After seeing this bull in Albuquerque, and watching his amazing flight in Las Vegas, I decided I needed to find out more about him, and his owner, Joe Bill Moad. On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of chatting with Joe Bill, learning more about his bulls, future plans and a bit of what brought this new stock contractor to the PBR.
Since he was 10 or 11 years old, Joe Bill Moad rode bulls. At 16 years of age, he got his PRCA card. He rode bareback broncs and bulls. He's a PRCA Gold Card member since 1972, until he quit riding in 1984. His exposure to the sport started young, as his Dad was a cattle buyer. Having three feed lots, his Dad would occasionally buy practice bulls for Joe Bill and his buddies to get on. Some of those bulls were rank, but all sold to Butler & Sons Cattle. Had those bulls been kept in the family, perhaps the breeding program of Moad Cattle would have started much earlier.
A little over a year ago, Joe Bill took over the family's 3000 acre ranch and is setting up his bucking bull program. He's already put up big bull pens, and is hoping to install a water pool and bull exerciser. He's currently got seven cows, that Dillon Page gave him, but is hoping to increase that number to 80-100 cows. Joe Bill explained to me that he's looking for good, rank bulls - with intensity, strength and heart. He is not necessarily concerned with bloodlines, or what papers a bull has, as long as the bull bucks hard, with a lot of heart and try. Joe Bill knows the business, and is extremely grateful for the opportunity he's been given by the PBR's Director of Livestock, Cody Lambert, to bring some of his bulls to buck at BFTS events. He knows that the proper selection of bulls, along with a little bit of luck, can take him a long way in the bucking bull industry.
Recently, Joe Bill was invited to look at some bucking bulls at a ranch in South Texas. 50 head of bulls bucked out, and he said he would not put even one of them on his truck. They did not display the qualities he is looking for. And, he's on the look out. As we talked, Joe Bill was on his way to attend the sale of Tom Teague's pen. He's hoping to find a young bull or cow that will fit his program. He owns a 3 year old, 251 SQUEAKS, whom he'll start bucking next year. At three, he still needs to put on some size and gain strength. Joe Bill also shared with me that he bought 16 bulls from Mr. Jones, some of which are 5-6 years old and have not been bucked since they were 2. He's working with them now to see what potential they have to compete at BFTS events. He also owns the last of APOLLO's own sons. (I had to take a deep breath, and explain to Joe Bill that Apollo was one of my original three bovine loves. Knowing that he owns that last of his sons is something very special to me!)
Naturally, the other bull I was very interested to talk about was APOLLO'S DREAM. I got to see him buck in Albuquerque, and even though he was ridden by Brady Sims, for 85 points, the bull bucked hard!
At the "Last Cowboy Standing" event in Las Vegas, Jet Airliner was one of only five bulls who were scored 45 points or higher, with his 45.25 pts. The other four were Air Time, Bushwacker, Shepherd Hills Tested and Fire & Smoke. Some pretty good company, I'd say!!! Jet was taken to 6 seconds by Jason Malone, and Joe Bill said that was the longest any one has ridden him. Even during small events and practice, no one has gone that deep. Apollo's Dream didn't have his best out in Vegas, but did buck off Stetson Lawrence for 40 points. 911 SPORTS ANIMAL bucked off Douglas Duncan and scored 41.5 points. The round was won on a Moad Cattle bull, SMOKIN' OKIE. He and Joseph McConnell combined for 88 points (43 point bull score). So I definitely think it was a good event for Joe Bill's bulls!
I mentioned to Joe Bill that I remember seeing JET AIRLINER re-arrange the loading chutes in Albuquerque. He told me that the back pen handlers didn't know what side Jet was to be loaded, so they closed the gate in front of him and it made him mad! He moved the panels around and even moved a few bulls. He will hook anything and anyone! Had they just let him thru, he would have been fine. One thing Joe mentioned about Jet's trip in ABQ, was that he followed the bull fighter down along the arena fence. Jet got distracted because the bull fighters were too close. Joe Bill asked the bull fighters to give him some room and let him blow out of the chute, with his big jumps. The bull fighters did that in Vegas, Jet took off and turned back as he should, then the bull fighters moved in when they had too.
It was an absolute pleasure to visit with Joe Bill Moad, learn about his bull pen and what he's looking to do in the future. I certainly wish him all the luck in the world, and look forward to seeing his bulls buck again. He hopes to have that opportunity after the PBR summer break. So fingers-crossed we'll see Jet Airliner taking off in Tulsa or Thackerville.....on his way back to Vegas!
Many thanks to Joe Bill Moad for taking time to chat with me, so I could introduce him, to all of you. :)
Photographs by Susan Hanrahan
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