When Rudy Burns first got into the sport of rodeo, his aspirations were of fame, fortune and world championships as a bull rider.

DRC/Barron Ludlum

Rudy Burns grew up with aspirations of becoming a championship bull rider, but found success instead as a rodeo clown, a job he’s held for almost 40 years. He will perform at the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo beginning today.

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Almost 40 years later, he’s still in the rodeo arena almost every weekend, although his riding days are long since over.

Burns will return to the annual North Texas State Fair and Rodeo this weekend as a barrel clown, something that’s allowed him to remain active in the sport using his gifts as a comedian instead of a cowboy.

“I like the comedy part of rodeo,” Burns said. “I like to make people laugh. When I’m in the barrel, I get to be out there but don’t have to worry about saving cowboys or being hit by a bull.”

Burns, 60, stumbled into being a rodeo clown by accident. The Louisiana native was introduced to the sport by watching his friends in high school. He was hooked instantly, and soon afterward began riding regularly.

He was competing at a rodeo in Bay St. Louis, Miss., when the clown didn’t show up and the stock contractor persuaded Burns to entertain the crowd. He was a hit, and earned his first job as a clown the same night.

“I was always a class clown,” Burns said. “You can’t teach comedy. You have to be born with the ability to make people laugh. It’s natural for me.”

In the early days, Burns sometimes worked as a clown and rode bulls on the same night. He never thought his instincts as a funnyman would lead to a career spanning more than a generation.

“It got to where I liked clowning more than I liked riding bulls,” he said. “I made a good living and I’m still making a good living. I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, but I do see a flicker.”

Burns used to work almost every weekend, but he has tried to scale back his schedule in recent years. Last year, he worked 42 rodeos, including the prestigious Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

“The crowd responds so well to Rudy. He’s become a local fan favorite,” said Glenn Carlton, executive director of the North Texas State Fair. “There’s a lot of people who do what he does. There’s not a lot of guys who can do it and just be that naturally funny. He truly is a talent.”

Burns said the way rodeo clowns are used has evolved during the past few decades. Being in the barrel, he doesn’t have to wrangle animals or rescue cowboys as much as he did in the past, but he still gets an occasional jolt from a bull — something he compares to being hit by a freight train.

“I still want to go fight the bulls, but I know at my age that I don’t have any business doing that,” said Burns, who lives in Smithdale, Miss.

Tonight will mark the first of nine consecutive nights of rodeo performances at the North Texas State Fair.

The action begins with a three-day PRCA-sanctioned rodeo through Sunday. A team-based ranch rodeo takes place on Monday, followed by a 21-and-under youth rodeo on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Bull Blow-out for bull riders will comprise three nights beginning Aug. 26.

Carlton said the talent level among cowboys should be high throughout the week, especially during the PRCA events, which will feature a handful of qualifiers for the National Finals Rodeo.

Among those scheduled to compete are former world champion bull rider Dustin Elliott of North Platte, Neb., and former world champion steer wrestler Mickey Gee of Wichita Falls.

“There’s a lot of talent coming to town,” Carlton said. “We’re gonna put on a show.”

The rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. each night, and admission is included in the price of a fair ticket.

As he’s done for several years, Burns will don his makeup, wig and baggy clothes to work during all nine nights of the rodeo in Denton, which remains one of his favorites each year.

“It’s a good rodeo. You have a lot of fun,” Burns said. “A lot of rodeos have gotten to be where it’s a job. This is one that I want to keep coming back to.”

TODD JORGENSON can be reached at 940-566-6871. His e-mail address is tjorgenson@dentonrc.com .