PBR 2017

April 7-9, 2017 A publication of the Yellowstone Newspaper Group.

Jess Lockwood Photo by Andy Watson

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2 • PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group

Bonner Bolton to compete on Dancing with the Stars

By Andrew Giangola The first piece of very good news was that he wasn’t going to die.

Then Bonner Bolton, temporarily paralyzed after a bad fall at the 2016 PBR season opener in Chicago, found out that one day, he’d be back on his feet.

“The minute the doctor said I would walk again, I wanted to jump right out of that hospital bed and dance,” Bolton said.

And boogie he will – on ABC’s hit series Dancing with the Stars, paired with veteran dancer Sharna Burgess.

Since pile driving into the dirt at Allstate Arena, Bolton’s life has taken sharp turns onto paths atypical of cowboys raised on ranches and making a living barnstorming the country to ride bucking bulls. Fourteen months after nearly purchasing the farm, Bonner is embracing his cosmic reprieve.

While flat on his back in a neck brace, Bonner was signed to global representation by IMG Models. He was named one of Us Weekly’s Hot Bodies, sat front row at a Victoria’s Secret show, and posed for famous photographer Mario Testino.

And now, another road to be traveled, a little more than one year removed from being planted face down and powerless on the dirt, preparing to meet his maker. One of PBR’s own, who has spent his whole life ripping muscles and breaking bones in a quest for a World Championship buckle, will tango and twist as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.

“I’m up for the challenge,” Bolton said. “I want to be an inspiration to others. I'm thankful for what I've overcome, and I hope to help motivate others who have challenges.”

The PBR rider’s physical challenges, though in no way comparable, can’t be discounted. After splitting his C-2 vertebra, Bonner was given a 1-5 percent chance to walk. Although, he’d had a remarkable recovery, he’s yet to be cleared for competition. A metal clamp fusing his C-2 and C-3 vertebrae sits precariously close to a vital artery. Eight inches of metal in his shoulder holds together a collarbone shattered in four places by a bull’s horn.

“I know I’m going to have to baby my neck and avoid certain dance moves,” Bonner said.

Sidelined from any competition since his fall, Bolton is chomping at the bit to compete again. He’s more nervous doing the tango than getting on Rango, a rank bull he rode as Scott Eastwood’s stunt double during a pressure-packed midnight shoot for a key scene in the film, “The Longest Ride.”

Nine-time rodeo world champion Ty Murray, who made it to the fourth round in DWTS, says the bull rider has a chance to win the high-stakes dance competition.

“Bonner is a much better dancer than I was,” Murray said. “He’s got the right attitude and is preparing mentally and physically. He’s a legitimate cowboy and has the support of the entire western sports community. Bonner is going to be a tremendous ambassador for PBR and all cowboys.”

PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group • 3

4 • PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group

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2018 NILE Merit Heifer applications now available The opportunity to get kids started in the cattle industry is knocking, and loudly.

The NILE Merit Heifer Program is awarding heifers to deserving youth in Montana and surrounding region. Applications are available now and due by 5 p.m.

June 30, 2017.

The NILE Merit Heifer program is a "live animal" scholarship that strives to help youth get a start in the beef cattle business by awarding heifer calves to participants chosen based on merit, future goals, and ability to care for the animal.

Any youth ages 12-16, who are a 4-H or FFA member, may apply. Applicants are not limited to Montana residents.

"This program would not be possible without the generous support of our donor ranchers and we are very grateful to them," commented Bill Pelton, Merit Heifer Chairman.

During the program duration, participants are responsible for raising the heifer, arranging for her to be bred, completing the record keeping procedure and bringing the animal back one year later as a bred replacement heifer for exhibit at the NILE Stock Show in October.

Applications and a link to the YouTube video must be received no later than 5 p.m. June 30, 2017. An application is available online at www.thenile.org or by calling the NILE office. In addition to applications from eligible kids, the NILE is also accepting information from ranches wishing to donate a heifer calf.

The NILE Merit Heifer Selection Committee requires: • Complete application • Character references • Written essay • A 3-5 minute YouTube video The video should include, but is not limited to: an introduction, facility tour, current 4-H/FFA projects, goals and objectives for the Merit Heifer, and the video must be voiced by the applicant. An example YouTube video can be seen here.

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What does it take to become a professional bull rider?

A bull rider must be 18 years of age to purchase a PBR membership. After you purchase the PBR membership you will receive a riding permit. This riding permit will allow you the ability to enter the Touring Pro Division. Once you win $2,500 in prize money you will be upgraded from permit status to cardholder status, however, you have to continue to win at least $2,500 each year to maintain your cardholder status. Once you receive your cardholder status you can work your way toward the Touring Pro Division standings, which can earn you a position on the Built Ford Tough Series.

Additionally, attending a reputable bull riding school may give you the edge needed to take advantage of opportunities offered by the Professional Bull Riders to win money riding against the toughest contenders - both man and beast - in the world. If you are in need of protective equipment there are several companies that offer safety equipment and rodeo gear. Lambert's Quality Rodeo Gear, the company owned and operated by PBR Live Stock Director Cody Lambert, features the lifesaving Master Pro Rodeo Vest and may be reached by phone at 940538-5803.

Download the 2017 Bull Rider Application online at pbr.com

NILE offers 2017 internship program

October 12-22, the NILE is looking for college students who are willing and able to work all day and into the night, eat and sleep minimally, handle high pressure situations, work in the extreme weather elements of October in Montana, and enjoy every minute of it.

NILE staff is looking for those college kids who are little obsessed, a little quirky, and have a lot of heart. We want those who eat, breathe, and sleep stock shows and rodeos. We want those who can function on minimal sleep and maximum caffeine. College kids who have brains and brawn-handle high pressure critical thinking and not be afraid to pick up a pitch fork.

From the bright lights of the rodeo arena, to the heart pounding hooves of the horse events and finally to the smells of adhesives in the cattle barn, you won't want to miss out on the action! The internship is ten days of early mornings and late nights. Some interns work the livestock show ring; checking in exhibitors, lining up steers, shuffling sheep, and recording results. Other interns set up horse awards, buck bales, and score keep the ranch rodeo. All interns laugh, goof around, and get stuff done. The work details are to be determined, but we guarantee they'll be valuable!

We get it, the NILE is during the school months and it's hard to get away, but believe us, it's worth it for the experience! Yes, the NILE is eight months away, but it's not too soon to start thinking about your future. Many of the NILE's past interns are gainfully employed and attribute some of their success to their NILE experience. Apply today and set yourself up for success.

All we are missing is this year's group of interns! That could be YOU! Want more information on how to apply, visit www.thenile.org for all the answers! All applications must be in the NILE Office by September 1, 2017 and interns will be announced shortly thereafter.

Questions: call the NILE Office at (406) 256-2495 or email Shelby at shelby@thenile.org.

PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group • 5

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6 • PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group

Lockwood:

‘You have to expect yourself to win’ By: Justin Felisko PUEBLO, Colo. – World leader Jess Lockwood understands he has a tall task in front of him if he hopes to hold on to his No. 1 world ranking this season.

Fresh off his second win of the year, Lockwood didn’t have to look to far to see he will have plenty of challengers before the 2017 World Champion is crowned in Las Vegas on Nov. 5.

Lockwood was congratulated by two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney as he was heading toward the shark cage to receive his Sacramento Clash belt buckle on Sunday afternoon following his 4-for-4 victory.

Mauney had nearly prevented Lockwood from his second victory with an 89-point ride on Brutus in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round and is determined to win two more gold buckles before he retires.

“He is J.B. Mauney,” Lockwood said. “Of course, when he is still riding he plans on winning the world title. I just have to keep staying on my bulls and doing my job.”

Meanwhile, 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis sat next to Lockwood in the locker room after the event as he packed up things to head to the airport.

Davis didn’t take over the world No. 1 ranking until after the 2016 Built Ford Tough Series summer break last season, but chimed in that Lockwood’s chances of running the table were, ‘Pretty good.’

Then, of course, there is 2015 Rookie of the Year Kaique Pacheco, who has finished runner-up in the last two world title races, lurking at No. 5 in the world standings, as well as a slew of other riders with a $1 million world title on their minds.

So what does Lockwood think his chances are at running the table?

“You know. I have no idea,” Lockwood replied bashfully.

“There are guys like Derek (Kolbaba), Cooper and J.B. – guys that are so hot right now, riding really good. I don’t know how honestly. Guys like Cooper, J.B., show up every weekend and come riding to win.

“All I can do is try and stay on my bulls and let the rest take care of itself.”

Lockwood did just that in Sacramento. The 19-year-old went 4-for-4 at the Sacramento Clash and has stormed out to an 802.5-point lead on No. 2 Marco Eguchi in the world standings through the first four weeks of the season.

On Sunday, Lockwood earned the victory with his first 90-point ride of the season when he took care of business on BC Circular Insanity in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round.

Lockwood began his weekend by winning Round 1 with an 87.5-point ride on Baton Rouge. In Round 2, Lockwood covered Smiling Bob for 86.5 points.

Jess Lockwood attempts to ride Long Ranch's Over The Top during the first round of the Kansas City Built Ford Tough series PBR. Photo by Andy Watson

PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group • 7

He then had to hang on to Naughty by Nature for 76 points in Round 3.

“I had to grit it out on that one this morning,” Lockwood said. “That wasn’t very fun and I just had to hang off the side of him.”

Lockwood’s only hiccup came in the 15/15 Bucking Battle when Spotted Demon dusted him in 4.66 seconds.

The 19-year-old has continued to build off his PBR Major season-opening victory in New York and now leads the league in wins (2), round wins (3) and qualified rides (11).

Lockwood is also second to Eguchi in riding percentage (68.57 percent) and six of his 11 rides have placed him in the Top 5 of a round.

Not a bad start, right?

“Yes and no,” Lockwood said. “I didn’t finish my rides very well the first two events. Lucky enough, just stayed on more bulls than everyone else. This last weekend I started finishing a little better except for that long round.”

Lockwood said he isn’t studying the points system or worrying about how many points he is up or down by. The idea of running the table is more about winning each and every time he nods his head for the gate than anything else.

He wants to win every bull ride, every round and every event.

Two-time World Champion Justin McBride said Lockwood “absolutely” could potentially go wire-to-wire, but McBride said he believes the mentality is more about understanding just how important every bull ride is during a season.

“I don’t know that Jess is going to put too much emphasis on if he is in the lead or not,” McBride said. “What I like about Jess is he staying so focused at the task at hand. Bull to bull.

That is really what he means by it. He wants to win each and every time the gate opens. I think that is more what he is trying to say when he says that. He is trying to win every ride and that takes care of the standings in a big way.”

CBS Sports Network commentator J.W. Hart loves Lockwood’s attitude, but he also knows that it will be an extremely tall task for anyone to never let go of the world number 1 ranking.

The real test, Hart says, is how Lockwood responds when he hits his first rough patch this year.

“Good luck,” Hart said. “That man (Mauney) right there will have a lot to say about that. Cooper Davis will say something about it. Kaique Pacheco will get hot. (Lockwood) will have his trials. He is hot right now, but he will valley somewhere. Nobody will peak all year long. He will valley. That is where you test how tough you are. Your mental game, and I don’t think it is possible, but I like his attitude.”

Lockwood will head to Anaheim, California, this weekend for the Frontier Communications Showdown, presented by Ariat, with one thing on his mind: Winning.

“You just have to show up each weekend and expect yourself to win,” Lockwood concluded. “If you are showing up each weekend, if you are not planning on winning, what is the point really?”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

Jess Lockwood rides McClure Cattle Co's Naughty By Nature for 76 during the third round of the Sacramento Built Ford Tough series PBR. Photo by Andy Watson

Jess Lockwood rides Jenkins Cattle Co.’s Naughty List for 82.25 during the championship round of the New York City Built Ford Tough series PBR. Photo by Andy Watson

8 • PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group

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Myths & facts of agriculture’s productivity

No one knows better about food than the farmers and ranchers who produce it. That’s why the Montana Farm Bureau celebrated Agriculture Week March 20 - March 26. Its members have dedicated their lives to producing food and fiber.

“A lot of people don’t realize how much time and money go into growing our food, whether you’re raising crops or livestock,” says MFBF President Hans McPherson, a diversified farmer from Stevensville. “There is misinformation swirling around about agriculture, some is simply a lack of knowledge since so many people are generations removed from farming and ranching. The other is deliberate misinformation by people who are anti-modern agriculture. There are great facts, however, that tell the real story about farming and ranching.”

Myth: Farms are corporate.

NO! Farming in the United States is still very family oriented.

Today, 97 percent of all U.S. farms are owned by families, family partnerships or family corporations. Farming is family. That is part of the reason why farmers take deep pride and care in the way they manage their farms. That’s also why their goal is to manage every aspect of their farm in a socially responsible manner – so they can be proud of the legacy they leave.

Myth: Farmers cause pollution to soil and water.

NO! Farmers drink the same water and breathe the same air as their neighbors. That is why they know first-hand the importance of protecting and sustaining the environment for their families, their communities and for future generations. There are strict environmental standards in place and farmers respect, support and abide by those standards.

Myth: America’s farmers can’t grow enough food.

NO! Farms today produce more food with fewer resources.

While farm and ranch productivity has increased dramatically since 1950, the use of resources (labor, seeds, feed, fertilizer, etc.) required for production has declined markedly. Today’s farms can be called a “miracle of productivity.” Today’s farmers produce 262 percent more food with 2 percent fewer inputs (labor, seeds, feed, fertilizer, etc.), compared with 1950. One farmer today feeds 168 people.

Myth: Farmers get all the money from the food they grow.

NO! Farmers and ranchers receive only 16 cents of every dollar spent on food at home and away from home. The rest goes for costs beyond the farm gate: wages and materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation and distribution. In 1980, farmers and ranchers received 31 cents.

Myth: Farming, ranching and grazing hurts wildlife.

NO! Agricultural land provides habitat for 75 percent of the nation’s wildlife.

Myth: International trade is bad for U.S. agriculture.

NO! The United States exports $43.5 billion in agriculture products and important $26.4 billion in farm products, equaling a positive net trade balance of $17.1 billion. One in three U.S. farm acres is planted for export, and 25 percent of gross farm income comes directly from exports. Agriculture generates 20% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.

PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group • 9

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10 • PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group

PBR’s policy regarding the welfare and treatment of animal athletes: Frm PBR.com In the PBR, the bulls are treated with as much respect as, if not more than, the human athletes who ride them. The PBR’s Animal Welfare Policy exemplifies the great regard in which everyone associated with the organization holds these athletes, as well as explains the care they receive as professional athletes.

There are two great athletes in every 8-second ride, the bull rider and THE BULL. The Professional Bull Riders is fully committed to ensuring the health, safety, welfare and respect of each bovine athlete that enters a PBR arena. The care and treatment of PBR bulls is a top priority to those who govern and/or participate in PBR events. The organization operates under a no tolerance policy for any mistreatment of an animal associated with the PBR.

PBR Safety & Welfare Measures

PBR has proactively initiated and implemented a number of measures designed to foster and support the welfare of our bovine athletes.

PBR redesigned the traditional rodeo bucking chute to improve rider and bull safety. Since it was implementation, the design has eliminated leg injuries suffered by bulls in the bucking chutes, which is the most common form of injury.

PBR redesigned the traditional rodeo lead-up alleys and holding areas to further mitigate the risk of

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injuries to the bulls.

With the sport’s stock contractors, the PBR establish guidelines for the transportation of bulls to and from events, including but not limited to: Bulls ride in trailers with air-ride suspensions to reduce the risk of injury during transportation.

Bulls are hauled for no more than 10 hours at a time and given an equal amount of time to rest before resuming travel.

In each city in which an event is conducted, bulls are housed at local ranch facilities with the proper pen size and space per bull. Bulls are trucked from the local facility to the event venue and back each day.

There are approximately 60 bulls at a one-day event, 90 bulls at a two-day event and 110 bulls at a three-day event. A bull bucks only one time per day and no more than two times at a typical event.

Approximately 30-40 of the bulls at a typical two-day event will buck only once at that event.

The welfare of PBR’s animal athletes is a higher priority than any other consideration when making decisions with respect to the animal’s well-being, including the financial impact of those decisions. In November 2006, the PBR held an event in Hawaii, the Hawaii All-Star. The PBR had the option to ship bulls to Hawaii via boat which would have taken seven days, but also cost considerably less than other alternatives. Instead, the PBR determined that the welfare of the animals would be compromised during such a journey, therefore it invested nearly $350,000, compared to less than $100,000 if shipped by sea, to fly the necessary bulls to Hawaii for the event in special, customized containers.

The value of the bulls to the stock contractors who own and breed them and to the PBR helps ensure that every effort and safeguard is in place to protect the bulls from any mistreatment or situation that would adversely affect their quality of life, ability to continue competing or their futures as breeding bulls.

Many of the bulls currently bucking on PBR tours are valued at approximately the six-figures; the owner of PBR’s greatest bull, Bushwacker, was offered $1 million for his three-time World Champion bull.

Care of the Animal Athletes

• Bulls receive about 10-15 pounds of a special blend of a high-protein grain ration per day. The blend varies depending on the bull’s needs and the stock contractor.

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• Bulls receive approximately 15 pounds of high-quality hay per day.

• Many bulls receive a B-12 complex vitamin shot monthly as well as nutritional supplements.

• Bulls receive a health inspection any time they have to cross state lines per federal, state and city regulations.

• Bulls are only allowed to travel a maximum of 10 hours per day. • After 10 hours, the bulls are rested for 12-14 hours.

• Bulls stand in 6-10 inches of sawdust shavings during transport for their comfort.

• Each stock contractor has a local veterinarian on call for their bulls.

• Many bulls also receive chiropractic care and acupuncture as needed to keep them in top shape and feeling great.

Like humans, PBR bucking bulls come in an array of shapes, sizes, and colors, and like humans, their own personalities and talents make them unique. The PBR has a vast number of championship-caliber bulls that compete on the PBR’s multi-tiered tour structure. The bulls receive impeccable treatment and are often considered to be a “member of the family.”

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PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group • 11

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BULL INJURIES:

It is extremely rare that a PBR bull is injured as a result of its performance, however bulls that suffer a career-ending injury are retired to stud and live the balance of their lives as healthy, fully capable breeding bulls. While their injuries may prevent them from competing at the PBR level as a bucking athlete, they do not impede their quality of life or ability to function.

PBR policy for injured bulls: At Built Ford Tough Series events there is a vet on site or on call at all times during the performances.

In most cases involving injuries with bulls in arena the bulls are able to leave on their own.

In the case of a bull not being able to leave on his own power, PBR has the ability to assist and insure a safe departure of the injured bull.

At all Built Ford Tough Series events, a sled is available upon which the bull is secured and taken from the arena, usually by a skid steer.

After an injured bull has exited the arena, he is put upon a trailer and taken to the veterinarian’s office or bull housing for further evaluation.

In the case of serious injuries requiring assisted help from outside the arena, updates to the bull’s condition will be released to the public upon PBR’s approval.

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12 • PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group

From the PBR to your pasture As livestock owners have become more sophisticated in their understanding of livestock nutrition and nutrient requirements, supplements have become an increasingly popular management tool to help cattle better utilize their feed. Supplements provide an easy method for delivering protein, energy, minerals and vitamins to their cattle. Higher molasses prices and the option of non-molasses supplement blocks are giving stock contractors and cattle ranchers a reason to reevaluate the type of supplement they use.

One non-molasses option, SweetPro made from condensed distillers solubles, which are higher in protein and fat than molasses, but lack the sugars that can drive down rumen pH. A university study compared various factors for cow-calf herds feeding on forage and hay, versus herds on forage and hay plus supplements.

The molasses-based supplement cost about the same per pound, and in this study, the supplement from SweetPro outscored the molasses blocks with significantly lower consumption and better herd performance.

But what do the livestock owners say?

6 Time PBR Stock Contractor of the Year, Chad Berger from Mandan, ND switched over to SweetPro for his bulls last summer and he likes what he sees.

“I can really tell the difference on the performance and condition of my bulls since I’ve been using it,” Berger said. “What I really like about it is that it really keeps my bulls healthy. They really muscle up on it. Keeps them fresh and their stomachs working well and they travel better.”

Stetson Lawrence catching some airtime thanks to SweetPro’s Bruiser, 2016 World Champion Bull. Photo credits to bullstockmedia.com

PBR rider Mike Lee on the 2015 World Champion Bull, SweetPro’s Long John. Photo Credits to bullstockmedia.com

“It really helps them utilize their feed. Instead of 25 pounds of grain, we are seeing the same results with only 10 pounds per bull,” said Page. "We don't want them big, but want to see them fit and well muscled." He noted that by looking at bull’s manure, he can tell if they are eating SweetPro or not by how well the grain is broken down. “Particularly with corn, they just seem to be able to utilize it better.”

But supplements aren’t just for high powered performance animals. They can even help ranchers looking to manage the bottom line.

Photo courtesy of Agri-Best Feeds PBR Rider Robson Palermo on Chad Berger's bull Asteroid. Photo Credits to bullstockmedia.com

Chad Berger with Asteroid out in the pasture. Courtesy photo provided

by Chad Berger

For another multi-year PBR Stock Contractor Year and owner to the last 2 PBR Bulls of the Year (SweetPro’s Long John 2015 and SweetPro’s Bruiser 2016), H.D. Page, it was the dramatic turnaround in conception rates for his cows that sold him on SweetPro. “We went from the worst year ever, to the best year we’d ever had,” Page said. “With the heat and dryness, we just couldn’t get the cows to cycle. We went from conception rates of 65-70% to 97% bred in a single year. The only thing we changed in our program was adding SweetPro blocks.”

Don Herzog, who ranches near Rapelje, along with his sons Courtney and Ryan, had tried several different supplements before switching to SweetPro a few years back. On his operation, cows are typically wintered in open pasture with little hay, and using a supplement to allow the cattle to make the most of the winter grass.

“In the winter time we are supplementing the cow. She’s going to get enough energy out of the grass but she can’t get enough protein. The SweetPro is different than the other supplements we’ve tried over the years in that you are feeding the microbes in the rumen. If you are feeding the microbes correctly, she will digest the roughage and utilize it,” stated Don

His son Courtney Herzog who ranches nearby expanded on their feeding program.

“My brother Ryan and I had attended a Ranching for Profit school and we adapted pieces of their philosophy of minimal winter feeding for what we needed on our ranch. We had increased the size of our operation and needed to be able to do more with less work.” For Photo courtesy of Agri-Best Feeds the Herzogs, not spending all morning feeding hay was a key time saver.

Don particularly liked the results they were seeing using the non-molasses supplement with raising replacement heifers and Courtney agreed. "Breed back had been good, really good." he said.

“We feed supplement to our yearling heifers, actually starting before they are weaned.

They will say on it, year round, until after they calve as three year olds.” As Don put it, “It’s the toughest year of their lives. They are facing a lot of physical demands as they are still growing, feeding their first calf, and we are asking them Photo courtesy of Agri-Best Feeds to also re-breed.” The last two years he reported 99% and 97% bred on the three year olds, and believes their feeding program deserves some of the credit.

Another key aspect in choosing SweetPro was feed efficiency. "For us, it was a good selling point," Courtney said. "Range conditions can make feed efficiency hard to quantify but we did our own field trial, and put the SweetPro up against what we were using at the time. At the end of the season, we liked what we were seeing with SweetPro." Don commented, “I’m not saying it will for everybody, but it’s worked very well for our operation. There are a lot of folks who graze off all their grass during the summer and feed hay all winter. We just think that’s too expensive.”

When asked about the role of supplement in his operation, Don said “It’s not the magic bullet, it’s a management tool that you have to use in conjunction with a lot of other things you are doing, but we wouldn’t be using it if it didn’t work well for us.”

Agri-Best Feeds, headquartered in Billings MT is the regional distributor for SweetPro- www.agribestfeeds.com or 866 6016646.

PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group • 13

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14 • PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group

PBR scoring and judging Frm PBR.com

THE BULL RIDE A PBR bull ride is an 8 second contest of strength, balance, endurance and effort between the world’s best bull riders and the world’s best bucking bulls.

A rider must ride for 8 seconds with one hand in the bull rope and one in the air in order to earn a score.

The clock starts when the bull’s shoulder or hip breaks the plane of the gate. It stops when the riders hand comes out of his rope – voluntarily or not. The clock also stops if the Rider touches himself, the bull or the ground with his free arm during the 8 second ride.

If the rider makes the 8 second buzzer, he receives a score. If he does not make the 8 second buzzer then he receives no score for that attempt.

Each ride is worth up to 100 total points: 50 points awarded to the bull and 50 points awarded to the rider if he successfully rides the bull for 8 seconds.

The bulls are competing for points and standings as well and every bull receives a score of 0 to 50 points after every ride or attempted ride whether the rider successfully made the 8 second buzzer or not.

JUDGING At the conclusion of each 8 second ride or attempt, PBR judges award scores to both the bulls and the riders.

A bull is judged on his athleticism and difficulty to ride. This takes into account spin (right or left), direction changes (movement forward and backward or side to side), kick in the back end, drop in the front and body rolls. A body roll occurs when a bull is in the air and kicks either his hind feet or all four feet to the side. The more of these characteristics a bull displays during a ride, the higher the degree of difficulty.

A rider is judged on how in control he is during the ride. This takes into account how well he matches and counters the bull’s moves, how centered he is and how fluid his movement is during the bull ride. Extra points may be awarded for style, such as spurring (the rider lifts his leg away from the bull and returns it) which demonstrates complete control.

The combined bull score and rider score for each successful ride is the official ride score.

If the bull’s performance is sub-par or if the bull fouls the rider during the ride (the rider is rubbed against the chute or an object, the bull stumbles, the flank strap detaches, etc.) then the judges may award a re-ride which affords the rider another attempt.

JB Mauney attempts to ride Jenkins Cattle Co.'s Naughty List during the Iron Cowboy Built Ford Tough series PBR. Photo by Andy Watson

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ROUNDS & EVENTS The scores earned by riders for each successful ride determine their placement within the round of competition, the event and ultimately the PBR world standings.

The ride scores determine a rider's place in each round. At the conclusion of each round, points are awarded in accordance with the charts below. which count toward both the event they are competing in and the world standings.

There are multiple series in each of the five countries where PBR currently operates and/or sanctions events. The format of each event varies, but all points earned at any PBR event are counted toward the PBR world standings in accordance with the charts below.

Events consist of one or more rounds of competition with various formats.

In multi-round events, the successful ride scores from all rounds are aggregated to determine a riders standing at that event. The average (or aggregate) score earned during an event determines a riders place in the event standings. At the conclusion of each event, points are awarded to each place in accordance with the charts below which count toward both the event and the PBR world Standings.

The rider with the most PBR world standings points at the conclusion of any event is the event winner.

JB Mauney rides K-C Bucking Bulls's Mr. Big Stuff for 85.25 during the first round of the Jacksonville Built Ford Tough series PBR. Photo by Andy Watson

PBR BUILT FORD TOUGH SERIES All PBR events around the world lead to the Built Ford Tough Series where the Top 35 bull riders in the world compete week in and week out for the most money and points available.

Built Ford Tough Series events consist primarily of two- and three-day events with one regular round of competition on each day during which all 35 bull riders attempt at least one bull.

Built Ford Tough Series events conclude on the final day of competition with a Built Ford Tough Championship Round, in addition to a regular round, in which the Top 15 riders based on aggregate score from all rounds attempt one additional bull. Points and money are higher in each championship round.

PBR Majors offer unique formats such as Last Cowboy Standing, Iron Cowboy and knockout formats unique to each of those events.

PBR BUILT FORD TOUGH WORLD FINALS All roads lead to the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals, where the Top 40 bull riders in the world standings compete in six rounds of competition over five days to determine the winner of both the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals and the season long PBR World Champion.

The most points and dollars available in PBR competition are available at the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals. Winning the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals is considered to be the second-most difficult and prestigious accomplishment in the PBR next to winning the title of PBR World Champion.

All points earned throughout the season, in every country and at every level of competition (in accordance with the charts below), count toward the world standings. The PBR World Champion is the rider who has accumulated the most PBR world standings points throughout the course of the season.

The Top 35 bull riders in the world standigns at the conclusion of the Built Ford Tough Series regular season will qualify for the Built Ford Tough World Finals. In addition to the 35 riders, five additional riders will include the top-ranked riders from the Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour Finals.

PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group • 15

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16 • PBR 2017 • Billings Area News Group

Mauney is still trying to figure out Air Time By: Justin Felisko Two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney still remains a fiery competitor despite 12 years of success on the PBR’s prestigious Built Ford Tough Series.

He also really hates being embarrassed in the arena when he nods his head and doesn’t get a favorable end result.

Therefore, Jared Allen’s Air Time better watch himself the next time Mauney and him find each other in a dark alley way, or better yet a bull riding arena.

“His day is coming,” Mauney replied as he tried to comprehend his fourth defeat to the white-spotted bull of Matt Scharping and Jared Allen.

Air Time ripped Mauney over the front end with two strong jumps out of the bucking chute, disposing of the Mooresville, North Carolina, cowboy in a brief 2.17 seconds.

It was the duo’s first meeting since Mauney was awarded a re-ride during the 2016 Built Ford Tough World Finals after Mauney, who was still in contention for the World Championship at the time, selected Air Time with the first pick of the Round 5 draft.

In North Little Rock, Mauney had no chance against Air Time once the bucking chute gate whipped open.

“I made a mistake and let him raise me up right out of there,” Mauney admitted. “I raised up and he is too strong to be getting lifted up on. When he hit the ground, he whooped me straight into my hand right past his head.

“I hit like a pile of shit.”

Mauney has lasted an average of 3.47 seconds in four attempts against Air Time.

Air Time has 27 consecutive Built Ford Tough Series buckoffs and 28 overall.

Saturday night was the first time Air Time bucked out of a right-handed delivery, which Mauney said he liked better despite his fastest buckoff against the soon-to-be, 8-year-old.

Scharping is embracing the Mauney-Air Time rivalry.

“I hope he keeps picking him,” Scharping said. “He will ride him. I thought tonight was the night he would ride him because this was the first time out of the right. That bull left so hard.

He kicked up over the top of the chutes.

“With this bull of the year race, maybe we should just have a challenge of the champions.”

Speaking out of frustration with his bull being marked only 43.25 points, Scharping was referencing the epic series between Lane Frost and Red Rock in 1987.

“I thought the bull really bucked,” Scharping said. “He got out clean and did everything I wanted him to do. I think the judges should get on him. I asked J.B., ‘Everyone thinks he lost a step.’ He said, ‘They need to get on the bull.’

“The bull is fine. He was going to go to the left there, but he had J.B. rocked over. What is he going to do? The bull is to smart. He is not going to buck underneath the guy to get him in place.”

CBS Sports Network commentator and stock contractor J.W. Hart said during the telecast, which airs Sunday night at 5 p.m. ET, that the quick buckoff was a hindrance to Air Time.

“They could just well-marked him a 45 because you only saw one jump and he was bucking hard,” Hart explained. “You don’t know if he is going to spin, though. The judges are going to mark him for what they get to see of him. At this point, he is still going straight.

He came out clean and he got away from the chutes, but J.B. didn’t ride him long enough to see if he was going to come around and get into the spin.”

Once again, the unknown that is Air Time was out in full force inside Verizon Arena and questions will remain.

Air Time is 3-0 this season and is averaging 43.67 points per out.

“If he is going to buck guys off that quickly, honestly the judges won’t like him,” Scharping said. “His power is there. The bull flat out bucks.

If he is a bull that always fell out and did the same thing over and over again, we wouldn’t be

JB Mauney attempts to ride Jared Allen’s Pro Bull Team’s Air Time during the championship round of the Little Rock Built Ford Tough series PBR. Photo by Andy Watson

talking. Then he isn’t a rank bull.

“He is a rank bull.”

Scharping said he plans on keeping Air Time on the right side for the time being.

Air Time is next tentatively scheduled to compete in two weeks in Glendale, Arizona.

And, who knows, maybe Mauney will go about looking for revenge at the AK-Chin Invitational.

“I don’t like getting beat,” Mauney concluded.

“No matter what it is. Whether I didn’t try really good. I always said I will figure him out eventually. I did Bushwacker, so I guess it is time for him.”

JB Mauney attempts to ride Jared Allen’s Pro Bull Team’s Air Time during the championship round of the Little Rock Built Ford Tough series PBR. Photo by Andy Watson

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