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Large Video Screen Installed at the Townsend Rodeo
Author: Matt Nelson

Matt Nelson

This year, there was a new feature for the rodeo crowds – a large video screen called the Jumbotron was installed at the South end of the rodeo grounds. Marty Lyon owns this Jumbotron as part of his equipment of Lyon Productions based in Helena. It has 45 identical panels, each being a 2-foot by 2-foot square. There are 5 rows, and each row has 9 panels in it, making the total size of the screen 18 feet wide and 10 feet high. Each panel has 80 Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Each of these panels has a power input and output connector, as well as a video input feed and output video feed connector and are serially connected to each other. Besides myself, Robert Siler, Keern Haslem, and Jason Handley, all employed by Lyon Productions, set this screen up. It took 4 hours to do it. It was held up by the yellow machinery called the Tella Handle.

Keern said, “Lyon Productions went full throttle into the screen business over the past few years. First, they acquired two screens and now have four. Although putting four screens out in a single weekend can be a challenge, the people we serve make it all worthwhile. This year, we had the absolute pleasure of adding the Townsend Rodeo to our docket, during the County Fair. Our help setting up the screen included newcomer Jason Hanley, old-timer myself, and long-standing Lyon Productions engineer and all-around good guy Robert Siler. Townsend local and friend to Lyon Productions, Matt Nelson, also handled cables and kept us steering straight. The Rodeo Committee did an incredible job gathering together a brand-new telehandler and Vince and another member even pitched in to help us unload the truck. All in all, we consider our show at the Townsend Rodeo and opportunity to provide the LED screen—Jumbotron—an absolute success. One we cannot wait to repeat.” Keern Haslem.

Marty located his van with the name Lyon painted on its side near the announcer’s booth on the East side of the rodeo grounds. The output signals of 3 video cameras were routed into this van and then transmitted from the van to the video screen. Marty directed the 3 camera operators where to point the cameras during the entire rodeo, beginning with the Mutton Busting, followed by the presentation of the colors, and then each event, which are Ladies Breakaway, Junior Breakaway, Bareback, Rookie Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, Tie Down Ropers, Saddle Bronc, Ladies Barrels, Junior Barrels, Team Roping, and Bull Riding.

During the rodeo, Jake Green operated a drone, and the video from the drone’s camera was often put on the Jumbotron.

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PhotoCredit: Matt Nelson
Image 1 Caption: The Jumbotron video screen, a special Photo Credit: Matt Nelson Pg16*
Image 2 Caption: Bull Rider Tanner Theriault Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
Image 3 Caption: Team Roping, Mike and Shawn Cartwright, Townsend Photo Credit: Matt Nelson