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Chance Hartley holds on to his bull during what would be a failed ride at the first Jackson Hole Rodeo of the season May 26. NEWS&GUIDE PHOTO / BRADLY J. BONER

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Rhett Wilde pulled a hand to his mouth and blew warm air into his fist.

“It’s kind of cold out,” the saddle bronc rider from McCammon, Idaho, said before climbing onto his horse last week at the Jackson Hole Rodeo. “But it’s fun to get out and get going.”

Such was the sentiment among the several dozen participants and few hundred fans who kicked off the 2010 Jackson Hole Rodeo season last week at the Teton County Fairgrounds. Chilly, overcast skies didn’t kill the energy and excitement Wednesday and Saturday nights.

“The first rodeo is always the funnest,” Wilde said. “Everyone has been waiting all winter for this.”

This year, the Jackson Hole Rodeo has a new flavor after being purchased by the Wilson family. There were new concessions, announcers, music and a fresh look to the staging area.

“I thought it went well,” owner Phil Wilson said. “We were thrilled it went off without any major problems.”

The most obvious difference this year is in the crow’s nest, where longtime announcer Rex Hansen has retired from rodeo announcing. This summer, the Wilsons will use a rotation of about four different professional rodeo announcers. On Wednesday, J.W. Kinder, of Casper, took the microphone and entertained the crowd.

“It’s an honor to kick off the Jackson Hole series for the summer,” Kinder told the crowd. “It’s opening night for the greatest show on dirt.”

Derek Barton, who does a popular statewide radio program in Wheatland, announced Saturday’s rodeo. Wilson said the search for new rodeo announcers was a long process that began last year.

“It was hard,” Wilson said. “I knew quite a few of them, but we had to start booking announcers in September.”

A new sound system with stronger, clearer speakers is also new to the fairgrounds this season. Another noted difference to the rodeo is a revamped concession stand, which features new items such as a Philly Swiss cheese sandwich and a cowboy burger.

The Wilsons also renovated the staging area, painting the gates a sharp blue. A new delivery system has been installed underneath the crow’s nest, making it easier and safer to get rough stock into the chutes.

“That’s the latest, greatest design in rodeo,” Wilson said. “There’s a safety factor when the stock come in.”

Another safety feature of the center delivery system is that it provides for two types of gates – left-hand and right-hand chutes. The stock are typically left- and right-dominant, just like people, Wilson said. Bulls that are left-dominant are released from left-hand chutes and vice versa.

“These animals are the same as you and me, they’re left or right dominant,” Wilson said. “When an animal first steps out of the chute, you run them one way or another and you find out pretty quickly what they are.”

Opening night for the rodeo had a festive feel Wednesday night. Jackson Hole High School graduate Desiree Bridges, the 2010 Teton County rodeo queen, kicked off the ceremonies by circling the ring on horseback carrying the United States flag. Erin Heffron, of Alta, who is Miss Rodeo Wyoming, circled the ring on horseback carrying the state flag before the national anthem.

“There were a lot of contestants and quite a few people for how cold it was,” Wilson said.

The Jackson Hole Rodeo will continue at 8 p.m. each Wednesday and Saturday through Labor Day weekend at the fairgrounds. Weekly results will be posted on the rodeo’s Web site, www.jacksonholerodeo.us.