The rodeo is patriotic without even trying - but Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo announcer John Shipley said he usually tries.

It's a habit he picked up from his own days in the rodeo, when he heard legendary announcer Clem McSpadden.

"He used to do a big deal at the beginning of a rodeo, had it memorized, and he'd talk about God, apple pie, Chevrolet and rodeo," Shipley said. "It gave me goose bumps on goose bumps, and that was a part of the influence for me to be a rodeo announcer."

Now, Shipley always starts the Steamboat rodeo off with a tribute to the flag and a call to remember those who have served and are serving in the military.

Even he admitted that routine will come a little short of what the rodeo has planned for the largest rodeos of the year, however. To celebrate the July 4 weekend rodeos, which run today and Saturday at 7 p.m., six of the top junior bull riders in the area will compete in the first-of-its-kind Ridn4Warriors event.

The competition will open the rodeo both nights and will offer a massive spotlight to the top teenage riders and the armed force branches that each will represent.

"There will be one rider each for the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Air Force and Veteran's Affairs," said local rodeo board member Rob Powers, who masterminded the event. "These kids are incredibly proud, not just to be riding for a much larger audience, but to be riding for the armed forces.

"It fits perfectly in for July 4. It's the troops and the future of the sport coming together for a perfect weekend."

The July 4 weekend rodeos are usually the most popular, and organizers don't expect anything to change this year. In fact, tonight's rodeo even offers a new twist. Saturday's rodeo will precede Steamboat's massive fireworks display. Tonight's show will be capped by a fireworks performance, as well.

That won't be the only thing different this year at the Steamboat rodeo,. Shipley has been the regular voice for the Steamboat rodeo but for the first time in 15 years, he'll call the largest two events of the season.

He has been a fixture at the massive Greeley Stampede during that time. This year, when given the opportunity to seek out the announcer's microphone at other large rodeos in the region, he opted instead to stay at home.

"Consider the independence that created this country. There are so many parallels - cliches to those with a more jaded view. Compare that to independence of a cowboy playing his own way, deciding where he's going to compete," Shipley said. "Rodeo is a truly American sport. It was developed here. They participate in other countries but not nearly as well.

"If there's another day that is more of a perfect setting for pro rodeo than July 4, I can't think what it is."