MUTTON BUSTIN’: A BRIEF HISTORY

Sponsored by Langlas & Associates

BY MIRA BRODY

A sheep. A young cowboy or cowgirl. An arena of screaming fans. That’s mutton bustin’, the fan favorite during Big Sky PBR.

In mutton bustin’, a sheep is held still, either in a small chute or by an adult handler while a child is placed on top in a riding position. Once the child is seated on the sheep, the animal is released and runs into the arena in an attempt to get the child off. While there are not set rules or national organizations of the sport, the child that hangs on the longest is usually crowned winner of locally celebrated events.

Mutton bustin’ was introduced to the National Western Stock Show by the 1980s when an event was sponsored by Nancy Stockdale Cervi, a former rodeo queen. At that event, children ages five to seven who weighed less than 55 pounds could apply, and ultimately seven contestants were selected to each ride a sheep for six seconds. While immensely entertaining, fans of the sport also consider mutton bustin’ a way to introduce young children to the adult rodeo “rough stock” riding events of bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding.

Big Sky’s Biggest Week hosts four Mutton Bustin’ events: one during Community Day on July 18, then all three nights of Big Sky PBR. A popular event, it fills up quickly and sends the smaller members of our community into the arena to get a taste of rodeo life.