Fulton Family Benefit Auction raises $115,000

By Courtesy PRCA
Posted Tuesday, February 6, 2007

This story is just another example of how the rodeo community sticks together!

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Friends came to the aid of former PRCA tie-down roper and steer wrestler Brian Fulton recently, raising an eye-boggling $115,000 during the inaugural Brian Fulton Family Benefit Auction, held Feb. 3 at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Rapid City, S.D.

The auction was highlighted by a group effort led by Colorado ropers Cory Zion and Charlie Kingsbury, who, with the help of more than 30 cowboys, chipped in to buy the 1993 National Finals Rodeo average saddle donated by world champion tie-down roper Troy Pruitt.

The final bid: a cool $10,500.
“My goal was to get about $3,000 put together,” said Zion from his home in Idalia, located some 150 miles east of Denver. “Charlie Kingsbury and I came up with the idea. We just started calling guys and it just snowballed. I never even dreamed of coming up with so much from so many guys.”

During the live auction, Zion and 10-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo steer wrestler Birch Negaard sent the bidding far and above what most people were willing to spend.

Then it just kept climbing.
“I told Birch that I had $10,500, and I wanted to spend it all,” Zion said. “I knew that even if we didn’t get the saddle, we were going to give the money to Brian anyway.”

For the group, there was more motivation than helping a family friend like Fulton, who has been battling cancer since September and has undergone two surgeries, the most recent just before Thanksgiving to remove a second aggressive tumor in his brain.

That’s helping out another family friend in Pruitt.
“I’ve known Troy for nearly 24 years, and I hated to see him and his boy (Riley) not have that saddle,” Zion said. “That is a special item, and we thought maybe they should have that back.”

And Fulton, who’s back to riding and roping while continuing treatment, certainly appreciated the standing-room-only turnout and fellowship.

“He was so moved,” said Chad Pelster, a tie-down roper from Belle Fourche, S.D. “I lived with him for 5 or 6 years, and he’s like my dad. It was pretty hard to talk to him over the weekend without both of us moving to tears. It was so humbling for him. He appreciates everything so much.”

Those who missed the auction can still make a difference. A fund has been established to help defray the staggering cost of the Fulton’s medical bills. Individuals can send a tax-deductible donation in the name of the Brian Fulton Fund to the Dakota State Bank, P.O. Box 206, Blunt, S.D., 57522