Knocking off the dirt from his rope with a brush, a 28-year-old bull rider from South Dakota, who’s trying to climb the PBR circuit, then pulls out a clear-plastic sandwich bag holding a palm-sized brownish gem — which is coined as rosin. What is also known as rodeo glue to bull riders, the rosin helps a rider grip the rope that goes under the bull. The cowboy cuts a piece into his glove and uses a lighter to warm the solid rosin into a sticky paste. Then he fervently applies it to his rodeo rope, commenting that “you basically have to glue yourself on because there is no amount of man strength that will hold onto a bull.”
From across the United States, 30 bull riders and 15 contractors competed in the Dakota Community Bank & trust Bull Team Challenge Friday and Saturday at Dickinson State University’s Indoor Arena. Hosted by Frontier Productions LLC, the top 90 bucking bulls slid into the chutes with high expectations including 10-time PBR Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger Bucking Bulls.
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The top results for bull riders on Friday were Hunter Salter (first place), Joao Augusto (second place), Parker Breding (third place) and Leroy Miller (fourth place). Friday’s top bull teams were H & H Bucking Bulls, Trey Kimzey/Garrett Burruss, Slinging BB’s-Brett Barrett/Chad Waide and Curt Check Bucking Bulls, respectively.
On Saturday, Augusto claimed the number one bull rider slot with Slick Phelps coming in at second. Bull rider Bob Mitchell took third and Coleman Entze placed fourth. The top bull teams on Saturday included Slinging BB’s, Sho-Me Rodeo, Chad Berger Bucking Bulls and Star E Ranch.
Beni Paulson, who owns T2 Ranch in Richardton, competed three of his bulls Friday evening. Paulson was a bull rider for 15 years and is now breeding bucking bulls.
“So I’m really new to this bull raising; I’ve only been doing it for 2 years. So this is actually my first bull team event and with (COVID-19) last year, there wasn’t a lot of events. So we’re just trying to get things going,” Paulson said. “Before that, I was a bull rider at heart, so I love seeing good rides... It’s just a good sport.”
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Now being on the opposite side of the chute as a bull breeder, Paulson noted that the rodeo experience will never constitute as high of an adrenaline rush as being on top of a bull in the arena.
“It’s not the same. I’m horribly addicted to bull riding. It was my life; I love it. (But this) is just a way to still be involved with the sport that I love so much and it’s a way to help riders and help the sport. I’m always advocating, promoting and trying to build the sport in cases where there is legislation and people in this world trying to shut down my sport — I’m there to fight for it,” Paulson said, adding, “So anyway I can be a part of it in a positive way, I’m doing it.”
Justin Ward, who’s been a bullfighter for six years, said he looks forward to that rush when a bull plows his way into the arena.
“First, you’ve got to make sure you don’t give the bulls away because if they see you, you might screw over the bull riders and they don’t get a good score. Then, you got to know when that bull rider’s coming off and where they’re going to land, just so you can put yourself in the best position to save the day,” Ward said.
Originally from Maple, Minn., Ward works on Paulson’s ranch and always had a passion for rodeo.
“I was no good at riding them, (but) I’m pretty fast so this just seemed like a better option,” Ward said. “... When you can walk away, it’s a good day.”
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Dylan Madsen, 28, from Vivian, S.D., has been a bull rider for 20 years ever since he got on top of a bucking steer.
One of the bull’s Madsen rode over the weekend was the relentless “Red Solo Cup,” a bull from Star E Ranch. “Red Solo Cup” is a bull that Madsen has rode before, but with quick wit, the bull bucked him off before the buzzer at a rodeo event earlier this season. Madsen was able to hang on for 2.69 seconds during Friday’s matchup before “Red Solo Cup,” proving how difficult it is to capitalize on those beefy bucking bulls.
“It’s better to not think. Most of us have been on so many that we’ve kind of conquered that. But if anybody says they’re not scared, they’re probably lying because there’s always that little bit of fear factor back there,” Madsen said. “That’s part of what drives you. When you conquer the beast, then it’s an awesome feeling.”
Parker Breding, of Edgar, Mont., had the comfort of his father Scott Breding in the audience Friday and Saturday. With rodeo in the family bloodlines, Scott Breding was a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier back in the 1990s, and was enthused to see his son perform this past weekend.
“It’s been fun watching him as he progressed over the years. I’m glad he’s doing awesome. He’s doing way better than I did,” Scott Breding said, with a huge grin. “We’re not born with it, but it’s an acquired taste.”
Parker Breding, 28, has already built up a track record with finishing fourth in the world standings in 2018.
“There aren’t a lot of pro-rodeos going on right now around here, so I’m happy to get to go somewhere,” Parker Breding said.
