Humps N Horns Bull Riding Magazine - Feb 2023

Celebrating 25 years of Humps N Horns! The March 2001 cover featured a young bull rider named Luke Snyder who became a fan favorite throughout the course of his career in the PBR.

Humps N Horns February 2023

On The Cover - Jose Vitor Leme rides Cliffhanger (Cord McCoy) for 92 points in the Championship Round of the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden in New York City. Leme rode three out of four bulls and was crowned the event champion. Photo provided courtesy of Jon Tenca / Puck Stopper Photography.

ADMINISTRATIVE Stacie Blake Publisher/Owner stacie@humps-horns.com

Terry Blake Editor in Chief/Owner terry@humps-horns.com

ADVERTISING ads@humps-horns.com

CIRCULATION circulation@humps-horns.com

FEATURE STORY WRITER Barbara Pinnella barbara@humps-horns.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Andy Gregory Director of Photography andy@humps-horns.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Georgia Akers Andy Gregory

Justin Felisko Phillip Kitts

Barbara Pinnella Kelly B. Robbins

Keno Shrum Andy Watson

Humps N’ Horns® Bull Riding Magazine reserves the right to alter, edit or reject all advertisement or editorial for it’s content, clarity, and/or length. Viewpoints expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Humps N’ Horns® Bull Riding Magazine. No material may be reprinted or reproduced without first obtaining permission from the publisher and/or editor in chief. All advertisement, editorials, letters, and press releases are accepted with the understanding that the representative, advertiser, and/or advertising agency are authorized to publish the entire contents of submitted material. Not responsible for errors or omissions in any advertisement. Humps N’ Horns® Bull Riding Magazine will not assume responsibility for any late publication due to the printer, the USPS, or an act of God. Under no circumstances will Humps N’ Horns® Bull Riding Magazine be held liable for acts of privacy, plagiarism, copyright, or trademark infringements. Material submitted for publication becomes the property of Humps N’ Horns® Bull Riding Magazine and will not be returned unless prior arrangements are made. USPS #022-617 Periodicals Postage Paid at Fort Worth, TX and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Humps N’ Horns® Bull Riding Magazine, PO Box 34172, Fort Worth, TX 76162. ISSN1554-0162. Publication Number 022-617. ©All rights reserved. Humps N’ Horns® Bull Riding Magazine 2015

I hope that this issue of Humps N Horns finds all going well for you and yours.

This month we have an opportunity to learn a little more about the bucking bull R62 Smokestack. Smokestack was owned by the Beutler & Sons Rodeo Co. and made quite a splash in 2022 as he was named the 2022 PRCA Bull of the Year and also earned the distinction of being named the Top Bull of the Finals at the 2022 National Finals Rodeo.

Since then, Smokestack has found a new home with Blake Sharp Bucking Bulls and has been making the rounds in the PBR Unleash the Beast Tour events. Smokestack matched up with Kaique Pacheco for 90.5 points in Duluth, GA. In January.

We also get to meet some young bull riders working their way up through the ranks and competed at the Yeti Junior World Finals in Las Vegas, NV. This article is written by a high school

student, Katlin Truelson, who is a member of the CAC Media Group.

The CAC Media Group is a student media organization which strives to give high school students an opportunity to learn more about media and journalism, especially as it relates to agriculture. We are always happy to share the work that others are doing to teach and inspire the next generation.

We hope you enjoy!

Until next time,

Terry

Talking “Bull” with Brayden

Hi my name is Brayden Hollywood Brown and I’m a junior bull rider. Today I’m going to be recapping my latest event in bull riding, where I rode and announced. Caeden’s birthday bash was definitely one for the books. So let’s get into it.

Because I was announcing they let me ride first. Unfortunately, I bucked off. I still had a job to do so I refocused and got to work. As a matter of fact, everyone in the junior bulls bucked off their first bull.

We moved on to the senior bulls. Kicking things off Braden Cayce rode Bulldog for 78 points. Bulldog came out two jumps, made one round to the left, then turned back to the right. Finally he jumped out of the spin and jump kicked down the pen. Braden kept his feet down and hustled the whole ride for second in the round.

Gavan Hauck took the win on Slingshot with a 81.50 point bull ride. Slingshot came out one jump came around into Gavan’s hand. Slingshot was flat and didn’t have that much kick but it didn’t matter to Gavan. Gavan sat up and made it look perfect.

In the open bulls Gavan Hauck rode Dippin Dots for 79 points. Gavan entered in both age groups and it sure did pay off. Dippin Dots came out three jumps before turning back into Gavan’s hand. Almost immediately Gavan opened up and started spurring a mud hole in Dippin Dots. Right from the get go you could tell that Gavan was gonna dominate this bull and he didn’t disappoint.

Hagen Braswell rode Frosty for 82 points and the “W”. Frosty didn’t have his best trip with Hagen; he stayed really close to the bucking chutes which made him a bit boxy. Hagen kept his feet down and let the bull pack him around there. Although it was a day off for Hagen, a buckle and some cash is always nice.

After open bulls the junior bull riders got our second chance. I was the first one up and I rode Meatball for 69 points. Meatball didn’t have his normal trip and he kinda just scattered around the arena. I tracked him back and forth and all around the arena. I ended up being the only person to stay on in junior bulls, so I took home the buckle and the money. I had an outstanding time at my first rodeo back. It’s always a great feeling to start off the new year with a win.

Unfortunately, the next day at another event I sustained an injury that will keep me out for a little while. While I heal up physically I will stay focused mentally.

Thank you for reading. Find out more about me on social media at braydenhollywoodbrown.

Thank you,

Brayden Hollywood Brown

Failure has its Place but Success Breeds Success

Hey, we’ve all put kids on ones and said to ourselves later “I wish I hadn’t” but we must learn from it and treat them like precious possessions, given to us to take care of. A kid has no true understanding of the danger involved with bull riding. We are responsible for what they get on.

Donnie Gay tells about how Neil would make him turn out if he thought the bulls were too big for him and Donnie hated it at the time but is thankful that his dad knew when and when not to let him on. The same story is the one of Cody Teel, his dad Robbie did the same for him. Cody thanked his dad the other day for protecting him when he was young even though it made him so mad to have to turn out while his friends were getting on bulls that outmatched them. I wouldn’t let my son Brett go to state his 6th grade or his freshman year because I knew he was in no way ready for the stock that would be there. He was mad but I think he understands it better now.

This whole issue of kids being over matched and mucked out is the most important thing to the bull riding industry. Too many involved that don’t understand (or won’t) or guys that just care more about bulls than kids. I have a bunch of people who don’t like me but I’ll keep putting the word out there about the things that are the best for the kids.

Parents and the leaders of these youth organizations need to get some good educated information as to how to best help the kids become great and still have their health as they get a bit older. Most people are just going with the flow and are pushing the kids too fast to be bull riders rather than letting them enjoy it and experience success all the way through.

Dominating at every level is the best for any athlete. Ask any NFL, NBA, NBL player how it is best done in preparing for a successful career in the pros. Everyone of them is going to have the same moral to the story “Success breeds Success” and “Being overmatched causes harm”. No matter what anyone else says, a kid is only so good and needs to go through important steps in order to get to the next level of competition. If they fail more than they succeed then they will settle for mediocre. I believe this is the norm in bull riding now. I’m certainly not knocking the riders but am calling out the ones who should be directing them the right way.

Parents, youth rodeo Leaders, bull breeders, former bull riders who train and professional rodeo/bull riding organizations are at fault for not setting standards for training the youth in our awesome sport. I have three fingers pointing back at me

as I point my finger at all the above. I am involved in each of the problem areas that I mentioned. Being quiet about it and thinking it’ll fix itself is stupid. We have to get extreme about how we go about raising up the future bull riders here in America. We are losing ground here while others are gaining ground as they see a future for their youth in the sport.

The next issue is getting the youth to buy into the (going through the process) mentality. The competition level of bull riding in the lower tiers is so weak that guys are making money by merely staying on. So many good bulls out there that most events don’t payout $ to every hole possible. A guy can get on a runner and collect a check, this puts the idea in his head that he is a bull rider that is making a living riding bulls so he enters events at the next level without dominating at that level, then gets lucky and stays on at one of those and thinks that is where he belongs. (Probably Not).

He is left with a task ahead of him that he is not ready to conquer because he never dominated at each level. Youth and try will go a long way but it is not the fullness of what it takes to have a solid career. A solid career is developed through hard work and a lot of success mixed with some failure. Experiencing failure more than success is not the best thing for a solid career. Parents have to buy into the (going through the process) mentality and show their kids that it’s the way to go also.

We’ve all seen a young guy make his debut on the scene and have some early success but begin to struggle and all of a sudden they disappear from the bull riding world. Some eventually make it to the top but few are ever even heard of again because they never experienced enough success along the way to make up for the failure at the level they have always dreamed of. Failure is a part of the process but if that is all they experience then it becomes the norm, not just a small piece of the big picture. Constant failure does crazy things to their minds and many go to the amateur level (which many skipped as a part of the process) and have little success there because they have been trained to fail at every level. Once a great light and future in the bull riding industry they become a disgrace to the talent they had and in most cases their whole life follows that same path.

This is not all I have to say on this subject but all I have time to write today. Have a good day.

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Eduardo Aparecido teams up with Tulsa Time (Cord McCoy) for 90.5 points in the championship round at the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden in New York City. Photo provided courtesy of Jon Tenca / Puck Stopper Photography.

Bob Mitchell rides White Dust (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) for 85 points on his way to a third place finish at the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden in New York City.

Photo provided courtesy of Jon Tenca / Puck Stopper Photography.

Jose Vitor Leme rides Cliffhanger (Cord McCoy) for 92 points in the championship round at the PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden in New York City. Leme rode three out of four bulls and was crowned the event champion. Photo provided courtesy of Jon Tenca / Puck Stopper Photography.

Lucas Teodora goes to work during the PBR Unleash the Beast Tour stop in St. Louis.

Photo provided courtesy of Andy Watson / BullStock Media.

PBR Unleash the Beast Tour - St. Louis, MO.

Photo provided courtesy of Andy Watson / BullStock Media.

Inspiration Point

have to wait for an inevitable fall. God loved Nebuchadnezzar enough to send a warning through Daniel. And God loves each of us enough to show us a better way through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

When God brings pride to our attention, it’s not to shame us but to save us. How much heartache could we miss if we were to listen and repent?

Pride Comes Before the Fall

Pride goes before destruction,and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

None of us like to be told we’re wrong. We like it even less when the other person turns out to be right.

Remember, the business deal everyone said was too good to be true? Or the relationship everyone warned you about that ended badly? Or that time in high school when the urge to “live a little” turned into a misdemeanor — just like they said it could.

Refusing advice is a form of pride. It’s the haughty spirit Proverbs 16:18 says leads to destruction. And, it’s the pride that led to Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall in Daniel 4.

Daniel pleaded with Nebuchadnezzar to change his ways, saying, “King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper” (Daniel 4:27, NLT).

Twelve months later, Nebuchadnezzar still hadn’t changed, and everything God revealed came to pass (Daniel 4:28-30). It’s easy to read Nebuchadnezzar’s story and assume it could never happen to us. But no one is immune to pride.

We don’t have to be rulers to build kingdoms. We do it every day in big and small ways. We build companies, playgroups, online communities, and Snap streaks. Then, like Nebuchadnezzar, we stand back and admire our accomplishment, saying “Look at me! What a great thing I’ve done!”

The truth is nothing we have and nothing we build is ours, but for the grace of God. When we work hard, when we build communities, the goal is not to draw attention to us but to Him.

It took hitting rock bottom for Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge that God alone deserves our praise (Daniel 4:34-35). But we don’t

Kitoria’s Red Velvet Cake

INGREDIENTS (Cake Batter)

• 1 Cup vegetable oil

• 2 Cups white sugar

• 3 Eggs

• 2 Ounces red food coloring (gel)

• 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder

• 2 ½ Cups flour

• 1 Teaspoon salt

• 1 Cup buttermilk

• 1 Tablespoon white vinegar

• 1 Teaspoon baking soda

• 1 Teaspoon vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Oil, sugar, eggs, buttermilk, food color, vinegar, and vanilla in the bowl and mix until combined with a paddle attachment.

2. Take all the dry ingredients and place them in a small bowl mix by hand and add to wet ingredients slowly and mix well.

3. Pour into 2 greased 9” inch cake pans or 24 cupcake pans with cupcake liners bake @ 350 degrees for 2535 minutes.

INGREDIENTS (Cream Cheese Icing)

• 1 Pound of butter

• 8 Cups powdered sugar

• 3 Pounds cream cheese

• 2 Tablespoons lemon zest

• ¼ Cup condensed milk

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cream butter and sugar together until soft and smooth.

2. Add lemon zest and condensed milk scraping the sides.

3. Add cream cheese cut into big cubes add in all at once and mix until no lumps. DO NOT OVER-MIX.

Submitted by Kitoria F.- Fort Worth, TX

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By Katlin Truelsen CAC Media Group

Junior World Finals Bull Riders Talk Goals and Mindset

Rough stock week of the 2022 Junior World Finals wrapped up in Las Vegas with Championship Monday, where the next group of World Champion Bull Riders was crowned. Riders making it to the short go battled through three rounds of tough competition, with may posting scores in the upper seventies and even the eighties.

Several of the riders competing in Vegas have been here before, but maybe none as many times as 15-year-old-up-and-comer Trigger Ladd. This year marked Ladd’s 12th trip to Las Vegas.

He has qualified for the Junior World Finals seven times, riding both bulls and bareback his first year along with being a fivetime qualifier and 2021 Senior World Champion in the PBR Miniature Bull Riders Series.

Ladd started out mutton busting when he was just three years old and worked his way up to bareback. A few years later he climbed on his first bull and never looked back. A varsity catcher for his baseball team, Ladd balances public-school and sports with a hectic travel schedule, rodeoing as many

weekends as he can.

Learning to find balance is just one of the lessons bull riding has taught him. He has also learned how to find his own sort of calm before each ride. Ladd says his routine before he rides is pivotal to his success. Having a clear head and limiting distractions allows him to lock in on what it felt like the last time he had a great ride. Using this visualization technique propelled him to a top five finish this year at the Junior World Finals.

“Bull riding has taught me not to take anything for granted,” Ladd said. “It can all be taken away from you in an instant. I am grateful for the chances I have had in this sport.”

Trigger Ladd

Ladd continues to take hold of any opportunities that come his way, practicing every day, and getting on new bulls whenever he can.

“It all comes down to practice and the work you want to put in. You will never make it to the top if you are not willing to do the work. Consistency is key. You have to work even on the days when you do not feel 100%.”

Working hard is something Ladd takes seriously because he has seen a huge amount of growth in his riding. Others see it too including American Hats, Rock & Roll Denim, and Priefert, sponsors who help support Ladd by providing him with new gear.

“I have gotten to meet a lot of professionals through my sponsorships, which is an amazing opportunity.”

Having these people in his corner gives Ladd the chance to chase his future goals, including someday winning Rookie of the Year.

“The lessons I have learned from riding are too many to count but the one that I think I have learned the best is to stay humble and stay true to yourself.”

Staying true to himself has allowed Ladd to find success and has given him the chance to do what he does best, to get on good bulls and ride his heart out.

Ladd is not the only young rider making a name for himself in the sport of bull riding. For Ryder Carpenetti, his journey into the world of bull riding was not supposed to turn into a career. He and his father saw a sign for riders, and his father said, “We are going to put you on a sheep one time.”

His father had ridden bulls before but did not expect his son to

latch onto it as quickly as he did.

They thought it would be a one-time thing, but “I just kept going back,” Carpenetti said. “I fell in love with everything about riding.”

16-year-old Carpenetti lives in Moody, Alabama and attends public school, where he also wrestles, and plays football. Bull riding, however, is his top priority. The adrenaline rush he gets is better than any game on the football field. “It just feels good, and I want to keep coming back,” he said.

Carpenetti loves the feeling of riding, but when it comes to the actual ride, he works to block out the distractions around him. He tries to think of every ride, even one as big as the Junior World Finals, as just another ride in the practice pen. This mindset allows him to settle into the chute and concentrate on getting the job done.

Being in the practice pen is where Carpenetti feels at home.

“There has never been a point where I have wanted to quit,” he said. “You have to learn to love practice if you want to be good at bull riding. It comes down to the process. You have to have the process right to see winning results.”

Even though he did not win a buckle this year in Las Vegas, he remains focused on making himself better. Back at home

Trigger Ladd

Ryder Carpenetti

he continues to get on bulls every weekend, riding in another rodeo just days after flying home. He also works out both in and out of his high school sports seasons to build his strength and improve balance.

Along with working out, he watches professional riders in the arena to see what they are doing and he also likes to watch his previous rides, breaking them down with his coaches when he is having a slump. A lot of the time the problem may be missing the front end, causing him to buck off before the buzzer. Seeing what he is doing wrong allows him to visualize his position on

the bull when he is riding, keeping him centered.

Like every bull rider starting out, he has big dreams, “I want to win more money than JB Mauney, and be a world champion,” he says with a grin.

Before he can achieve that, he must continue to improve his skills while anxiously waiting for his 18th birthday, and his PRCA permit. At that point, he plans to make the decision about chasing his dreams in the pros or going to college and rodeoing on a team. Whichever path he chooses, Carpenetti knows that bull riding belongs in his future.

A story about the Junior World Finals would not be complete without talking to the newly crowned world champion, which happens to 16-year-old Hudson Bolton of Milan, Tennessee. Bolton found himself wrapping up an excellent year with a new saddle, new buckle, and the world championship title.

He has been riding for the past five years at the Junior World Finals, but this year is the first year he won the short go. Just last year, he fell short of the championship coming in second by half a point. Second place was not where Bolton wanted to be, and he worked all year long to make sure he came out on top.

This work started a few short weeks after the 2021 finals, when he traveled to Texas to train with riding coach Gary Leffew. Leffew is himself a world champion bull rider, qualifying for the NFR eight times in his career. Now he helps the next generation of riders like Bolton focus on the

Ryder Carpenetti

Hudson Bolton

fundamentals and doing everything right on the bull you draw.

“Working with Gary was a great experience,” Bolton said. “I learned a lot and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with someone of his expertise.”

He knows that in order to maximize what he learned, he needs to do the basics right, which includes maintaining a healthy diet and a regular workout schedule. Ahead of a ride, Bolton likes to stretch, listen to music, and most importantly say a few prayers, before climbing over the gate.

“Praying puts you in the right frame of mind,” he said. “It is the most important part of my pre-ride routine.”

Sure, he gets a little nervous, but like many other riders, Bolton is drawn to the sport because of the rush of adrenaline he gets before he rides. “It’s like jumping off a cliff; you just have to do it. When you’re scared that’s the perfect time to jump.”

This need to “do bull riding” has shaped the person Bolton says he is today.

“I think I will always ride if I am able to do so. There isn’t anything else I want to do. Being a bull rider is who I am, now and in my future.”

That future is something Bolton thinks a lot about.

“I reached a big goal this year but there is still more to do. I also rope and I want to be known for my skills at both riding bulls and roping. I want to be the best at both.”

In a few short years, he will be leaving behind the junior circuit and focusing his energies on making it into the NFR.

“I want to know what it is like to win at that level,” he said. “Winning here is amazing, but to win on that stage would be incredible.”

For more information about the Yeti Junior World Finals, you can follow them on Facebook or check out the website nfrexperience.com/juniorworldfinals. Be sure to check in next month as we feature one young rider in our new column Rider Rundown.

The CAC Media Group is a high school student agricultural media team led by Jenna Stevens who strives to give students experience and opportunities to learn more about agicultural communications. To learn more about their group, please visit their website at www.currentagconcerns.com

Katlin Truelson is a member of the CAC Media Group who lives on her family farm and enjoys showing cattle.

Photos provided courtesy of CAC Media Group.

r62 - smoke stack

By Kelly B. Robbins

R62 Smokestack is digging in the dirt at a new home these days. This six-year-old bovine phenom was selected as the 2022 PRCA Bull of the Year by the top twenty bull riders of the PRCA. At the time of the NFR, Smokestack was owned by Beutler and Son Rodeo Company. A ranch of about 10,000 acres was his home in Elk City, Oklahoma. He was also named the PRCA Bull of the Finals after the 2022 NFR in Las Vegas.

But today, Smokestack is munching his hay on a 500-acre ranch in Columbus, Mississippi. When he won the Bull of the Year title, Smokestack was owned by Rhett Beutler, fourth generation owner of Beutler and Son Rodeo Company. Shortly after the NFR was completed, Blake Sharp of Blake Sharp Bucking Bulls purchased Smokestack and is ready to introduce

him to the PBR! Blake co-owns Smokestack with Chris Utz and Garrett Carey.

I talked with Rhett about Smokestack, and I asked why he sold him. “Well, it was a tough decision,” Rhett revealed. “But Blake was very persistent. I knew that Smokestack was the runnerup PRCA Bull of the Year last year. And this year he won over Cord McCoy’s Ridin’ Solo, who is the reigning PBR Champion bull. I knew that Blake bucks his bulls in the PBR, and I wanted to see how good Smokestack really is. It will also give me good advertisement for my breeding program.”

I asked Blake why he purchased Smokestack. “He is one of the top-ranked bulls on Probullstat.com,” Blake said. “He just won

the PRCA Bull of the Year and was the runner-up Bull of the Year last year. He’s six years old and has a good chance to win the PBR World Bull Championship!”

Rhett explained that Smokestack was an embryo calf, and has a pedigree of three former world champion bucking bulls. Voodoo Child and Cowtown, both owned by Beutler and Son, and Flying Train from D&H Cattle Company. “I’ve been doing this for over 20 years,” Rhett disclosed. “You just start mixing the pedigrees and hope you get a winner. A lot of the bulls aren’t that good. But I got the right combination with Smokestack. I’m excited to get the first set of calves from him this spring.”

Smokestack won out as Bull of the Year over Wild Onion, owned by Andrews Rodeo, and Gladiator’s Hammer, owned by Frontier Rodeo. “Smokestack is a one-of a-kind bull,” Rhett said.

“You can walk up to him and pet him or scratch him like he is a pet dog.”

“It wasn’t always that way,” Rhett continued as he laughed. “When he was younger, he would just run at you and try to run over you or hook you. Then one day he ran at me and stopped right in front of me. He wanted to be scratched. I gotta say it took a whole lot of courage just to stand there and watch that bull running at me! Now you can just go into the pen, and he let’s you pet him or scratch him.”

Smokestack hails from a pretty prestigious operation. Beutler & Son was started in Elk City, Oklahoma in 1929. Rhett is the fourth generation to operate the business. He has been joined by his son, Jake, who is the fifth generation. They provide bucking bulls and bucking horses for the PRCA and provide

stock for 25 to 28 PRCA events a year.

According to Probullstats.com, Smokestack has been ridden only twice in 30 outs. He has a 93.33% buck-off percentage. His average ride score is 91, and he had nine outs that scored a 45 or higher bull score in 2022. The top score was 48 against Clayton Savage in Greely, Colorado in June. Smokestack bucked him off in 2.23 seconds.

Blake Sharp provides a new home for Smokestack now in Columbus, Mississippi. Blake Sharp Bucking Bulls runs about 200 head on 500 acres. “We have a bunch of young bulls,” Blake shared.

Lukasey Morris rides R62 Smoke Stack (owned at the time by Beutler & Son Rodeo) in Round 1 of the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. PRCA ProRodeo photo.

“We have about 100 ready-to-go bulls. A lot of our bulls are owned with partners.”

Blake started buying bulls while he was still in college back in 2010. Blake was an offensive lineman for East Mississippi Community College. They won the NJCAA Division One College Football National Championship in 2011. “I grew up around bulls all my life,” Blake said. “My dad, Tony, was always raising bulls. After college I just started raising bulls full time.”

“Early on, I would haul just one bull at a time to events. Now I haul a whole semi load. I always strive for greatness. I haul and flank all my bulls myself. Smokestack is a great bull. He will make his PBR debut at the Unleash the Beast event in Duluth, Georgia. I have a couple other great bulls, too. Two of my favorites are Mike’s Motive and Utz Bestex Legend. They are all incredible bovine athletes and have great attitudes. They just seem to have different personalities than most bulls. At the end of the day, it seems that they understand the game. Because when I load them up and take them to an event, it’s like somebody flips a switch and they are ready to buck!”

I asked Blake what the future holds for Blake Sharp Bucking Bulls. He confidently answered, “My future is to become PBR Stock Contractor of the Year!”

Renamed Utz BesTex Smokestack, Blake’s new bovine athlete made his PBR debut at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia on January 22, 2023. There, at the PBR Gwinnett Chute Out, Smokestack was selected by Kaique Pacheco in the championship round. “The Ice Man” hung on for eight seconds and scored a 90.5-point ride and the event win! Quite a debut for this champion bull!

Celebrating

25 years of Humps N Horns! The August 2018 cover featured one of the unsung heroes of the PBR. James DeBord has been a fixture at PBR events and is always handy with a rope when it comes to protecting fallen bull riders and bull fighters.

T.J. Gray from Dairy, Oregon was a last-minute bull riding replacement in the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s ProRodeo Tournament. He took advantage of the opportunity and won round one of Bracket 6 with an 89.5-point ride aboard Rafter G Rodeo’s Hercules. FWSSR photo by James Phifer.

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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO - Tuff E Nuff, 6pm Wed., Apr-Nov., 970-846-6828/3354

ALDEN, IA - Circle C Rodeo, 6pm Wed., Rain or Shine, Call for alternate dates 641-373-3625

WOODBINE, IA - Tom & Kristina Kelley, every Sun. (weather permitting). Beginner - rank bulls. Call 712-5922493

KENDALLVILLE, IN - B Bar A Bucking Bulls, Heidi Speicher, 7pm Every Thur, Call First, 260-564-5864/Troy

JACKSONVILLE, IL - Lazy C Rodeo, 10am-3pm Sun., Rain or shine, Call First, 217-245-8280

Practice Pens

JACKSONVILLE, NC - Aleck Barnard, Elite Cowboy Rodeo Assoc., Onslow Rodeo Arena, 6pm Every Other Sunday, Call First, 910-381-8597

CHANDLER, OK - JAM Bulls, 2pm Sun., 7pm Wed., Call First, 405-570-9010

SOPER/HUGO, OK - RBL Rodeo Bulls, Anytime with 4-6 hour notice, Rain or Shine, 307-461-1741

EAGLEVILLE, TN - BF Cattle Company, 2pm Sun., Jackpot, Call First, 615-336-4313

EMORY, TX - Oakes & Greene’s, 7pm Wed., 903-348-8630

LORENA, TX - Rocking S Ranch, Tue., Jackpot, Call First, 254-716-0779

MANSFIELD, TX - JC Knapp Ranch, 4pm Sun/6pm Wed., $5 at the gate to ride as many as you want, 817-223-3692

SIMMS, TX - Wilburn Bucking Bulls, 7pm Every Other Thur., 903-543-3025

PETROLIA, TX - Norris Dalton, 7pm Wed., 940-733-3020

DECATUR, TX - Cullen Calame, Denton Creek Farms, Call First, 940-393-3730

NOCONA, TX - 4x Arena, Call First, 501-944-1907

NOCONA, TX - Locke Bucking Bulls, Call First, 940-872-0733

WILLS POINT, TX - Austin Arena Bulls, Barrels, & Poles. $10 per ride/run or $25 for all you can ride. Bulls for all ages. 214-7265799

Livestock Layovers

BATESVILLE, AR - James Bechdoldt, White River Rodeo, 870-307-9923

RAYMOND, IL - Randy Littrell, Shop Creek Cattle, 217-556-0551

Livestock Layovers

MARYSVILLE, KS - Gary Hershey, 4H Bucking Bulls and Marysville Sale Barn, Call First, 785-292-4952

LAKE CHARLES, LA - Keith Strickland, Deep South Rodeo Genetics, 337-304-1493

SALEM, MO - Hwy 32 & 72, Salem Livestock Auction, 573-729-8880

HELENA, MT - Jim Horne, Bull Horne Ranch, 406-459-5706

FERNLEY, NV - Nathan Pudsey, Circle P Bucking Bulls, 775-750-2168

CLAYTON, NM - Justin Keeth, Lazy J 3 Bucking Bulls, 575-447-0877

BETHESDA, OH - 15 Miles off I-70, TCB Ranch, 304-281-4530

SOPER/HUGO, OK - RBL Rodeo Bulls, Anytime with 4-6 hours notice, 307-461-1741

BOX ELDER, SD - Gus “Duane” Aus, Lazy Heart O Ranch, 605-923-3426

BUCHANAN, TN - Parsons & Milam 731-642-8346

CLARKSVILLE, TX - Brian Agnew, BA Livestock, 903-669-9189

DUBLIN, TX - Mike Godfrey, Godfrey 4X Cattle, 817-235-2852

MANSFIELD, TX - JC Knapp Ranch, JC Knapp Rodeo, 817-223-3692

MIDLAND, TX - Ted Norton, Norton Bucking Bulls, 432-413-8433

DECATUR, TX - Cullen Calame, Denton Creek Farms, 940-393-3730

SIMMS, TX - Near I-30 Texarkana, Wilburn Bucking Bulls, 863-381-2799

CHEYENNE, WY - Floyd & Ann Thomas, TTnT Ranch, 307-778-8806

CLASSIFIEDS

Livestock Layovers

Miscellaneous Schools

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Western Wanderings

a cowboy’s arbuckle

“Did you bring along the Arbuckle?”

A cowboy once asked ol’ Cookie. And everyone knew just what he meant That cowboy was talkin’ ‘bout coffee

A necessity for ranch or out on the trail

Arbuckle was the brand that was best When boiled in the pot and served up hot It was the “Coffee that Won the West”

Jabez Burn’s had invented a roaster

To evenly cook up them beans Arbuckle bought one in ‘64 Thus began his entrepreneur’s dream

For the Arbuckle brand became famous When Arbuckle roasted them beans And sold them roasted in one-pound bags They were no longer purchased green

Roasting green beans was a delicate chore

For your coffee to be a delight Your coffee would be almost unfit to drink If them beans were not roasted just right

So now you could buy coffee roasted And Arbuckle’s sales grew and grew Till there was hardly a cowboy in the old west That had not tasted Arbuckle’s brew!

By Kelly B. Robbins