Bulls move in for challenge
'Red Rabbit' among competitors this weekend
By Molly Montag Journal staff reporter | Posted: Friday, January 18, 2008
Marty Barnes of the Barnes PRCA Rodeo of Cherokee, Iowa, hangs up ropes on the start chutes Thursday for a bull-riding rodeo event this weekend at the Tyson Events Center. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
SIOUX CITY -- It may seem ironic that, in a city once known for its stockyards, some of tonight's biggest stars at the Tyson Center will be bovine.
This afternoon, approximately 50 bulls are scheduled to arrive in downtown Sioux City for the Barnes National Bull Riding Challenge. The two-night event gets under way at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday.
The bulls competing in the event are owned by Cherokee County resident and longtime rodeo promoter Bob Barnes.
Barnes was raised near Cherokee and has been participating in rodeos since 1950. His company keeps about 350 bucking horses and 100 bulls on about 1,000 acres in Cherokee County.
Barnes said one of the best bulls at the event will be Red Rabbit, named in part for his color and big ears.
Good bulls jump out and immediately start bucking and spinning close to the chutes. Red Rabbit does that, but Barnes said the 4-year-old homebred also changes his game plan midride.
"This bull is one that might turn back to the right, he might turn back to the left and after a bit, he might go back the other way," Barnes said.
In December World Champion bull rider B.J. Schumacher won more than $12,000 on Red Rabbit when the pair placed second in the second round of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. The 86-point ride was only a half-point shy of winning the round.
Barnes said he'd rather the riders score high on his bulls instead of getting bucked off. Judges mark the bull and rider separately, awarding points based on each one's performance.
"It takes a lot of ability on the man and it takes a lot of ability on the bull," he said.
This weekend's event is co-sanctioned by the National Federation of Professional Bull Riders and the Bullriders of America, both founded in Missouri.
Clint Jackson, 37, president and co-founder of the National Federation of Professional Bull Riders, said bull riding has grown in popularity since groups broke away from traditional rodeo and formed their own organizations.
The National Federation of Professional Bull Riders, formed in 1995, has about 300 members and hosts 140 to 150 events each year. The Bullriders of America was founded in 1996 and has about 180 members.
Spectators at the Tyson Center will see a fast-paced event, Jackson said.
"It's more like going to watch a high-impact, hard-knocking professional sport that has no down time but still carries the flair of the American cowboy," Jackson said.
Dennis Gann, executive director of the city's Events Facilities Bureau, said bull riding events have been selling better than traditional rodeos.
Last year, the Barnes event sold more than $135,000 in tickets for the two nights.
"Professional bull riding's been drawing quite well," Gann said.
If you go
What: Barnes National Bull Riding Challenge
When: 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday
Where: Tyson Events Center
Tickets: $17, $27, $42
Phone: 279-4850
This afternoon, approximately 50 bulls are scheduled to arrive in downtown Sioux City for the Barnes National Bull Riding Challenge. The two-night event gets under way at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday.
The bulls competing in the event are owned by Cherokee County resident and longtime rodeo promoter Bob Barnes.
Barnes was raised near Cherokee and has been participating in rodeos since 1950. His company keeps about 350 bucking horses and 100 bulls on about 1,000 acres in Cherokee County.
Barnes said one of the best bulls at the event will be Red Rabbit, named in part for his color and big ears.
Good bulls jump out and immediately start bucking and spinning close to the chutes. Red Rabbit does that, but Barnes said the 4-year-old homebred also changes his game plan midride.
"This bull is one that might turn back to the right, he might turn back to the left and after a bit, he might go back the other way," Barnes said.
In December World Champion bull rider B.J. Schumacher won more than $12,000 on Red Rabbit when the pair placed second in the second round of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. The 86-point ride was only a half-point shy of winning the round.
Barnes said he'd rather the riders score high on his bulls instead of getting bucked off. Judges mark the bull and rider separately, awarding points based on each one's performance.
"It takes a lot of ability on the man and it takes a lot of ability on the bull," he said.
This weekend's event is co-sanctioned by the National Federation of Professional Bull Riders and the Bullriders of America, both founded in Missouri.
Clint Jackson, 37, president and co-founder of the National Federation of Professional Bull Riders, said bull riding has grown in popularity since groups broke away from traditional rodeo and formed their own organizations.
The National Federation of Professional Bull Riders, formed in 1995, has about 300 members and hosts 140 to 150 events each year. The Bullriders of America was founded in 1996 and has about 180 members.
Spectators at the Tyson Center will see a fast-paced event, Jackson said.
"It's more like going to watch a high-impact, hard-knocking professional sport that has no down time but still carries the flair of the American cowboy," Jackson said.
Dennis Gann, executive director of the city's Events Facilities Bureau, said bull riding events have been selling better than traditional rodeos.
Last year, the Barnes event sold more than $135,000 in tickets for the two nights.
"Professional bull riding's been drawing quite well," Gann said.
If you go
What: Barnes National Bull Riding Challenge
When: 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday
Where: Tyson Events Center
Tickets: $17, $27, $42
Phone: 279-4850
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com'on wrote on Jan 18, 2008 12:51 PM:
What wrote on Jan 18, 2008 8:40 AM: