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The
EVENT By:
Cindy Meyers
When
the fans walked into the Memorial Auditorium for the 12th
Annual Snow Bull they were treated to an evening of action packed bull
riding and bullfighting competition. Watching from the comfort of their
seats few were aware of the hard work it took to create the arena they saw
in front of them. When Snow
Bull started in 1993 the committee would have to locate the approximately
35 loads of dirt each year for the arena and back pens.
In 1999 the city was doing some excavation work and gave the
committee excellent clay dirt if they could find somewhere to store it.
A vacant lot was found and now each year Fye Excavating, Sperry,
Iowa, donates their time and trucks to haul the dirt in and out.
Brueck Construction provides the necessary end loaders.
The whole process of hauling in the dirt and setting up the arena
takes approximately 12 hours. After
the event they reverse the process, which takes another 12 hours.
Over
the past twelve years Snow Bull has under went several changes.
One of the bigger changes occurred in 2000 when the committee hired
Double S Bull Company, Sidney, Iowa, to be the major stock contractor for
the event. Shad and Vicki
Smith, owners of Double S Bull Company brought more than their bulls to
the event. For the first time
in 2000 the event went from an open bull riding to a sanctioned event. Double S Bull Company has been the Stock Contractor of the
Year for the last 6 consecutive years for the Bullriders of America and as
a newly sanctioned event Snow Bull won New Event of the Year and Event of
the Year in 2000. In 2001 and
2002 they again won Event of the Year.
In 2003 they won the new category Inside Event of the Year.
Originally the event had mutton busting on Thursday night and bull
riding on Friday and Saturday. With
an increase in added money and more cowboys wishing to enter the Thursday
night event is now bull riding also with the mutton busting being held on
Saturday afternoon. This year
105 riders entered the bull riding competition and 88 children entered the
Saturday mutton busting.
In
2002 another event was added to the program.
The newly formed Midwest Bullfighting Association held its first
event last year at Snow Bull and they were back again this year.
Each night three bullfighters competed against Mexican bulls in
freestyle bullfighting. This
event definitely has the audience sitting on the edge of their seats and
holding their breath.
This
year marked another milestone in the history of Snow Bull.
For the first time pyros were used in the opening.
Waylon Perry, owner of Perry’s Pyros, with help from J & M
Displays and Hi-Tech FX made this possible.
Waylon has been a member of the committee for several years and has
produced the opening since 2001 with the assistance of Tiny Ray,
Shelbyville, Missouri. This year master of ceremonies, Tiny, announcer, Chris Pyle,
Sedalia, Missouri, and Waylon totally out did themselves with an opening
equal to any you would find at a show ten times the size of Snow Bull.
The opening started in a dark house with riveting music playing in
the background, the only light to be seen a string of small colored lights
outlining the arena fence. Suddenly pyros shot from above and as they hit the arena
floor, flames in the shape of a bull’s head ignited with even more pyros
shooting from the flames. Although
beautiful may seem like a word out of place at a bull riding but I can
think of no other word to better describe it.
The cowboys for the night were then introduced as spotlights traced
their entrance into the arena. Each
night athletes that had earned the right to be called Gold Buckle Cowboys
were given the star treatment as they were spotlighted on top of the
bucking chutes and then walked down a lighted ramp to the center of the
burning bull’s head. As the
audience bowed their heads and the cowboys kneeled in the arena, Chris led
everyone in a prayer. Tiny
then recited an inspirational reading about the American flag as a huge
flag that covered the entire back of the stage was spotlighted.
At the end of the reading the Burlington High School Jazz Choir
sang our National Anthem with such harmony no instruments were needed.
There should be some very proud parents!
No
bull riding can take place with out bullfighters.
Brett “Hootie” Pettyjohn, Knoxville, Iowa, and Rob Canby, Mount
Pleasant, Iowa, provided the cowboy protection showing the speed and style
that has won them countless awards. We were ready to start the bull riding when out of the crowd
came a disturbance. It was
the funnyman, Shawn “Boom Boom” Thompson, Sidney, Iowa.
Shawn has won his share of awards also with his nonstop humor.
There was never a dull moment throughout the three-day event with
Shawn around. Shawn was
joined in the arena several times by his 4-year-old son, Tate, who wowed
the audience with his funnyman skills. Dad and son did a wild “Cotton Eyed Joe” among other
acts. Tate truly stole the
hearts of everyone!
Those
lucky enough to sit in the balcony had a unique seat not found in many
bull ridings. At most events
the area behind the chutes where the cowboys prepare for their rides is
out of view of the fans, but in Burlington the chutes are set up directly
in front of the auditorium stage and the cowboys prepare for their ride in
full view of the fans. It is
almost like watching a movie that takes you behind the scenes and then
brings you back to center stage for the action.
I heard several comments on how they had enjoyed getting to see
this side of the ride.
On
Thursday night a very special award was presented.
Each year the Snow Bull committee honors one person with the Chad
Carlson Memorial Award for their contribution to this event and the sport
Chad loved so much. Chad was
the vice-president and a strong supporter of the event until his untimely
death in 2000. Chad was
killed by a drunk driver and a campaign by his friends and Rodeo Attitude
still show Chad Carlson White Buffalo stickers as a reminder to remember
Chad and others killed by drunk drivers.
This year the award went to a very surprised Tom Walz, president of
the Snow Bull committee. Tom
has served on the committee from the beginning and as its president since
2000. He was instrumental in
bringing Double S Bull Company and the Bullriders of America and National
Federation of Professional Bullriders to this event.
Tom has served the Burlington community as a Burlington Police
officer for 24 years.
On
Friday night two more awards were presented.
Beginning in 2003 Snow Bull became the first stop on the annual
Extreme Bullriding Tour. As a
part of the kick off for 2004, Travis Sellers, the 2003 Hawkeye Champion
was honored with the presentation of the saddle he won for winning the
most money at events in Iowa. Also
honored was Rodeo Attitude as the presenting sponsor for the Extreme
Bullriding Tour. Larry
Meyers, CEO, and Cindy Meyers, president, accepted the trophy buckle.
On
Saturday night the Snow Bull committee was honored.
Also Double S Bull Company took the opportunity to honor members of
their staff for their hard work during the 2003 tour.
Two
very special volunteers on Friday and Saturday were Dr. Douglas Heath,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and his wife who were on hand to assist the riders for
the Extreme Sports Medicine Team.
The
first year Snow Bull was held the proceeds raised went to the American Red
Cross. Over the years other groups have joined the list of
beneficiaries of this event. To date over $100,000 has been
contributed to local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, area high school
organizations and local youth sport's leagues as well as the American Red
Cross. With total revenue for 2004 exceeding $35,000 Snow Bull 2004
was not only a success as an enjoyable event for those who attended and
participated but as a success for the Burlington community.
Congratulations for a job well done! |