On the Cover - The PBR Teams Series, including two new teams in Oklahoma and New York, is set to kick off the 2024 season on July 12 in Oklahoma City, OK.
Photo courtesy of BullStock Media
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My hope is that this issue of Humps N Horns finds all going well for you and yours.
The summer rodeo / bull riding season is always a busy one. Whether you are a fan trying to catch as many as you can, a bull rider trying to enter any and everything that you can find, or doing your best to raise some bucking bulls on the ranch, I hop eyou can take some time to rest and relax.
I think on our younger years, we don’t recognize the value of taking time to do that, but as we get a little older, we realize that life is a marathon and not a sprint. Make sure you take care of yourself so you can be there for your family for the long haul.
I hope you are able to get out and support some of the local events in your part of the world. Many of these events rely on the work of volunteers and provide many benefits for charities and the local communities. We should all do our part to support them as much as possible.
Until next time,
Terry
By Tanner Barth, PRCA Media Coordinator
The ProRodeo world will have to wait a little while longer for the return of eight-time PRCA World Champion Stetson Wright.
Wright said the recovery process on a hamstring injury suffered at the tail end of last season is still hindering him, and ultimately led him to make the difficult decision to end his 2024 campaign.
“Many of you have been wondering where I’ve been or what I’ve been doing,” Wright announced in a video posted to his social media account. “My 2024 season is officially over. There’s only really one reason. I’m just not physically ready yet.
“When I first had this injury, I said I would be back when I’m 100 percent. So, I’m going to stay true to myself because at the end of the day when you aren’t ready you can’t lie to yourself.”
The Beaver, Utah, cowboy was sidelined after Round 2 of the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in his two events – saddle bronc riding and bull riding – due to a torn hamstring. He underwent
surgery to repair the injury in mid-December.
Wright hoped to return to competition at the beginning of the summer run, but it wasn’t in the cards this season.
“Nobody wants to sit out a full season when it’s something you’ve always wanted to do growing up,” Wright said. “I’m going to attack the rest of this recovery process just like I do every time I get on a bucking horse or a bull. I’m going to push myself but also be cautious knowing it takes time. My hope is to be back by Denver to kick off the 2025 season.”
Article provided courtesy of PRCA Media. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Hailey Rae.
As Christians if we are taught to constantly manipulate our conversations to the subject of the Lord, that approach can put great pressure on us as well as the people we are trying to control convenes. So much so that we may miss the pleasure of living free in sonship as well as miss seeing people experience the process of life that will produce true conversion to sonship.
I can remember so many road trips (one in particular) where I was so consumed with how to witness to this guy that I missed a relationship with him. I wish that I’d just hung and gotten to know his story and still (20 years later) be engaged in a relationship. My pressure to witness to him caused him to get away from me and God, fast and far.
I think if I’d have approached it the right way, through relationship I would still have a place in his life. As it stands, I have no contact with him and have no idea what his relationship is to the Father.
Father is relational and desires for us to represent Him through relationships. Manipulated conversations will most likely push people to resist the Fathers Spirit or even worse, a dead prayer to a God whose Spirit was never involved in the conversation to start with.
August 9-10-11
Huron, SD
Call Bubba Riddings (605) 941-4702
August 23-24-25
Senitobia, MS
Call Jud Moore (662) 292-3390
October 4-5-6
Bunnell, FL
Call Austin Cody (386) 585-0784
October 18-19–20
Pale Horse Ranch
Big Sandy, TX
Call JRay Bevill (903) 746-9257
November 29-December 1
Danny Custer Memorial New River, AZ
Call Cody Custer 580-729-1962
By Katlin Truelsen CAC Media Group
Bronx Feild, 13, Roosevelt, Utah
With the last unofficial month of summer in full swing, it is a good time to tackle the remaining items on your summer bucket list. Maybe you still have some things to accomplish or maybe you are like this month’s featured rider and you have already crushed your summer goals. That is exactly what happened to Bronx Feild, who got to put a big check mark next to winning a world bull riding title at the 2024 National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Des Moines, Iowa. I had a chance to talk with Bronx shortly after his win to find out about that bucket list item and what goals he is looking to add in the future.
KT: Alright Bronx, start by telling our readers where you are from and how old you are.
BF: I am from Roosevelt, Utah and I am 13 years old and will be going into 8th grade.
KT: And how long have you been riding bulls?
BF: This is actually my first year.
KT: An impressive first year! Have you been involved in other rodeo events besides bull riding?
BF: Yeah, I used to be a team roper, but I stopped that when I started with the bulls.
KT: Why did you decide to make the transition to bull riding from roping?
BF: Because one of my buddies is a bull rider and I went with him to some practices a few times and decided I wanted to get on one. It was fun and I started getting on more and more bulls and just fell in love with it.
KT: So this summer you became the world champion bull rider at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Des Moines, can you tell us about how you qualified to go to the Junior High Finals in the first place?
BF: I have been going to rodeos all year and I did really well at my state qualifier. I won my first and second round at state and I
ended up getting second overall.
KT: Congratulations, that is awesome! How many riders were at the qualifier in Utah?
BF: Thanks! There were 15 of us that rode in the qualifier.
KT: Did you do anything special to help you prepare for nationals?
BF: I got on a lot of bulls before nationals. I was riding three or four times a week and I was trying to get on bigger stuff including some bulls at a high school clinic I went to. I was also working
with my coach. Joe Frost is the one who helps me. I go over to his house at least once a week.
KT: I am sure he was proud of how you ended up.
BF: Yeah, he was really excited about it.
KT: Did you and your family drive to Des Moines? How far is that from where you live?
BF: We did drive. It is about 16 hours. We traveled with a couple of other families too. It was my first time going to Iowa.
KT: That sounds like a long time in the car. What were some other activities they had planned for you guys at Nationals?
BF: I played on my state volleyball team for the tournament and walked around the trade show a lot. We had a fun camp set up too, so we spent most of the time at our camper.
KT: Nice! So let’s get into your rides out there. Talk about the bulls you covered in your long rounds.
BF: So the first bull I did well on, I was 67 points on him. He was a good bull. Then for the second round, I drew a bull that jumped way up in the air but he wasn’t too bad. It was a good bull to qualify on for the short round.
KT: When did you find out for sure that you had made the top twenty?
BF: I didn’t ride my second round until Saturday morning, so I rode twice on Saturday. I was doing well going into the second round and at the end, I was sitting in a split between 4th and 5th.
KT: How were you feeling going into Saturday night?
BF: Well, I got lucky and drew a good bull. He was probably one of the best ones out there. He bucked really well in the first round, so I was glad I got him. I felt pretty good going into my ride, especially since I knew I had a good bull.
KT: Walk us through getting ready to ride that night. Were you more stressed than normal?
BF: A little bit because they switched the chute delivery on the bull. He had been coming out left all week but they loaded him in the opposite chute. I don’t know why, but I got nervous because I wasn’t sure how he would do coming out of that side. It ended up being fine and he bucked for me, but he is actually a better bull when he comes out the left side.
KT: When did you realize that you might have a shot to actually win?
BF: I rode 16th for the finals out of 20 and I knew I had a good bull, so I thought maybe I had a shot.
KT: Our team got to see your final ride, which was awesome. And after they announced it we saw you getting hugs and back slaps but then you had to run over and do a TV interview. When did you finally have time to process what had happened and let it sink in?
BF: It wasn’t really until I got back to my camper after I did the television interview and everything. That is when it hit me that I had just won nationals.
KT: What happened at the awards ceremony following the finals?
BF: We had to go and sit up on stage. It was the last event awarded. Once they called my name we had to go down and that was when they gave out the buckle and prizes.
KT: And what prizes did you come home with?
BF: I got a champion buckle and a new saddle and I got my short round buckle too because I had placed. I also got a scholarship that I can use in the future for college.
KT: Sounds like you had a pretty good night with all that. What does your schedule look like for the rest of the summer? Have you already qualified for the Junior World Finals?
BF: There are other bull ridings around that I want to go to this summer, I still have quite a few on my schedule. There are a bunch of IMBAs that I will go to. I was able to qualify for the Junior World Finals a few weeks ago so I will head out to Las Vegas this year in December.
Continued on Page 23
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – After two nights of intense competition, Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) went 3-for-5, out-dueling reigning PBR World Champion Cassio Dias (Sao F. de Sales, Brazil) to win the Camping World PBR Last Cowboy Standing in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
After riding three bulls on Monday night due to several re-rides, Mitchell finished in fourth place and sailed into Round 2. The 27-year-old Austin Gamblers athlete knew that Tuesday night would be more grueling and was up to the task.
As Round 2 began, he was paired with Rorschach (Universal Pro Rodeo/ Rachel & Dustin Howell/ Delmas/ Williams). To the crowd’s dismay, he hit the ground at 4.28 seconds but still made the cutline for Round 3.
Matched with Dangerous Medicine (Hart Cattle Company) in the third round of the night, Mitchell clung to the powerful animal athlete, gritting it out until the buzzer sounded. Although less than ideal, his 79-point score punched his ticket into the fourth round.
As the four-man Round 4 began, Mitchell fired from the chutes aboard War Daddy (TNT Bucking Bulls/ Hart Cattle Co). The crowd roared as his 84.5-point score was announced.
The only other man to make it to the final round of the night was none other than 2024 PBR World Champion Dias. In a hushed moment in the arena, Mitchell bucked off of I’m Legit Too (Hart Cattle Co/ Hale) at a mere 2.6 seconds.
Climbing aboard Renegade (Hale/ Vella/ Ogden/ Hart) it all boiled down to Dias. For 4.68 seconds the Wyoming crowd cheered on the Brazilian phenom and then his bovine opponent launched him to the ground, securing the win for Mitchell.
In addition to a $50,000 check, the win earned Mitchell 235 Challenger Global points, putting him amongst the Top 5 in the Challenger standings.
While the event in Cheyenne was an individual competition, teams within the separate PBR Teams League had the opportunity to send three riders to compete over the two nights in Wyoming. A separate bonus of $40,000 was designated to the team if one of their athletes was crowned the champion - with Mitchell’s win on Tuesday night, the Austin Gamblers earned the bonus.
The ride-to-survive format of the Camping World PBR Last Cowboy Standing welcomed 50 riders on Monday night as the two-night event began. Eleven cowboys out of a field of 50 recorded qualified rides in Round 1, guaranteeing the group of athletes a spot in Tuesday’s Round 2.
With a minimum of 25 riders required to advance to Round 2, the remaining 14 draw spots were determined based on time.
The Top 8 riders in the aggregate following the second round then advanced to Round 3. Round 4 then consisted of the Top 4 riders in the aggregate based on the previous three rounds. Round 5 featured every rider who posted a qualified ride in Round 4. Two riders-
Mitchell and Dias- then went onto Round 5.
In a winner-take-all format, the rider with the highest score in Round 5, Mitchell claimed the title.
With his final round buckoff, Kansas City Outlaws man Dias claimed a second-place finish. In Tuesday night’s opening round the 22-yearold Brazilian phenom was paired with Erik the Red (Tommy Julian/ Craig Moore/ D&H Cattle) showcasing his flawless form for 87.5 points.
In Round 3 Dias came down early off of Rowdy (Ogden Ranch/ Hart Cattle Co.) but advanced to Round 4 based on his aggregate score thus far. In Round 4, Dias gritted out for an 84.25-point ride aboard Killer Bee (Hart Cattle Company).
For his efforts, Dias earned 155 Challenger Global points to sit at No. 21 in the Challenger standings.
After a valiant effort across the two-day event, John Crimber (Decatur, Texas), who rides for the Florida Freedom in the separate PBR Teams League, settled into a third-place finish.
The 18-year-old rookie had the crowd on its feet after delivering an exhilarating 87.5-point ride aboard Cold Creek (Young Cattle/ Rocking A). Firing out of the chutes again in Round 3 Crimber netted the night’s highest ride score of 87.75 points aboard Top Shelf (P. Ro Ranch/ OK Corralis/ Gordon/ D&H Cattle).
Making his way into Round 4, Crimber was unable to convert aboard Rip (Wacey Hart/ TNT Bucking Bulls), hitting the ground at 5.69 seconds, which ended his night.
Crimber took home 96 Challenger Global points pushing him to No. 34 in the standings.
With a fourth-place finish Dustin Martinez (Canjilon, New Mexico) made a splash in Cheyenne by capturing the Round 1 win on Monday night.
The 27-year-old New Mexico cowboy sat at the top of the aggregate as Tuesday night commenced but struggled to convert in the remaining rounds. Making it all the way to Round 4 courtesy of his victory on night one, Martinez still collected 38 Challenger Global points moving him to No. 13 in the world standings.
Arizona Ridge Riders athlete Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) also rode his Round 1 victory to a fifth-place finish for the event overall. Despite being bucked off his Round 2 bull Nefarious (Stoney Pointe Rough Stock/ ET/ Baer/ Humpz & Hornz) and Mikey’s Surprise (Hart Cattle Co/ Hale) in Round 3, the Brazilian cowboy picked up 25 world points. Castro sits at No. 10 in the Challenger standings.
Article provided courtesy of PBR.
Photos provided courtesy of BullStock Media.
So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. — Colossians 1:10 NIV
When we first become believers, we are new to our faith. However, as time passes, we can see spiritual growth and maturity taking root in our lives. We will never achieve perfection here on earth and that should not be our goal. Rather, God is making us new, and we can allow him to work in our lives and in our hearts.
In order to grow spiritually and mature in our faith, we must draw near to God. We cannot mature on our own. Without him, our works and efforts are worthless. However, he makes us clean gives us the strength and ability to grow and put aside sin. We need to spend time in his presence and allow him to move in our lives.
There are some habits that we can develop to grow in Godliness:
Spend time and meditate on God’s word: The bible is God’s word and spending time in it can help us grow in Godliness. It gives us truth and insight into living a life for Christ. Without the Bible, developing spiritual maturity is just a wishful idea and not a reality.
Pray and thank God: As Christians, we have the ability to communicate with God. Spending time in prayer will help us grow closer to him and help us prioritize him and his desires. We can bring him our thanks and joys and our sorrows and requests. He listens to his children.
Fellowship with other believers: Spending time with others who are also trying to grow closer to God and develop spiritual maturity can be an encouragement to us in our Christian walks. Through fellowship opportunities like church, bible study or even having a meal together, we can make connections that promote maturity in Christ.
Worship and praise him: Worship is about bringing glory and honor to God. Forming a habit or worship and praise will help us turn to God’s goodness even in the midst of trials. Despite our situations, we can lift our voices to him and praise him for what he has done.
Put aside sin: In order to grow in Godliness, we must repent and put aside sin. We will never be perfect and without sin. However, we should strive to live as we are made new.
Pursue what is good: Philippians 4:8 tells us to dwell on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy.” As Christians, we should not pursue what the world pursues but rather what God loves.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. — Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
For some of us, we can get caught up in the lie that we have to work a little harder or grow a little faster to earn God’s love and salvation. This is far from true. Our work has nothing to do with our salvation. Isaiah 64:6 compares righteous acts to filthy rags. If we try to measure up by our own works, we never will.
However, God knew this and made a plan. The only thing that saves us is Jesus Christ. It is by grace we have been saved, not our own spiritual maturity or works.
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. — Matthew 7:1618 NIV
We are not saved by our works, however as Christians our lives should reflect the fact that we are made new. Our lives should start to exhibit the fruits of the spirit. In the New International Version, Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the spirit as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
For some Christians, change is made immediately and there is a complete lifestyle change when they become a believer. For others, the change in their hearts may be subtle at first but as time passes the fruits of the spirit are seen on display in their lives.
Let us all examine our hearts and our actions and look at the fruits we are producing. Are they honoring to God? Or are they reminiscent of our old sinful nature?
Spiritual maturity and growing in Godliness is a process, however we can find joy in the growth we have experienced in our faith to become spiritually mature Christians.
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chopped pecans
• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs, beaten
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease mini or regular muffin cups generously.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, and pecans.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and eggs together. Stir in dry ingredients just until combined.
4. Spoon batter into muffin cups about 2/3 full. (Grease the muffin cups well to ensure the muffins do not stick.)
5. Bake for 12-13 minutes for mini muffins or 15-17 minutes for regular size muffins.
Submitted by Elizabeth P. - Chandler, AZ
Bushwacker, the three-time PBR World Champion Bucking Bull, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2024, in Springer, Oklahoma. Fans and experts alike have called him the “greatest bucking bull of all time”. Bushwacker was eighteen years old at the time of his passing and had been enjoying his retirement on the ranch of owner Julio Moreno, who had moved his bucking bull operation to Springer, Oklahoma in 2021.
This extraordinary, bovine athlete was the most popular PBR bucking bull during his reign. Bushwacker was the 2010 ABBI
Classic World Champion, and the PBR World Champion Bull in 2011, 2013, and 2014. He had six PBR World Finals appearances. He has had more publicity and more attention than any bull in PBR history. That, coupled with his spectacular accomplishments in the arena of the “toughest sport on dirt”, have carved his legacy in PBR history.
Probullstats.com reveals that Bushwacker was ridden only three times in 87 career outs. He had 64 buck-offs in 66 outs at the PBR Premier Series level for a 96.55% buck-off percentage.
JB Mauney rides Bushwacker in Tuls, Oklahoma (2013) for 95.25 points. Photo courtesy of BullStock Media.
Bushwacker’s amazing average bull score was 46.16 points. Bushwacker held the PBR Premier Series record of 42 consecutive buck-offs, a record that stood for more than ten years until it was broken by 35H Cool Whip at the 2024 PBR Unleash the Beast World Finals.
In one of the most media covered and fan discussed matches in PBR history, Bushwacker’s buck-off streak was broken by JB Mauney in August of 2013 in Tulsa, where JB hung on for his ninth attempt to ride Bushwacker and outdueled the famous record-holding bovine to the buzzer for 95.25 points. JB went on to win the 2013 PBR BFTS World Championship.
Bushwacker was trained, hauled and managed by the late Kent Cox on his ranch in Dublin, Texas. I interviewed Kent about two weeks before his death in 2014, after Julio Moreno announced that Bushwacker would retire at the end of the 2014 PBR season. He said, “I think there are a couple of things that set Bushwacker apart from other bulls. He is such an athlete! With his athletic ability, he is just able to do things that other bulls can’t do. He jumps so long out of the chute that it gets the riders out of position right away. And he is extremely intelligent. He never seems to buck the same way twice, and that really catches the riders off guard. This double combo is what makes him special. He’s going out at the top of his game, and he deserves that. He’ll
be able to live out his days healthy and happy. I’ve been saying for years that Bushwacker is the greatest bull I’ve ever seen personally. He has now proved that!”
Bushwacker was the subject of writers in USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal. ESPN’s The Magazine labeled Bushwacker’s 1,700-pound bulk of solid muscle the “baddest body in sports” in their July 2013 Body Issue. He was also featured on CBS “This Morning” and ESPN’s “E-60”. Bushwacker even had a Facebook page! Great athletes are known to get a lot of media publicity and fan attention. Bushwacker was no exception and in the process became the most famous bull in history.
Owner Julio Moreno has referred to his star bucker as “the Michael Jordan of bulls”. He was the son of the great bull Reindeer Dippin and a Diamonds Ghost daughter. Former PBR Livestock Director and current head coach of the Texas Rattlers, Cody Lambert declared, “Bushwacker is the greatest that’s ever been.”
After his retirement, Bushwacker was inducted into the Probullstats Hall of Fame, the PBR Brand of Honor, and the Bull Riding Hall of Fame. Bushwacker is one of only three bulls to have won three PBR World Champion Bull titles. Little Yellow Jacket won the titles in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Bushwacker won
his titles in 2011, 2013, and 2014. SweetPro’s Bruiser won the titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
I spoke with Julio Moreno and asked him to share his favorite Bushwacker memory. “We were at a PBR event in Anaheim in 2011. I was working in the arena roping the bulls. Kent Cox was handling Bushwacker in the chute. JB Mauney was one of the hottest riders at that time, and he drew Bushwacker. When that chute opened, Bushwacker threw JB around like a rag doll! He hit the dirt after only about two and a half seconds, and Bushwacker got a bull score of 47.75. It was at that moment we found out just how hard Bushwacker could buck and realized that bull was something very special!”
“Bushwacker only bucked in the PBR,” Julio shared. “He was always a short go bull and faced the toughest bull riders. We announced his retirement early in the 2014 season. That bull had nothing more to prove, and I wanted him to go out as a champion. Bushwacker had a farewell tour for the rest of the season, that culminated at the PBR World Finals in Vegas in October of 2014. In the last out of his career, Bushwacker bucked off 2004 PBR World Champion Mike Lee in just over two seconds for a bull score of 46.50, winning the 2014 PBR World Bull Championship.”
I asked Julio if he had ever sold Bushwacker’s semen. “I’ve got semen stored, but I haven’t sold any yet. I’ve just held onto it. Now that Bushwacker has passed away, I’m starting to hear from contractors interested in purchasing his semen. When I start selling it, I will be asking $5000 per straw.”
Once Bushwacker was officially retired, Julio hauled him to PBR events all over, and put him on display for all the frenzied fans to see and enjoy their favorite bovine athlete. With the purchase of 2025 PBR World Finals tickets in the month of July, the PBR is honoring the late Bushwacker by offering fans a piece of PBR history with an exclusive bobblehead remembering the threetime champion.
We all say,” Rest in Peace, Champ!”
Photos provided courtesy of Julio Moreno.
• ABBI Classic World Champion (2010)
• Three time World Champion Bucking Bull (2011, 2013, 2014)
• PBR Brand of Honor (20??)
• ProBullStats.com Hall of Fame
• Bull Riding Hall of Fame (Class of 2020)
• Longest buckoff streak with 42 consecutive buckoffs, stood until May 2024.
• PBR Premier Series record 64 buckoffs in 66 outs
• Overall record 84 buckoffs in 87 outs (2009-2014)
• Average bull score - 46.16
By Kallie Burzlaff
When you ask a bull rider to finish the sentence, “Something readers may not know about you is...” you expect to get answers like “I rope in my spare time” or “I like to golf a few rounds when I can.”
When you ask Clay Guiton this question, the answer is “I ride a unicycle. Riding it is one of the main things I do to practice. I can even do some tricks on it.”
18-year-old Guiton from Cherryville, North Carolina is the son of bull rider Josh Guiton and like most riders, he started on sheep, moved up to calves, and then transitioned to big bulls. Before transitioning to bulls, however, he learned how to ride the unicycle he found stashed in his barn one summer afternoon.
When he asked his father why it was in their barn, his dad told him that if he wanted to learn to keep his balance on the back of a bull he should learn to balance on a unicycle.
Guiton responded to this: “Well let’s see you do it.”
His father promptly climbed on and rode the unicycle up the driveway. Not to be outdone, Guiton figured if his father could do it, he had better learn himself.
Balancing on his unicycle has certainly helped the second overall draft pick for the PBR New Rider Draft learn to stay on the back of his bulls, a talent that allowed him to secure his place on the newly minted Oklahoma Wildcatter’s team.
Growing up, Guiton and his family hauled stock to bull ridings all over including some PBR events, hooking the young athlete at an early age.
“I always said I was going to be in the PBR,” he told us. “I knew when I turned 18 I wanted to get my pro card and be a professional bull rider. I didn’t have a backup plan.”
Guiton didn’t need a backup plan, finding success early on in junior bull ridings, he won state every year from 6th grade to his 11th-grade year of high school. Even though he turned pro and started riding in the PBR, he and some of the other guys in this rookie class were still considered high school eligible, giving him one more chance to take on the National High School Finals Rodeo.
“I couldn’t qualify in North Carolina this year because of my travel schedule with the PBR, but I went up to Virginia and I qualified through there, so I got to ride at Nationals one more year. I was excited to go back a final time. There are six of us that always hang out together and we all made it; it was a fun way to cap off our high school careers.”
That cap came just 10 months after his first PBR event in Tyler, Texas.
“It was a challenger event and when I walked into the locker room there were all these guys I had been watching at home on TV. Honestly, I was a little bit star-struck,” he said. “It was so different from where I had been before. The PBR is awesome, they treat you really well and it is such a cool environment to be in.”
Despite the top-tier environment, Guiton’s PBR career started a bit rocky. He had a tough time with his first few events, eventually returning home to North Carolina to work on both his fundamentals and his mindset.
“When I came home, I struggled a little bit at first but
then I ended up riding 23 bulls in a row. It is the most I have ever stayed on and that helped me to boost my confidence and give me what I needed to try the PBR again.”
He continued to struggle in the next three matchups, but on his seventh PBR event in Oregon, he covered his bull for 84 points, putting him third. He won his next out and never looked back.
“After making my first ride in the PBR, I knew I was where I needed to be. It was a confidence builder for sure. I knew then that I could do it and I made up my mind that I was going to do it.”
Guiton started this year in Lexington and then headed to Denver which is where he was when he got the call that he was invited to Unleash the Beast (UTB) events in Chicago and Tulsa. Tulsa was a game-changer for Guiton. He turned in a pair of 90-point rides, one on the bull Punchy Pete, who, according to PBR.com, has a 92% buck-off rate. Talk about a confidence boost! Still, he said he wasn’t sure it was going to be enough to keep him on the tour.
“We got back to the hotel room that night, I was staying with John (Crimber) and Kaiden (Loud), and I checked where I was in the standings. I was 36th. You have to be 35th or above to stay in. I was thinking, ‘Shoot, I am going to get cut after all that.’”
Luckily, he got the call to come back another week and once he broke the top 35, he said he wasn’t worried about making it anymore.
“Once I was in the top 35, I stopped stressing about it and just went out, had fun, and rode my bulls,” he said.
While he was out there just having fun, he was attracting the attention of the newest PBR coach J.B. Mauney.
“About March is when talk of the draft started to heat up and there was this broadcast in Indianapolis where J.B. commented that Clay Guiton was the rookie he was most interested in having on his team. That was a big moment for me.”
Guiton found himself sidelined with an injury for the combines and coaches’ meetings that many of the riders attended ahead of the draft but luckily the coaches had seen enough of his rides on the UTB to draft him high. While he was not completely certain where he would end up, his new head coach gave him a good idea on draft night.
“I was in the hotel lobby the night of the draft and J.B. was there and he walked over to me. He had on his denim Oklahoma Wildcatters shirt, and he asked me if I liked the colors on it. I said yeah, I liked them alright, and he told me I better get used to wearing them. Oklahoma had the second pick, so that was when I felt pretty certain of where I was headed.”
Not only does he get to wear the Oklahoma colors for the season, he gets to be on the first team ever to do so.
“It really means a lot to get to be the first team,” he said. “When we were standing there and I was doing my interview after the draft, Brandon (Bates) was standing with me and said, ‘This is going to be our guy, he’s the one we are going to build our team around.’ I was kind of in shock and got a little tongue-tied. I never expected that from the program’s general manager. It is going to be an awesome first season getting to work with all these guys. I am just so thankful for the opportunity.”
What Guiton is most looking forward to aside from a rockstar lineup of teammates is having a new coach.
“I am excited to have a coach,” he said. “I’ve never really had a coach, it has always been my dad, which has been great, he taught me most of what I know, but having a coach like J.B. to help me fine-tune and just hold me accountable is going to make a big difference.”
Another way Guiton stays accountable is by surrounding himself with other riders who push him to do better.
“I think one of the best things young guys can do for themselves is find buddies like John and Marco (Rizzo) to push you to be the best you can be,” he said. “John and I practice at each other’s houses, and when he is here, I don’t want to fall off or not try, so he makes me better. We make each other better.”
Guiton and Crimber started competing with one another back in 2016. Their love of the sport bonded the two together early on. Add Rizzo to the mix in 2020 and you have the makings of a tight-knit but competitive trio.
12-year-old Guiton puts on a show with his unicycle before a local rodeo. Guiton still uses his unicycle to help with balance and core strength.
and giving their all. It means more that way.”
Guiton is also doing his best outside of the arena to be a good role model to the kid he used to be just a few short years ago.
“We had a bull riding out at the house a few weeks ago like we do every Sunday and we finished up, and my buddies and I were getting ready to leave, we had a plane to catch for senior week at the beach. These little kids came up to me with a stack of about 20 cowboy hats that they wanted me to sign. The guys were trying to get me to go but I signed all of them. I couldn’t tell those little kids no.”
Signing autographs and getting recognized is something the teenage star is still getting used to.
“I always want those guys to do well. We all ride better when we are together. I want to see them turn in a 90-point ride as long as mine is a 90.5,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t want to be second by no means, but I want to win against riders who are doing their best
“It has been a surreal experience with everything that has happened,” he said. “Last year I was just a 17-year-old kid and now when we go out, people will sometimes stop and ask for an autograph or a picture. I haven’t fully wrapped my head around that yet.”
Guiton concluded the interview by looking ahead to the team’s season and talking about his time at the farm. He said he decided to stay close to home and soak up his last high school summer. He was enjoying his time off, getting to see his bulls and spending the evenings feeding them with his dad.
“John and I talked about going to the PBR events up North,” he said. “But we just wanted to have one more summer. This is our last chance to do this, and we wanted to make the most of it. Having time with my family and friends and my bulls means a lot. I am not taking anything for granted this year.”
As one chapter closes for Guiton, another, more exciting one is about to begin. A new team with a strong group of coaches and riders is the perfect foundation for this rising PBR star to build his future around.
Kallie Burzlaff resides on a farm near DeWitt, Iowa, and is the newest CAC Media Group team member.
KT: We will try to catch up with you again then. I want to move on and have you talk to me about your family and growing up in rodeo.
BF: So a lot of my family does rodeo. My grandpa Lewis Feild was a 2x World Champion Bareback Rider and a 3x World Champion All Around. He also voted Pick-Up Man of the Year at the NFR twice. My uncle Kaycee Feild was a 6x World Champion Bareback Rider at the NFR. He qualified 12 times and was able to win half of them. On my mom’s side, she also has two brothers, Rhen Reshard and Kaden Reshard who rope and who have both made it to the NFR in the timed events.
KT: That is impressive! It sounds like your family is really involved in the rodeo world.
BF: Yeah they are. And my Grandpa Chad helps me out a lot too. He bought me the practice bulls that we have and helped me put up bucking chutes. He comes to my practices sometimes and is on the back of the chutes with me. He has helped me out so much.
KT: Very cool. Does anyone else in your family ride bulls?
BF: No, I am really the only bull rider. No one else has done much with bulls.
KT: Hats off to you for choosing to go your own way. What are some memories you have with your family growing up around rodeo?
BF: I have gotten to go out to Vegas and watch my uncle ride and it was a really neat experience. It definitely makes me want to do it even more.
KT: What are some of the challenges that you face as you work towards this goal?
BF: I think the fact that I am still pretty new to all this. I have only been riding bulls for a year, so I still have a lot to learn, especially since I am competing against guys who have been riding since they were four and five years old.
KT: Well, you are obviously a pretty quick learner and have been doing a good job. What would you say is one of your biggest strengths as a bull rider?
BF: I would say that I am brave. I am not afraid to get on bulls that might be out of my league. I am going to go for it no matter what. I am also really calm. I don’t get riled up much, I just try to take everything as it is and not let my emotions take over.
KT: That is a quality that will serve you well in the future. Who is it that you consider to be some of your role models in the sport?
KT: Definitely Stetson Wright. He is a bull rider and rides broncs
and is a great all-around cowboy and he is a really nice guy too. I also look up to Joe Frost because he has helped coach me and has really taught me everything I need to know about bull riding and he is always there if I need advice on something.
KT: We hear Stetson’s name a lot when we ask riders that question. Okay, Bronx, now it is time to wrap up with some fun questions. First off, we want you to give us a fit check on all the new stuff you bought at the trade show at nationals.
BF: I got a new necklace and my older brother let me have his boots while we were out there because he decided they were too small.
KT: That was nice of him. What can we find you listening to before you ride? What is your hype song?
BF: I usually listen to Make Way for the King by Ohana Bam.
KT: If you were going on vacation somewhere that didn’t involve rodeo, what would you pick and why?
BF: Costa Rica. It is pretty down there and I like just hanging out on the beach. The last time we were there a group of monkeys were living outside of the place we were staying and they would wake us up in the morning with all their screeching.
KT: I can’t say I have ever had monkey screeches wake me up in the morning. That would be a new experience. Alright, since it is summer, tell us what your favorite ice cream flavor is.
BF: There are two I like. One is Superman, which is blue and red and yellow and the other is razzleberry. It is a wild raspberry and it’s purple.
KT: I have also not had either of those flavors either. You definitely aren’t basic.
BF: No, Ma’am, I guess not.
KT: Alright, Bronx, thanks for chatting with us today and sharing your story with our readers.
BF: Thank you for talking to me, I appreciate it.
KT: For more information about junior bull riding, you can check out the National High School Finals Rodeo page or the Yeti Junior World Finals on Facebook. Be sure to look for a new rider featured in our Rider Rundown piece next month.
Katlin Truelsen is a member of the CAC Media Group and specializes in digital and print media. She is currently a high school junior and lives with her family on a diversified grain and livestock farm in Eastern Iowa.
AUGUST
Aug 1 Brighton, CO
Aug 1 Fort Worth, TX
Aug 1-2 Neligh, NE
Aug 2-3 Pilesgrove, NJ
Aug 2-3 Dickinson, ND
Aug 2-4
Aug 3
Aug 6
Aug 6
Aug 7 Weeping Water, NE
Aug 8 Fort Worth, TX
Aug 8
Aug 9-10
Aug 9-10
Aug 10
Aug 10
Aug 12-13
Aug 15 Fort Worth, TX
Aug 16 Tecumseh, NE
Aug 16-17
Aug 16-18
Aug 16-18
Aug 17
Aug 22 Fort Worth, TX
Aug 22 Jasper, AR
Aug 22 Coeur D’Alene, ID
*-Added Money Amount Is For Each Night Information Subject to Change Without Notice Date
Aug 22-24 Denton, TX $1,000* 940-391-8179 North Texas Fair & Rodeo Bull Blowout
Aug 23-24 Rochester, MN PBR Challenger Series
Aug 23-25 Austin, TX PBR Teams Series
Aug 24 Eureka, MT PBR Challenger Series
Aug 24 Bremerton, WA $35,000 PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Aug 29 Fort Worth, TX PBR Challenger Series
Aug 30-Sep 1 Springfield, MO PBR Teams Series
Aug 31-Sep 1 Belton, TX PBR Challenger Series
Aug 31 Essex, IA $3,000 712-374-6053 Bull Riders of America
SEPTEMBER
Sep 1 Nashua, IA $4,000 712-374-6053 Bull Riders of America
Sep 4 Lewiston, ID $20,000 PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Sep 5 Fort Worth, TX PBR Challenger Series
Sep 6 Osakis, MN $5,000 8/25 5-9pm 320-226-1487 NFPB
Sep 6 Salem, IL $2,000 9/2 5-10pm 618-267-1782 NFPB
Sep 6-7 Kennewick, WA PBR Challenger Series
Sep 6-7 Albuquerque, NM $20,000 PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Sep 6-8 Kansas City, MO PBR Teams Series
Sep 7 Kinmundy, IL
Sep 7 Kramer, NE
$1,500 9/2 5-10pm 618-267-1782 NFPB
$4,000 712-374-6053 Bull Riders of America
Sep 9-10 Pendleton, OR $150,000 PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale
Sep 12 Fort Worth, TX PBR Challenger Series
Sep 13-14 Eureka, MO
$2,000* 9/2 5pm 573-823-2569 NFPB
Sep 13-15 Anaheim, CA PBR Teams Series
Sep 14 Lewisville, TX PBR Challenger Series
Sep 14 Stockton, CA PBR Challenger Series
Sep 19 Fort Worth, TX PBR Challenger Series
Sep 20-21 Nebraska City, NE $7,500 712-374-6053 Bull Riders of America
Sep 20-22 Greensboro, NC PBR Teams Series
Sep 21 Wahpeton, ND
$5,000 9/8 5-9pm 320-226-2569 NFPB
Sep 21 Charlottesville, VA PBR Challenger Series
Sep 25 Fort Smith, AR $15,000 PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Sep 27-28 Belle, MO
$6,500 9/16 6pm/8pm 417-924-3591 NFPB
Sep 27-28 Fort Worth, TX PBR Teams Series
YOUTH BULL RIDING EVENTS
AUGUST
Aug 2 West Plains, MO
WCMB / Ozark Family Rodeo
Aug 3 Thayer, MO WCMB / Ozark Family Rodeo
Aug 10 Ponder, TX
$100-500 7/27 Text 940-200-1103 Denton Co Cowboy Church Bull Bash
Aug 10 Licking, MO WCMB / Ozark Family Rodeo
Date
*-Added Money Amount Is For Each Night Information Subject to Change Without Notice
Aug 20-21 Denton, TX EC 8/11 Enter online at ntfair.com
Texas Fair & Rodeo (21 & under)
Aug 24 Thayer, MO WCMB / Ozark Family Rodeo Finals
Aug 24 Lakeland, FL
Mon prior Enter online - link on FB page WCMB / Legends in the Making
Aug 31 Eastland, TX $2,250 Mon prior text 903-754-1034 Built God Tough Roughstock Series
SEPTEMBER
Sep 14 Mt. Pleasant, TX $2,250 Mon prior text 903-754-1034 Built God Tough Roughstock Series
Sep 21 Lakeland, FL
Mon prior Enter online - link on FB page WCMB / Legends in the Making
Sep 30-Oct 5 Mt. Pleasant, TX EC 9/14 saddlebook.com/events/7647 WCMB World Finals
BUCKING BULL EVENTS
AUGUST
Aug 2-3 Buchanan, TN 7/20-27
Aug 3 Duncan, OK 8/2
Aug 7 Erick, OK 8/6
Aug 9 West Monroe, LA 7/15-22
Aug 16 Halfway River First Nation, AB 8/5-6
Aug 17 Porum, OK 8/5-10
Aug 17 Binford, ND 8/16
Aug 17 Newton Falls, OH 8/16
Aug 21 Erick, OK 8/20
ABBI / K Bar C Beast of the East
ABBI / Claim A Bull
ABBI / NBTR Derby / Classic
ABBI
ABBIC / Halfway River Valley
ABBI / Jenkins Series
ABBI / NBA
ABBI / NFG
ABBI / NBTR
Aug 22-24 Denton, TX $5,000* 940-391-8179 North Texas Fair & Rodeo Bull Blowout
Aug 24 Idaho Falls, ID 8/23
Aug 24 Green River, WY 8/23
Aug 31 Dickinson, ND 8/30
Aug 31-Sep 1 Ft Lupton, CO 8/10-18
SEPTEMBER
Sep 1 Ft. Lupton, CO
ABBI / HDBBA
ABBI / HDBBA
ABBI / NBA
ABBI / BULLc
ABBI / BULLc
Sep 5 Prince Albert. SK ABBIC
Sep 7 TBA, OH
Sep 7 Elko, NV
Sep 7 Lloydminster, AB
Sep 7 Duncan, OK
Sep 8 Erick, OK 8/19-26
Sep 13 Duncan, OK 8/26-9/2
Sep 14 Okeechobee, FL
Sep 14 Fallon, NV
Sep 21 West Sunbury, PA
Sep 21 Porum, OK
ABBI / K Bar C Beast of the East Finals
ABBI / WSBBA
ABBIC
ABBI / Claim A Bull Finale
ABBI / Carsen Perry Memorial
ABBI / Fall Series 2
ABBI / Buckin for the Cause Futurity
ABBI / HDBBA
ABBI / NFG
ABBI / Jenkins Series Finale
Do You Have a Livestock Layover or Practice Pen?
List it for FREE in the Classifieds. Call our office at 325-500-BULL (2855)
For More Information on listing your facilities
PISGAH, AL - TIM COX, TCB, ANYTIME, CALL FIRST, 256-996-9426
NEW MARKET, AL - EC Hunt, 5:30pm Sun., 256-683-8169
BATESVILLE, AR - James Bechdoldt, Anytime, Call First, 870-307-9923
CONWAY, AR - Mark Lindsey, Ride & Shine Cattle Company, Anytime, Call First, 501-730-4557
ELFRIDA, AZ - D Davis Bucking Bulls, 4pm Sat., Call First, 520-642-3737
LINCOLN, CA - B Bar Ranch, B Bar Indoor Arena, Rain or Shine, All Rough Stock, 916-206-4059
MARYSVILLE, CA - PacWest, 5pm Wed., Steers & Bulls, Call First, 530-751-6643
FRESNO, CA - Toro Bravo Arena, Thur. by appt., Call First, 559-577-2445
ELIZABETH, CO - Tuff Garcia, Tuff E Nuff, 6pm Mon., Rain or Shine, 970-846-0788
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO - Tuff E Nuff, 6pm Wed., Apr-Nov., 970-846-6828/3354
ALDEN, IA - Circle C Rodeo, 6pm Wed., Rain or Shine, Call for alternate dates 641-373-3625
WOODBINE, IA - Tom & Kristina Kelley, every Sun. (weather permitting). Beginner - rank bulls. Call 712-5922493
KENDALLVILLE, IN - B Bar A Bucking Bulls, Heidi Speicher, 7pm Every Thur, Call First, 260-564-5864/Troy
JACKSONVILLE, IL - Lazy C Rodeo, 10am-3pm Sun., Rain or shine, Call First, 217-245-8280
JACKSONVILLE, NC - Aleck Barnard, Elite Cowboy Rodeo Assoc., Onslow Rodeo Arena, 6pm Every Other Sunday, Call First, 910-381-8597
CHANDLER, OK - JAM Bulls, 2pm Sun., 7pm Wed., Call First, 405-570-9010
SOPER/HUGO, OK - RBL Rodeo Bulls, Anytime with 4-6 hour notice, Rain or Shine, 307-461-1741
EAGLEVILLE, TN - BF Cattle Company, 2pm Sun., Jackpot, Call First, 615-336-4313
EMORY, TX - Oakes & Greene’s, 7pm Wed., 903-348-8630
LORENA, TX - Rocking S Ranch, Tue., Jackpot, Call First, 254-716-0779
MANSFIELD, TX - JC Knapp Ranch, 4pm Sun/6pm Wed., $5 at the gate to ride as many as you want, 817-223-3692
SIMMS, TX - Wilburn Bucking Bulls, 7pm Every Other Thur., 903-543-3025
PETROLIA, TX - Norris Dalton, 7pm Wed., 940-733-3020
DECATUR, TX - Cullen Calame, Denton Creek Farms, Call First, 940-393-3730
NOCONA, TX - 4x Arena, Call First, 501-944-1907
NOCONA, TX - Locke Bucking Bulls, Call First, 940-872-0733
WILLS POINT, TX - Austin Arena Bulls, Barrels, & Poles. $10 per ride/run or $25 for all you can ride. Bulls for all ages. 214-7265799
BATESVILLE, AR - James Bechdoldt, White River Rodeo, 870-307-9923
RAYMOND, IL - Randy Littrell, Shop Creek Cattle, 217-556-0551
MARYSVILLE, KS - Gary Hershey, 4H Bucking Bulls and Marysville Sale Barn, Call First, 785-292-4952
LAKE CHARLES, LA - Keith Strickland, Deep South Rodeo Genetics, 337-304-1493
SALEM, MO - Hwy 32 & 72, Salem Livestock Auction, 573-729-8880
HELENA, MT - Jim Horne, Bull Horne Ranch, 406-459-5706
FERNLEY, NV - Nathan Pudsey, Circle P Bucking Bulls, 775-750-2168
CLAYTON, NM - Justin Keeth, Lazy J 3 Bucking Bulls, 575-447-0877
BETHESDA, OH - 15 Miles off I-70, TCB Ranch, 304-281-4530
SOPER/HUGO, OK - RBL Rodeo Bulls, Anytime w/ 4-6 hours notice, 307-461-1741
BOX ELDER, SD - Gus “Duane” Aus, Lazy Heart O Ranch, 605-923-3426
BUCHANAN, TN - Parsons & Milam 731-642-8346
CLARKSVILLE, TX - Brian Agnew, BA Livestock, 903-669-9189
Your Ad Could Be Here! Call 325-500-2855 for more details
DUBLIN, TX - Mike Godfrey, Godfrey 4X Cattle, 817-235-2852
MANSFIELD, TX - JC Knapp Ranch, JC Knapp Rodeo, 817-223-3692
MIDLAND, TX - Ted Norton, Norton Bucking Bulls, 432-413-8433
DECATUR, TX - Cullen Calame, Denton Creek Farms, 940-393-3730
SIMMS, TX - Near I-30 Texarkana, Wilburn Bucking Bulls, 863-381-2799
CHEYENNE, WY - Floyd & Ann Thomas, TTnT Ranch, 307-778-8806
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On a ranch, there’s a man who’s only job
Is to give you what you need for yours
He’s usually a kid still wet ‘hind the ears
But a good one will handle the chores
He cares for the horses you use all day long
He feeds them and curries them too
He makes sure they’re ready for you to ride
And they don’t need a new horseshoe
A good wrangler rises way before dawn
And makes sure the horses are fed
He saddles them horses and checks out the tack
Before cowboys rise from their bed
He may also be a colt starter
And work with the young horses too
He’s usually busy from can see to can’t
As hours go, he puts in a few!
He does more than care for the horses
He mends fences and chops firewood
A wrangler’s job is essential for sure
He helps that ol’ ranch to run good
By Kelly B. Robbins
by Mike Aemmer
