Friendly squirrel photo by Rhonda Lee
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His voice has taken him on the ride of his life By Dianna Troyer At 4 a.m. Monday through Thursday, rancher Zeb Bell slips out of bed and slides into his radio studio at his ranch south of Murtaugh, Idaho, ready to broadcast his show, “Zeb at the Ranch,” worldwide. “It’s been such a fun ride, something I could never have imagined,” says Zeb, 64, a Christian who attributes his success as a rodeo announcer and radio show host to God. “I’ve been so blessed. We have cream-of-the-crop sponsors, guests, and so many advertisers that we have a waiting list.” The show airs from 8 to 11 a.m. on K-BAR Radio 1230 AM, and discusses conservative politics and life on his ranch where he and his wife, Deanne, raise Mexican longhorn Corriente cattle and quarter horses. In April, the show began airing worldwide via an internet webcast. “When I started this about 15 years ago, it was two hours, and I thought it would just be a hobby that provided supplemental income,” says Zeb. “Since then, it’s taken on a life of its own. Now it’s three hours, and I wish I had more time to get everything in.” Preparing for the show is a daunting task that Zeb manages with his trademark work ethic, humor, extroverted personality, and bass voice. “After I get up at 4, I read four papers, then at 6, I call the newsrooms on the East Coast to get updates, so I’m ready to go on air at 8.” When the show is done, Zeb slips into his other roles, being a familiar and knowledgeable voice on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo circuit nationwide. “I used to announce at 130 to 140 performances a year, but two years ago I had to cut back, so now I do about 40 a year,” says Zeb, who has been a PRCA announcer since 1974. To prepare for two hours behind the mike at a rodeo, he does about six hours of research. “I compile thick spiral notebooks with information about the performers, the specialty acts, and the stock. I rehearse and memorize.” Zeb’s announcing skills have earned him prestigious jobs. During the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, he was the voice of the American Quarter Horse Association as the exhibition announcer. At the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, in 2002, he was the announcer for the reining events. He was selected six times to announce at the National Rodeo Finals. When he is not announcing, he competes in team roping contests. “I used to do cutting, too, but most of all I love roping.” (Cont’d on p. 14)