Humps N Horns Bull Riding Magazine - Mar 2024

Marco Eguchi at the PBR Unleash the Beast Tour - Jacksonville, FL

Photo provided courtesy of G. Eddie Patten, Sr. / Higher Level Photography.

Humps N Horns March 2024

On the Cover - Preacher’s Kid (K-C Bucking Bulls / RD Cattle) dispatches Brock Radford at the 2020 PBR World Finals in Arlington, Texas.

Photo provided courtesy of BullStock Media.

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Letter from the Editor

Welcome to the March issue of Humps N Horns!

We trust that you will enjoy the features included this month. With the turn of the weather, as we head into Spring, hopefully you can use our Where’s the Beef section to find a bull riding event near you.

This part of the year is that small slice that is really enjoyable and reminiscent of Goldilocks from story about the three bears. It’s not too cold, not to hot, but just right.

Not only does the month of March bring changes in the weather, it also brings the semi-annual ritual, for all but a few of us, of turning the clocks for time change!

Until next time,

Terry

PBR Unleash the Beast Tour in Jacksonville, FL. Photo provided courtesy of BullStock Media.

PBR Unleash the Beast - Jacksonville, FL. Photo provided courtesy of BullStock Media.

Here He Goes Again!

I shared this 4 years ago and I still stand behind what I said.

I never won any huge National titles as a kid (because I wasn’t the best kid out there) although that was my goal, so those are important to each young guy chasing those goals. I did however later on win the one and only true World Championship available in 1992 (there weren’t 27 “or more” so called world champion bull riders in the world that year, only one) because the natural process made me into a great Bull Rider.

Parents please read this and take it for what it is. Your son is just a kid until he matures to manhood. Some do earlier but none at 12-16 years old and most not until he’s about 19-20. This is not a knock on your kid. This is a plea from a guy who’s seen many a young superstar finished before true superstardom was an option.

Does your Kid want to be a Bull Rider?

I love the fact that there are so many Jr Rodeos in our country. Youngsters in the timed events have a great opportunity to develop and mature into becoming great contestants because they are taken care of by parents and people who know how the process works. In the Bull Riding area Calf Riding and Steer Riding are great, and then come the Bulls. Most associations have age groups and the age for most to advance to bulls is 13-14.

An appropriate age to transition to a higher level but most are forced to advance to Jr bulls that are not authentic Jr bulls. All the bucking bull breeding programs have damaged the quality and quantity of young bull riders. If you have a young kid who wants to be a bull rider you had better be prepared to protect him against the born to buck programs out there. Breeders seek a place to buck their prospects and many will use your kid to train their bucking bulls. Don’t allow your kid to be a victim of this.

A Jr bull is not a baby bucking bull but an under developed bull that probably has no future as a bucking bull. Search out someone bucking Jr bulls whose focus is teaching the kids rather than just trying to raise great bucking bulls. There are some out there but you have to be the one to do your homework. Your kid is yours and if you have to drive a little bit further to get him on the right kind of bulls it’s worth the extra $.

I get criticized a lot for speaking out against how it is done in so many circles. I’ll take the criticism if it helps you help your kid develop into a great bull rider and not get wiped out in the process. Start naming the greats from the past and then ask each of them how they developed into great bull riders and I’ll guarantee you that if they are being honest with you they will tell you that they learned on easy bulls and that as kids they never faced this because there weren’t these type of programs happening.

Some kids develop earlier than others but all the greats spent a lot of time learning on bulls that had little if any chance to buck them off. It’s in your hands, so don’t trust your kids safety with just anyone putting them on just anything. Find out who they are and what they are into, building bull riders or building bucking bulls.

Here is a little side note

I moved up to riding Steers from Calves at the age of 9 by the time I was 13 1/2 I’d probably been on in the neighborhood of 2500 head of Corriente roping steers, with a very high riding percentage. The first bull I got on was three weeks before my 14th birthday and that bull was about a 13 point 900 pound jump kicker. That bull had zero chance of getting me on the ground.

Continued on Page 24

Ryder Carpenetti

By Katlin Truelsen CAC Media Group

One of the best parts about talking to bull riders is hearing the stories they tell about the friends they have made through the sport. Riding bulls creates friendships that transcend states and time. It doesn’t matter if they only see one another in person a couple of times a year, these friendships are built on collective experiences and the shared dream of making it someday. I had the chance to hear more about friendships forged in bull riding

have been contacting me.

KT: Can you tell me where you are looking?

RC: Right now, I have several that I am looking at. OSU has a rodeo team and so does Western Oklahoma. I have also been looking in Texas at Tarleton and Sam Houston and in Missouri in my latest interview with 17-year-old Ryder Carpenetti.

KT: Hey, Ryder, thanks for talking with me today. Can you tell my readers where it is you are from?

RC: Yes, ma’am, I am from Moody, Alabama.

KT: And are you in public school or do you home school?

RC: I just started homeschooling online this year. I like it so far. I missed a lot of school before, and this way I can just take it with me when I am on the road.

KT: That makes sense. Are you a junior or a senior?

RC: I am a junior.

KT: Do you want to go on to college after you graduate or will you try and make it pro right away?

RC: I am planning on going to college. I have colleges who are looking at me and I have gone on some visits. The coaches

at Three Rivers. I just have to decide if I want to go for two or four years.

KT: What do you want to go for?

RC: Probably ranch management or agricultural business. Definitely something in ag. My buddies and I will room together when we get there and all of us want to go into ag.

KT: So you and your friends plan to go to the same college?

RC: Yes, ma’am. We have toured them together and we will all go, so we can be on the same team. It is the guys that I travel with.

KT: Yeah, tell me about that.

RC: Well right now I am in Mississippi at one of their houses. We all go together, so we stay at whoever’s place is the closest and if no one is close, then we will get a hotel.

KT: And it is just you and the guys.

RC: Yes, ma’am, we all ride together and

help share expenses.

KT: How do you cover the costs of traveling all the time?

RC: Well, you have to win. If you don’t win, you don’t have enough to go to the next rodeo.

KT: What if you don’t win, what do you do?

RC: Hopefully someone wins and then we cover for each other until the next time.

KT: That sounds stressful.

RC: It’s alright most of the time. We help each other out and cheer one another on. Everyone I travel with wants the best for

each other, so we pick one another up when they are down. My friends that I have met through rodeo have become family and we can always find a way to have a good time and share some laughs.

KT: How do you pick which rodeos you want to go to?

RC: Whatever is paying the most for the weekend. We spend a lot of time on the road going from place to place.

KT: How many different states have you visited?

RC: I think about 40.

KT: That is impressive! Where is your favorite place to ride?

RC: Probably Las Vegas. I have been out there a lot.

KT: What is a lot?

RC: I have qualified out there 12 times. Some years I qualified twice when I was still riding MBR (Miniature Bull Riders association) but I aged out of that. It is a great experience out there and it really helps you mentally prepare for the bigger rodeos when you get old enough.

KT: What are some of the things you like to do in Vegas at night when you are done riding?

RC: Most of the time the guys and I will go to the watch parties. Sometimes we will go do stuff on the strip like going to the Stratosphere. We like to go to the NFR and watch too when we can. This year will be my last year out there.

KT: Why will this December be your last one out there?

RC: Because I turn 18 in September, then I will get my pro card. I won’t have enough rodeos left in the year to qualify for the NFR or the circuit finals.

KT: What other goals do you have for yourself this year then since it is your last time in junior rodeo?

RC: Since it is my last year to do high school rodeo, I want to do as well as I can at Nationals and then hit bigger rodeos with better bulls for the year.

KT: Okay, Ryder, time for some fun questions, so readers can get to know you a little better outside of the arena.

RC: Alright, sounds good.

KT: First question, if you could pick any place to ride, where would it be?

RC: I think it would be cool to ride in Hawaii.

KT: Do they have a lot of rodeos in Hawaii?

RC: I’m not really sure but it sounds fun.

KT: Who is the one pro rider you wish you could have dinner with and why?

RC: I would like to have dinner with Ky Hamilton. I have met him a few times and he is really funny. I think he would be a lot of fun to have dinner with.

KT: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

RC: Cookies and cream.

KT: What is your favorite sport to watch outside of bull riding?

RC: Football because when I was in school, I used to play.

KT: What is your favorite quote and what does it mean to you personally?

RC: My favorite quote is actually a Bible verse, Psalms 27:1. “The Lord is my strength and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” For me, this means that the Lord always has me in his hands, so I have nothing to fear.

KT: That is a great verse to think about with what you guys do every day. Thanks for sharing it and for taking the time to chat with me, Ryder, and good luck getting your pro card this fall.

RC: Yes, ma’am, thank you for interviewing me.

KT: For more information about junior bull riding, you can check out the National High School Finals Rodeo page or the Yeti Junior World Finals on Facebook. Be sure to look for a new rider featured in our Rider Rundown next month.

Katlin Truelsen is a member of the CAC Media Group and specializes in digital and print media. She is currently a high school junior and lives with her family on a diversified grain and livestock farm in Eastern Iowa.

By Brady Renck

NFR PICKUP MAN JOSH EDWARDS CALLS IT A CAREER AFTER 25 YEARS

As far back as Josh Edwards can remember, his favorite thing about rodeo was calf roping. The skill required, the timing involved, it intoxicated him. He dreamed of making the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, dreamed of becoming a world champion. He earned his ProRodeo card.

Then, one day in 1999 his entire life changed. Edwards realized his favorite thing about rodeo was everything.

Competing at an event where his future wife Kristi worked, Edwards was asked to step in as a pickup man at the Mesquite (Texas) Rodeo. What the heck, why not try it he figured.

“When I started picking up it was like, ‘Wow, this is incredible!’ I loved it. I loved every aspect of it,” Edwards said. “I still got to rope. I was roping steers, bulls, and horses. Then I got to put it all together. I never turned back after that. That became my goal, to be the best I could be at it. I never missed not competing in calf roping because I was so fulfilled picking up.”

By nature, Edwards prefers bold over basic. He is an entrepreneur, managing everything from restaurants to car repair shops to rental properties. He is also a pilot and a former triathlete. He embraces challenges with a bear hug.

So, perhaps it should come as no surprise that Edwards turned his fill-in job into a remarkable career. The 45-year-old served in the role for 25 years, dropping the curtain on his career at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, which concluded Feb. 3. Pickup men serve as guardian angels in the arena. What played out over the last two decades plus still leaves Edwards shaking his head over his blessings.

He has worked two NFRs in 2014 and 2023 and captured 2023 PRCA Pickup Man of the Year honors.

“I sure would have signed up for this when I first started. But I would have never believed it,” Edwards said. “I went from aspiring to making a circuit finals to maybe the NFR. I wanted to retire at Fort Worth. I made that last NFR, and it was a great

storybook ending for me.”

Edwards reached the pinnacle of his profession through rolled up sleeves. He enjoyed every bit of his role from working with the animals to helping the competitors and contractors. A pickup man’s job is different from those behind the chutes. They work events from start to finish, forming lifelong relationships.

“Those friendships mean everything,” Edwards said.

Being a pickup man is not as easy as it sounds. They live in the margins; an insurance clause cowboys hope they never need. But their skill makes the adrenaline events safer as they can ease a competitor off a bucking horse to avoid injury or further damage to a body part.

It is not for the meek.

“I think you must love it. There are a lot of aspects that come into play: horsemanship, being able to read livestock and handle the rope and situational awareness in the arena. And you have to anticipate something going wrong,” Edwards said. “Experience matters. You can start to see things happening and move into position to help. But ultimately you have to have a passion for it.

For me, it didn’t matter if it was raining, snowing, muddy or 118 degrees. When I rode into that arena with chaps on and those horses started bucking, I loved it.”

His job evolved into greater joy as his sons, 16-year-old Blevin and 13-year-old Brinnon, became involved in the sport. They attended the NFR to watch their father in 2014 but were too little to remember it. The 2023 event was different.

“To get voted to the NFR and to be blessed to get voted pickup man of the year in my 25th year, I thought there was no better way to go out,” Edwards said. “Those are the only two awards we can get. And to have my family there as I got those accolades, I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

It made it easy to step away. But not from competing. Edwards remains busy. While he has left the arena, save for one event –he will pick up at The American Rodeo – he has not left rodeo. Edwards serves on the PRCA executive council, representing contract personnel, specialty acts, photographers, and labor.

“I will keep that position as long as they keep voting me in,” said Edwards, who grew up on a ranch in Waco, Texas.

Given his sprawling business interests over a roughly 150-mile swath, Edwards would be forgiven for channeling his energy into his 9-to-5 schedule. However, his thirst for competition has not left him. Once an athlete, always an athlete.

In between helping his sons follow their dreams – Blevin wants to become a commercial pilot and Brinnon aims for a rodeo career – Edwards is training for the Mongol Derby.

This is a race in name only. It is a mental and physical test of a competitor’s will, billing itself as the longest and toughest race in the world. It lasts for 10 days and covers 1,000 kilometers. Edwards, already in shape, is shrinking to get ready for the event that requires a $17,000 entry fee, which covers the use of 25 horses trained by 250 herders.

“I am having to really work out. I have to drop about 20 pounds to qualify for the race requirements. I am kind of small as it is, but I am going to get down to a jockey size,” Edwards said. “Back in 2020, I found out about it. I saw it as another way to test myself. And this is definitely that, from the horsemanship, navigation, and survival aspect. A good friend once told me that if you stop testing yourself, you get weak. I think about that all the time. That’s my personality, to push myself to the limits whether it’s in business or adventure.”

There is always a new challenge for Edwards. He grew up learning to work hard, to never have regrets. For 25 years, he was charged for picking up cowboys. In the end, it might have been the other way around.

“It was unbelievable experience for myself and my family to go the NFR. To have my boys there, they understand the effort, time, and sacrifice to get to that moment,” Edwards said. “It’s something I will never forget. It’s something I absolutely loved.”

Article provided courtesy of PRCA. PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer.

Inspiration Point

Our Heavenly Home

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

— John 14:1-4, NIV

There is a well-known phrase that says “home is where the heart is.” For Christians, our home is not in our hearts or even a physical earthly house. Our home is with Jesus Christ and the place he has prepared for us in heaven.

This home is better than anything we could possibly imagine on Earth, better than any luxury mansion or beach front house. We will be in God’s presence for eternity. This is the ultimate home like no other where we get to be with our Lord.

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” — 2 Corinthians 5:1, NIV

Depending on our situation, it may be hard to feel at home. Maybe we live in a stressful environment or with people who are tough to get along with. Perhaps, even finding a living situation is difficult. These factors are no cause for concern in heaven.

As Christians, we do not have to worry that there is no room for us or we are unwelcome. Christ died so that we would be forgiven and able to have a relationship with him both during our time on earth and our eternity with him in our heaven.

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” — Romans 8:9, NIV

It is comforting to know we have a heavenly home waiting for us; however, we also can be comforted while we are here on earth. We have the Holy Spirit who makes a home within us. As God’s people, we are called God’s temple because the Holy Spirit dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Due to this, we can be confident we are never alone. While we expectantly look forward to the day when we get to move into our heavenly home, we can remember that no matter where we are, we have the Holy Spirit. We have a home in heaven and eternal life promised to us as Christians. In the meantime we can embrace wherever we currently are on earth by following God’s Word and the calling of the Holy Spirit.

“For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” — Hebrews 13:14, NIV

Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken

• 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 2 cups chicken broth

• 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles

• 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon lime juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

2. Mix half of the cream cheese, chicken, 1 cup cheese, lime juice, and chili powder in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Fill tortillas with the mixture, roll, and place in the dish.

4. Melt butter, whisk in flour, then add broth, green chiles, and remaining cream cheese. Cook until thickened.

5. Pour sauce over enchiladas, top with remaining cheese, and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Submitted by M. Frye - Springdale, AR

527 Preacher’s Kid

By Kelly B. Robbins

There is an age-old understanding that the preacher’s kid was usually a wild and crazy troublemaker. He was the one, incorrigible kid your parents never wanted you hanging around. I have known a couple of preacher’s kids in my day, and they were exactly as described: wild, incorrigible, and a little crazy! Kenny McElroy, a stock contractor and the owner of K Bar C Bucking Bulls, and Rodney Mitchell, a stock contractor, owner of RD Cattle, and a preacher, are partners on several bucking bulls. Years ago, they were watching their young, unnamed bucking bull calf jump around in the pen, sharing stories of just how crazy and mean this young bucking bull acted. Rodney looked at Kenny and said, “That

bull is mean and just a little crazy. He acts like a preacher’s kid!” Kenny laughed and agreed. Right then and there it was decided that Preacher’s Kid would be his name.

Preacher’s Kid has been a top bull for several years. This nineyear old bovine is currently in 14th place in the PBR world bull standings, with an average score of 43.71. According to Probullstats.com, Preacher’s Kid has had 64 outs and has been ridden 6 times in his career. That’s a 90.63 % buck-off percentage. His average ride score is 89.38.

“Preacher’s Kid has an unbelievable amount of kick to him,’ Kenny shared. “He goes completely vertical. When he was two, we entered him in a few events. He bucked so hard and turned back so fast that I thought he was going to break his leg. We quit bucking him with a dummy and waited until he was three, then bucked him with riders.”

“His first three years he was mean as the dickens,” Rodney revealed. “But he’s calmed down now. He’s been a great bull for a long time. The riders don’t really like him because he doesn’t have a set bucking pattern and he’s usually not picked in the short round. I think he’s really smart. He can feel the movement and the direction of the riders, and he works off what he’s feeling, reacts to it, and bucks the rider off quickly. Because of that, I think he gets underscored a lot. After he has bucked off the rider, he usually takes a victory lap around the arena.”

“Preacher’s Kid is a bull that has all the heart, grit and intensity,” Kenny observed. “He’s been doing this so long and he’s so smart. He knows his job, and that is to throw you off! I thought this bull was possessed when he was young! He was mean, ornery, and a handful to handle. He went 100 miles an hour, and he would run you over without warning.”

“We are so proud of Preacher’s Kid,” Rodney said. “He has made six trips to the PBR Unleash the Beast Finals. His Derby year, he was the Finals Derby Champion, and his Classic year he finished in the top three. He earned over $82,000 in ABBI competitions. I am so thankful to the good Lord for giving us Preacher’s Kid. The whole thing has been a God thing!”

Preacher’s Kid was sired at Rodney’s RD Cattle in Phenix City, Alabama. His papa was 70S High Stakes and his mama was a

404 I’m A Gangster daughter. When he turned one-year-old, he was taken to Kenny’s ranch in Mount Orab, Ohio. There Kenny cared for, trained, and hauled Preacher’s Kid to ABBI events.

“I mostly have mama cows at my 40-acre place,” Rodney revealed. “I will bring good buckers from Kenny’s place and breed them with my cows. My wife, Angie, and I are picking up Mind Freak from Kenny this weekend. When these calves are born, I care for them until they are yearlings. Then I haul them up to Kenny’s and he takes it from there. We partner on everything. Kenny and Cristy are super, super partners. They take care of everything. They are like family to us.”

Kenny has a total of about 500 acres, and currently has 210 bulls. “I was raised up in rodeo,” Kenny disclosed. “My folks, Jim, and Sandy McElroy had Broken Horn Rodeo for 35 years. I rode bareback and saddle broncs growing up. But we always had a good set of bulls. My dream was to make it to the PBR one day. My wife, Cristy, and I decided to do our own thing in

Kenny & Cristy McElroy

Rodney & Angie Mitchell

2009. In 2010, we started hauling bulls to the PBR. I bought three bulls that all went to the PBR World Finals that year.”

“Rodney and I met at a PBR event in St. Louis,” Kenny continued. “We became partners, and it has worked well for

us. Rodney breeds the bulls and keeps them until they are yearlings. Then they come to me. I feed them, train them, haul and flank them. We have some two and three-year-old bull calves from Preacher’s Kid coming up. They are outstanding. We are excited about them!”

Rodney grew up on a farm. “We had cows and horses,” Rodney shared. “I started working with bucking bulls about 13 years ago. I’m also a preacher. I pastor Auburn Heights Baptist Church in Phenix City. Our church’s outreach, Out West Ministries, gives me the opportunity to help LeAnn Hart and Todd Pierce with the PBR Cowboy Church services.”

Preacher’s Kid has not only bucked at the PBR Unleash the Beast events and Finals, but he has bucked for the new PBR Teams the past

two seasons. “I really like the teams,” Rodney said. “In the beginning I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out, but it’s really growing. I think it helps the riders because it gives them a new perspective. I hope it continues.”

When he’s not on the road to an event, Preacher’s Kid has his own 30’ x 40’ pen in the K Bar C housing barn. “He gets 8 lbs. of grain in the morning, and 8 lbs. of grain in the evening,” Kenny explained. “He munches all day on premium hay, and he gets supplements as well. He’s sort of a prima donna, because we have cold lasers, and he gets a day at the spa. We keep him separated from the other bulls for his safety. We don’t want the bulls fighting.”

“I think Preacher’s Kid is a cool bull,” Kenny concluded. “His longevity is great. His whole demeanor changes when he gets to an event. He knows his job and he does it at a high level of performance.”

Photos provided courtesy of K-C Bucking Bulls and RD Cattle

By Barbara Pinnella

MARCO RIZZO

Rookie Staking His Claim in the PBR

It is no secret that there are many talented rookies to keep an eye on this season in the PBR. As of this writing, out of the 40 top bull riders, 14 of them are rookies. That shows just how strong the up-and-coming talent really is, especially when you look at the power the veterans possess. Included in that group of young guns is 19-year-old Marco Rizzo.

With a name that could be taken for Italian, he is actually Brazilian. To confuse us even further, he lives in Georgia and speaks with a slight drawl. He did admit to not being too comfortable with interviews, since he had not done many of them. Well, he better get used to it, because the way he rides, it is a

good guess that he will be doing many more.

Marco comes from a bull riding family, as his father rode bulls in Brazil, and later came to the United States to continue that path. Since Marco grew up around it, he decided to choose that same road. Humps N Horns Bull Riding Magazine had a chance to speak with him after the PBR Unleash The Beast event in Los Angeles.

“My dad and his buddies would always be at the house practicing, and I have been going to rodeos ever since I was little,” he explained. “I started by getting on sheep, and it just went from

Marco Rizzo wins his first PBR Velocity Tour event in Charleston, WV. Photo courtesy of Andre Silva/Bull Stock Media.

there. This is what I have always wanted to do, and it is a dream come true.”

At the age of 15, Marco was second in his age bracket at the Junior National Finals Rodeo. That success was a precursor of things to come. But according to Marco, none of this would have been possible if not for his parents’ support.

“My parents have supported me more than anybody,” he told us. “My mom and dad have driven me countless number of hours to junior rodeos; they drove me to Vegas twice, and to High School Finals in Gillette, Wyoming.

“At first, they didn’t really want their son riding bulls because it’s a little dangerous. But once they found out that getting on bulls was what I wanted to do they supported me completely. I couldn’t be here without them.”

Marco has not ridden in any other organizations. Instead, he marched right into the PBR.

“As soon as I turned 18, I went to a PBR event. That’s what I wanted. I do want to go to a pro rodeo, but I want to make the Finals in the PBR a couple of times. Hopefully I could do that this year, that would be pretty cool!”

Marco does have quite a bit of spare time, and a lot of it is spent with another star rookie, John Crimber.

“John and I grew up together, so I stay at his house in Texas a lot. I’ve spent months at his house. I’ll fly out to Texas from Georgia. We generally travel together as well. I would like to move to Texas now that I’m getting older and making a little bit of money.

“But when I’m not in Texas I am in South Georgia and since we have a large farm there, I farm a lot. I farm cotton and peanuts, and we run a big dairy. So in that spare time that I have, I’m milking cows and driving tractors. My family has been here in Georgia 22 years now.”

The Los Angeles event was a good one for Marco, even though he had to get on four bulls in two rounds, thanks to two rerides. But he made the most of that. In that first round his reride bull was Ah Hell, and Rizzo was awarded an 86 for his ride.

Round two saw another re-ride, in the form of Bubba G. This time he was given an 84.5. Even though he did not ride his short-round bull, he finished third in the event, and that showing could not have come at a better time.

“This weekend meant the world to me,” Marco said. “I have been struggling a lot in the PBR, still kind of getting used to it. Jacksonville is next week, and that’s a cut. Jacksonville is not but an hour from my house, so it would be pretty cool to be

over there. And I was about to get cut, so doing good boosted me up before Jacksonville.

“I had a great two days, and that one buck-off in the Championship Round, I’m not mad about it. Manaba is a bull I’ve watched on TV ever since I was about 15, and he’s bucked off a bunch of guys. It was like being starstruck, getting on a bull like that. I really wanted Ricky Vaughn, but John took him. He wasn’t being nice to me! So Manaba was my next choice.”

When asked what else he wanted people to know about him, Marco said that he is just a normal guy who gets on bulls. Well, one other thing.

“I’m Brazilian. A lot of people think I’m Mexican or Indian. All sorts of stuff. When people meet me they try to guess where I’m from, but they never get it right,” he laughed.

Keep any eye on this personable young man. He is feeling more confident by the day, and has all of the talent necessary to be a star. We wish him all the best the rest of the season!

Photos by William Trillo

Clayton Sellars has been a man on a mission to begin the 2024 ProRodeo season. He ended the month of February on a high note, earning $33,803 by winning the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and finishing second at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in Tucson, Ariz. The payday moved him up to No. 1 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings.

PBR Unleash the Beast Tour - Jacksonville, FL Photo provided courtesy of BullStock Media.

Continued from Page 8

During my time of competition at high school and junior rodeos I probably got on 600 or 700 head of Jr type bulls. By the time I was a junior in high school I was competing against grown men and holding my own. After graduation I attended one semester of college and decided to go on to the professional level full-time.

Throughout my professional career I got on a lot of practice bulls most of which were not a better bull than an 18 point animal. My theory behind this was being able to work on fundamentals without having to put out 100% of effort just to stay on one and less chance for injury.

If you are pursuing a bull riding career please have a strategy in your practice habits and where you choose to compete. Along with that don’t make your goals all short term, have some longterm goals that look like they may be out of reach and keep working toward accomplishing the short-term goals in the process.

Help your kid chase his dreams with educated strategy......

Cody Custer

Western Sports Foundation focuses on supporting total athlete wellness for those competing in Western Lifestyle Sports. Our program focuses on five areas of wellness:

Western Sports Performance Clinics WSF offers the only training of its kind for Western Sports Athletes. These three-day clinics include one-on-one sessions with a Sports Neurologist, Nutritionist, Financial Planner, Life Coach, Crisis Manager, Sports Psychologist, and Personal Trainer.

Our mission is to assist Western Athletes both while competing and after.

4/1 12-6pm 701-674-3214 BOA - Bullriders of America

Apr 12-13 Eugene, OR PBR Velocity Tour

Apr 12-14 Billings, MT

Apr 13 Lincoln, NE PBR Velocity Tour

Apr 14 San Angelo, TX $35,000 PRCA Xtreme Bulls

Apr 17-18 Everett, WA PBR Unleash the Beast Tour

Apr 18 Fort Worth, TX PBR Touring Pro Division

Apr 19-20 Queen Creek, AZ

Apr 20 Wichita, KS

Apr

Apr

Apr 27

Touring Pro Division

Mar 2

OK ABBI / Claim A Bull

Mar 9 Chatham, VA ABBI / NFG

Mar 15 Little Rock, AR

/ PBR UTB Classic

Mar 22 Amarillo, TX ABBI Spring Fling

Mar 30 Fredonia, PA ABBI / NFG

Mar 30 Texarkana, TX ABBI / Claim A Bull

APRIL

Apr 4 Mt. Orab, OH ABBI / Beast of the East

Apr 6 Altus, OK ABBI

Apr 13 Porum, OK ABBI / LJ Jenkins - Claim A Bull

Apr 13 Archdale, NC ABBI / Davis Rodeo Ranch

Apr 13 Lott, TX

Purple Parrott Birthday Bull Bash

Apr 20 Pendleton, SC ABBI / Rockin H

Apr 20 West Sunbury, PA ABBI / NFG

Apr 20 Duncan, OK ABBI / Evolution Challenege

Apr 26 Louisville, KY ABBI / PBR UTB Classic

Apr 27 Perry, GA ABBI

CLASSIFIEDS

PISGAH, AL - TIM COX, TCB, ANYTIME, CALL FIRST, 256-996-9426

NEW MARKET, AL - EC Hunt, 5:30pm Sun., 256-683-8169

BATESVILLE, AR - James Bechdoldt, Anytime, Call First, 870-307-9923

CONWAY, AR - Mark Lindsey, Ride & Shine Cattle Company, Anytime, Call First, 501-730-4557

ELFRIDA, AZ - D Davis Bucking Bulls, 4pm Sat., Call First, 520-642-3737

LINCOLN, CA - B Bar Ranch, B Bar Indoor Arena, Rain or Shine, All Rough Stock, 916-206-4059

MARYSVILLE, CA - PacWest, 5pm Wed., Steers & Bulls, Call First, 530-751-6643

FRESNO, CA - Toro Bravo Arena, Thur. by appt., Call First, 559-577-2445

ELIZABETH, CO - Tuff Garcia, Tuff E Nuff, 6pm Mon., Rain or Shine, 970-846-0788

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

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

CLASSIFIEDS

Livestock Layovers

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 w/ 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

Your Ad Could Be Here! Call 325-500-2855 for more details

Livestock Layovers

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

Miscellaneous

WINNERS RODEO SUPPLY - Gary Leffews Dare to Be Great DVD $45.00 or I am Hot DVD $35.00-free shipping. Also some remaining Hotman and Lostroh bullropes plus all other bullriding gear. Gold Buckle Rodeo Supply rodeo@wk.net 320-328-4000 Dealers wanted !!

RENOWNED HIGH QUALITY BULL ROPE DickCarrBullRopes.com, PO Box 18, Elk City, OK. 73648, 1-580-225-3208, Be Blessed.

PROFESSIONAL QUALITY BULLROPES

Raymond Branch, Custom Braider Maker of World, NFR, & PBR Champion Bullropes

Strictly custom-braided to your specifications.

(928) 289-9611 www.mypqb.com

Western Wanderings

a cowboy’s prayer

A cowboy’s life is rough and tough

Hidden dangers do abound

He works from can to can’t see And covers a whole lot of ground

There’s hardly a day goes by anymore

That he don’t bow his head, hat in hand

And thank the Lord for all that He’s done

To give him a life so grand

He don’t use a lot of fancy words

He jest tells Him what he needs

The Range Boss on High, He listens real good And answers most times with speed

One day he might ask for the good Lord’s help

To quiet that hornets nest

Or to help that little newborn calf

To nurse at its mama’s breast

He might ask for strength to fix that fence

Or for wisdom to deal with a bull

Often he’s content to just say thanks And ride on with a heart that is full

Illustrated by Mike Aemmer

By Kelly B. Robbins