BUCKEY

Buckey greeted me at the entrance to the Bull Housing Tour in Las Vegas 10/2011

He’s been the herd sire since he was 2 years old.  That’s right...2 years old!  Craig Wentz, Buckey’s owner, put it this way, we “could see he was that good early on”.  In fact, Buckey has 4 sons who have bucked in the PBR: Buckmaster, Buck Shot, Bucknaked and Buck Off.  Buckey, who will be 8 this year, is in the running for Bucking Bull of the Year.  Simply put, he is spectacular!  In 2012, his first 4 outs were scored 45 pts, 46.25 pts, 46.25 pts and a whopping 47.00 pts scored bucking off JB Mauney in a mere 3.04 seconds at the Iron Cowboy, where he earned a $15,000 Big Tex Trailers certificate for his owners Craig & Vicki Wentz. In Glendale, Buckey was ridden by Caleb Sanderson to win the Championship Round with a huge 91.75 point score. 

I first saw Buckey in Glendale, AZ in March 2011.  He was there with his 2 sons, Buckmaster and Buck Shot, who were both 4 years old.  I was quite fascinated with the fact that a father and 2 sons were all bucking in the same event! The sons were good but Buckey was outstanding! and he even liked to play to the crowd (which of course, delighted me!)

Buckey heading my way in Glendale, AZ  3/2011

Buckey enjoyed his moment in the spotlight!

Buckey had to be "escorted" out after many victory laps!

I had the priviledge of speaking with Craig Wentz, owner of Wentz Bucking Bulls.  Craig told me that he and his wife Vicki both had rodeo in their backgrounds and decided to breed bucking stock to stay within the rodeo lifestyle.  Craig rode a few bulls but mostly rode bucking horses.  So in 1999, they expanded their beef herd to include bucking bulls.  Bloodlines in their herd includes a son of Yellow Jacket, a son of Rapid Fire, a son of Unforgiven and cows out of Kelly Armstrong’s breeding program in Canada.  Now it is a family business.  They started their breeding program with the hopes of making enough money to get their children (now 15 & 13) through college.  Craig also runs an excavation business and Vicki is a school teacher, so the Wentz household is a busy one, considering every day priorities must be set of what needs to get done.  Craig told me that “care of the animals is # 1, cows have to be fed and cared for, especially now that it is calving season”.

But as I spoke to Craig, he was on the road with Buckey and 3 other bulls, on their way to Glendale, AZ - a 20 hour drive from home.  Craig explained that his goal is to get Buckey qualified for the year end awards.  “It is a challenge to get Buckey to enough events so he has a good 10 outs, in order to qualify”.  I asked Craig about how Buckey travels, and he shared this with me.  “Buckey gets along fine with other bulls, but is put in separate compartments when traveling.  He stresses on the road, but is better now.  He is particular about the water he drinks, doesn’t like chlorine.”

I asked about the typical day, in the life of Buckey, at home.  Craig told me that “he’s fed about 7:30, lays around ‘til 1:00, exercised, and fed again around 5-5:30.  I work him out in the arena.”  I asked Craig if he had a bull walker.  He said, “no, I am the bull walker!”
When asked about changes in treatment, since Buckey is in the running for BBOTY, Craig said, “I am much more protective of him now.  Penning him separate.  Buckey can hold his own but I don’t want to take any chances of injury that can happen in normal life.”

I asked Craig how Buckey does around people.  “Buckey is not in to people scratching him.  He likes people but would like to be left alone.  I can only scratch his head and his horns.  If you came to the ranch, he would probably run at you.  Maybe if you were here for several weeks, he might stand near you.”

Buckey grabbing his alfalfa!

 I relayed a funny story, to Craig, from the Finals last year.  I was at the Fan Club Bull Housing Tour and Buckey was the very first bull I saw as I entered the tent.  Someone had put a pile of alfalfa right in the front corner of his pen.  Buckey was eating and I kneeled down by him to take a picture.  Buckey immediately grabbed his pile of alfalfa and backed up to the center of his pen, all the while staring at me.  It was if he was thinking “you are NOT getting any of MY alfalfa!”

Speaking of funny, I asked Craig if there were any stories he could tell me about Buckey.  He said, “Buckey has gone over to the neighbor’s a time or two, visiting the neighbor’s cows.  One night Buckey was ready to fight the Angus bull and take over the herd.  Buckey had no problem taking the Angus bull!”

Since Buckey started attending PBR events, in March of 2010, he’s been out 22 times with only 5 qualified rides.  He’s been scored 45 points or better 10 of those times.  His highest scored ride was 94 points in Sacramento in January of this year.  Craig explained Buckey’s pattern.  “He started out of a right hand delivery and he would spin left.  Decided to switch him to a left hand delivery, then he turned right.  He was fouling himself and getting rerides, so we switched him back to a right hand delivery and now he is turning right the way he should.”

Buckey waiting in the chute in Vegas 10/2011

Buckey getting ready to eject Guilherme Marchi at the Finals

It was obvious to me that Craig is very proud of his bull and is happy to see Buckey get more attention.  If Buckey keeps going the way he is, I believe he will be in the mix for Bucking Bull of the Year in Las Vegas, and maybe surprise us all, and take the crown!  He’s that good!!

Please follow Buckey on Facebook “W1 Buckey” and on Twitter @Buckey.  Also, check out the Wentz Bucking Bull website (wentzbuckingbull.com) to learn even more about this strong stock contracting family.

A HUGE thank you to Craig Wentz for spending some time with me on the phone and sharing all of this wonderful information about his superstar bull!




All photos by Susan Hanrahan