You’ve heard it said that ‘life is what happens to you while you are making other plans’— that is the case for Jeff Medders. Growing up on a cattle ranch in southeastern Oklahoma, Medders had a passion for rodeo and all sports in general. He was an all-state football player in 1981 and headed to college pursuing his dream of being a television sportscaster. All was going according to plan until 1989 when he was approached by a Tulsa-based company to host America’s Horse, AQHA’s new television show on ESPN. Soon after, his hosting role grew to include the Wrangler World of Rodeo and the National Finals Rodeo. Having grown up in Oklahoma and attending the NFR in Oklahoma City every year, it was a dream come true.
Over the next two decades Medders’ resume grew by hosting thoroughbred racing and LPGA golf coverage on ESPN, poker and motorcycle racing on CBS Sports, but nothing tamed his passion for the sport of rodeo and the National Finals Rodeo. Today his company, Geronimo Productions, produces more major cowboy events than any other in the country. Championship Bull Riding on Fox, Cinch High School Rodeo Tour on RFD-TV, and of course, all of the PRCA’s events on CBS Sports Network including the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Medders has brought his talent and expertise to the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame serving as MC at the annual Rodeo Reunion and Induction. He has taken that to a new level of professionalism.
Jeff Medders has been the television host for more than 20 National Finals Rodeos and shows no signs of slowing down. His heroes have always been Cowboys, and the majority of those heroes have been Texas Rodeo Cowboys!
