My Kansas City PBR Adventure

With a special Thank You to my husband, who gave me a plane ticket to KC for Christmas, I headed west on Friday March 30th, for a weekend of visiting with good friends and bull riding.  Once my friends collected me at the airport, we headed over to Nebraska Furniture Mart for a PBR Weekend Kick-off Party.  Inside the store was autograph signings, the mechanical bull and other activities for the kids.  But the absolute best part for me, was outside the store in the form of Jeff Robinson’s clones, Slim’s Ghost and Mr. Slim.

Me & Slim's Ghost

Any time I can get good and dirty from petting a bull, I view it as an absolute perfect moment!  I had so much dirt and hair (from the spring shedding) on my hands that I think I clogged the sink when I went to wash my hands!  The Clones are people-friendly, as bulls go, and they each seem to appreciate a good scratch.  I was more than happy to oblige!

Saturday morning a Bull Housing Tour was held for Fan Club Members.  We were greeted by the PBR’s Director of Livestock, Cody Lambert.  Cody explained how the tour was going to take place, and honestly I don’t think I heard much of what he said because standing straight in front of me was reigning World Champion Bucking Bull, Bushwacker.

The handsome Bushwacker

Bushwacker was none to pleased to have a group of people around his pen.  He snorted at me and was shaking his head, all bothered by his admirers!  Bushwacker’s handler, Kent Cox, has said that Bushwacker really doesn’t like people.  Very sad, because I would have given just about anything to give him a good scratchin’.  He is a magnificent creature, bigger than I remembered from seeing him in Las Vegas last fall.  Despite his annoyance with us, he is handsome and I was thrilled to just stand there and stare at him!

As we went down the line of pens, we saw the likes of Train Wreck, Priceless, Rowdy All Night, Party All the Time, Highway 12, Rango and Too Sexy....to name a few.
Some didn’t seem to care that we were there.  Others were bothered by us.  Priceless had his nose wrinkled up and was fussing.  Too Sexy just wanted to be scratched.  And scratched. And scratched!  Once again, I was happy to oblige until I got yelled at!

Rowdy All Night smiling for the camera!

Cody Lambert then took us around to the other side of the pens and we got to see The Colonel, Will James, Loose Cannon and The Clones...this time, all 4 of them.  We were given permission to pet them and they just came up to the rail and let any and all love on them!

I was one of the last ones out of the pens when the tour was over.  I think my friends would have been happy to leave me there just so they wouldn’t have to listen to me fawn over the bulls and declare my love for them, over and over!

Saturday night came around and it was finally time to enter the Sprint Center for the show.  I’m always filled with anticipation for the start of an event.  As we settled in, the opening fireworks exploded and the Classic Bulls starred in Round 1.  Only 10 rides in Round 1, but lots of young bulls who would rather lap the arena then go back to the pens.  I truly enjoy seeing the bulls running around and showing off their snotitude to the crowd!  Safety man, Mike White, had his hands full with these younger bulls!

JB Mauney & Ragin' JT

The Round 1 winner was JB Mauney, who along with Ragin’ JT (bull score 44 pts), scored 90 points.  Sadly, JB sustained a broken hand and was not able to continue.

Sunday started with an All Axxess event and as soon as I hit the dirt, I was off to the bull pens.  Clint Davis, the Gate Man, was there to answer questions, and he patiently listened to me squeal with delight as I was close to the bulls once again!

He was not quite sure what to make of me!

The highlight Sunday was having chute seats.  It is such a different experience watching from above, and feeding off the energy from both bulls and the cowboys below.  I spent a good amount of time looking over the back of the chutes, watching the bulls.  I find it fascinating watching the handlers and stock contractors moving the bulls around as needed, in an endless maze of chutes and pens.  Watching the cowboys warming up and initially putting their rope on the bull is something we fans don’t get to see during the TV broadcasts.  It seems each cowboy has a different routine to prepare for his ride.

Jordan Hupp readies Little Willie

As Round 3 progressed, the excitement was building for the Championship Round and Bushwacker!  During the break, I again went to the back of the chutes and was delighted to see Bushwacker being brought in.  He was a bit hesitant to load up but when handler Kent Cox came around, and gave Bushwacker a little pinch in the ribs, the bull was happy to move along!

Bushwacker being brought in for the Championship Round.

Luke Snyder was the brave cowboy who stepped up and chose Bushwacker.  Once again, Bushwacker was spectacular in bucking Luke off, and winning the High Bull Score of the weekend, with a 46 1/4 point score.

Luke Snyder trying to stay on Bushwacker

LJ Jenkins had a great ride on RMEF’s Gunpowder and Lead to win the event.  It was an exciting event and being in KC with lots of knowledgeable bull riding fans was a real treat for me! 

Thank you to my friends, who were so patient in letting me enjoy what I love most about this sport...the big, beautiful, bucking bovines!

Until next time, Bulls......








Photo of Me & Slim's Ghost taken by Brandy Appleton.....All other photographs by Susan Hanrahan