Extreme Bullriding Tour Big Hit at Missouri State Fair

Friday night was highlighted with two special presentations. D. J. (Danny) Gingerich was presented a plague in recognition of Midwest Builders providing the added money for the last three years in memory of Reuben Detwiler. Reuben was a well known Missouri bull rider who lost his life in an auto crash in 2004. Also honored was bullfighter Jared Llama for ten years of service to the bull riding at the Missouri State Fair. He was also presented a Frontier Trophy Buckle. Jared is retiring from the arena following the Extreme Bullriding Tour event in Trenton, Missouri, his hometown, on September 8th after over a decade of protecting cowboys in the arena.

Saturday night’s performance was also highlighted by two tributes. The first was for Sedalia native, Todd Pettigrew. Todd has also served as a bullfighter at the Missouri State Fair for 10 years and received a Frontier Trophy Buckle. Todd was joined in the arena by the members of the original Board of Directors of the Bullriders Of America, the president of the National Federation of Professional Bullriders and a large group of stock contractors and rodeo producers who came to honor Todd and his career as an award winning provider of cowboy protection. Todd was one of the first bullfighters to join the BOA and has served as their Personnel Director in recent years. He relinquished his position at their recent finals. He has also been elected as Bullfighter of the Finals many times by both the BOA and the NFPB the co-sanctioning bodies of the Extreme Bullriding Tour. Todd has announced he will retire from the arena at the end of the 2007 rodeo season.

The second man to be honored on Saturday night was the late Jeff “Boomers” Veteto. Jeff died last fall from a heart ailment. Jeff had performed severa ties at the Missouri State Fair and would have been there this year had it not been for his untimely death. Prior to the bucking of the final 6 bulls the Extreme Bullriding Tour’s Dodge pickup entered the arena with Jeff’s barrel. Funnyman, Shawn “Boom Boom” Thompson, representing the many rodeo clowns who called Jeff friend and Tim Early, representing all the cowboys he had protected and entertained during his career, entered the arena and unloaded the barrel. As they knelt by his barrel the cowboys from behind the chutes chose to enter the arena as well. As the men bowed in the arena, announcer, Chris Pyle, read the poem, “A Tribute to a Rodeo Clown”. The men then left the arena with just Jeff’s barrel standing in the center of the arena. The final six bulls were bucked without a barrelman in the arena in honor of Jeff. It was a very moving tribute to a wonderful friend.

This year funnyman duties were split between Dustin “The Jester” Jenkins on Friday night and Shawn “Boom Boom” Thompson on Saturday night. Both men kept the crowd laughing as they enjoyed a hilarious repertoire with announcer Chris Pyle. Cowboy protection was once again be provided by Missouri bullfighter, Todd Pettigrew who was joined by Brandon Brazier. This well-rounded team kept the action moving and the crowd involved throughout both days of competition. It is this level of production that has earned the Extreme Bullriding Tour so many honors over the years including being named both Producer of the Year and Stock Contractor of the Year at the recent Bullriders Of America Finals.

Chute gate sponsors will be Midwest Builders; Gene’s Hats and Boots; Kleinschmidt's Western Wear; J. D Leathers; and Outlaw Outfitte