 SILVERTON, Texas – When people talk about the sport of rodeo, there’s a lot to discuss.
When they think of rodeo, two events tend to come to mind: saddle bronc riding and bull riding,
both mainstays in the sport that has been going on for more than a century. Bull riding popularity has
exploded the past three decades, with stand-alone events and cowboys receiving rock-star accolades.
But bronc riding is the classic event of rodeo. It’s Casey Tibbs. It’s “Hawkeye” Henson. It’s
Brad Gjermundson. It’s Dan Mortensen. It’s Billy Etbauer.
The tradition will continue at the Buck Wild Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12-
Saturday, Aug. 14. This year marks the 118th version of the annual event, but the first time it will be
associated with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the premier sanctioning body in the sport.
“I’d say 80 percent of the contestants we were getting already had their PRCA card, but we
weren’t getting many of the top 15 in the world,” said Ken Wood, chairman of the rodeo committee that
produces the event.
Another step the committee took was hiring Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo, a livestock producer
that is quickly becoming one of the elite contractors in ProRodeo.
“Every horse out there can’t be great, but the probability of getting on a good horse at Pete
Carr’s rodeos is pretty good,” said Ty Atchison of Jackson, Mo., ranked among the top 15 saddle bronc
riders in the world through mid-July. “You pretty much know if you go to one of Pete’s rodeos, you
have as good a chance as any to win.”
It’s an ongoing process for the Carr crew, whether it’s developing a colt or caring for an
established bronc.
“We take everything into account when we dummy colts and gradually elevate them to riders
and ultimately evaluate the talent level or prospective level to make an educated assessment on whether
that animal is going to fit in our outfit or not,” Carr said.
It’s not just the horses. Carr, a former roughstock cowboy, takes certain pride in the growing pen
of quality bulls.
“Air Up There is one of the most athletic bulls we own,” Carr said of the animal that was named
the Texas Circuit bull of the year just a few seasons ago. “He gets so much air when he turns back and
bucks, it’s really amazing than an animal that big can jump that high flat-footed.”
Air Up There grew up in the Panhandle, part of the herd owned by McCloy Rodeo of Morse,
Texas. His return to this neck of the woods will be a welcome site for the top bull riders in the game.
“He just leaps in the air and turns back to the left,” said Shawn Hogg of Odessa, Texas, the
world standings leader with more than $100,000 in earnings so far this season. “He’s one bull everybody
would want to draw, that’s for sure.”
And whether it is bulls, broncs or bareback horses, the contestants know they’ll have a good
chance to win money in Silverton.
“What makes Carr Pro Rodeo special is that, No. 1, Pete tries to put a good, even pen together,”
said all-around cowboy Bandy Murphy, of Morgan Mill, Texas. “He’s not scared to give a guy an
opportunity, and that means a lot to me.” |
