Professional Bucking Bull Association and the National Bull Riding Series
Professional Bucking Bull Association and the National Bull Riding Series
by Celeste Karpf, Salt Block Gazzette
At the Professional Bucking Bull Association (PBBA), their motto is: If He Bucks, Bring Him! and they aren't joking. The PBBA holds events,co-sanctioned by the Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association (SEBRA), that stand apart from any other bull riding shows out there. That's because their competitions are open to any bulls of any pedigree and any age.. "As long as the bull bucks hard and gives it all they got", says Mike Porter, CEO and co-creator of PBBA. We're for any age and pedigree, once they're old enough to carry a rider.
Mike recalls when he and co-founders Ernie Treadway and Danny Scroggins, all of whom have been around bulls and livestock their whole lives, first decided on starting the PBBA a little over two years ago. "The three of us were driving to Texas to pick up a bull I had just purchased," explains Mike. The long drive sparked a conversation about the lack of competitions for bulls based on their drive and willingness alone, regardless of pedigree or age. "We thought there should be a competition for four-year-olds and older, regardless of their pedigrees." By the time they returned they had picked a name and their first event was held the following spring.
From a total of seven events in their first year (finals included), the PBBA now has 162 different bulls competing in 17 events from May to October with the finals held January 16 and 17 in Clemson, SC. This year Mike partnered up with Tom Smith the former CEO of SEBRA to develop the National Bull Riders (NBR) series finals. “Mike wanted to create a platform to provide quality cowboys for the PBBA Finals and to work out a means to award top quality prizes. The 2008 NBR series finals is sponsored by Wrangler and WW Livestock Systems and features 30 top SEBRA riders competing against the PBBA's top 30 bulls for the championship prizes of a custom World Championship saddle and World Championship buckles. During the competitions the bull and the bull rider's performances are judged separately giving them both individual championships.
"It's a real outstanding group of guys," says Tom Smith, former CEO of SEBRA . The current first place rider is Jeremy James, of Summerfield, NC. "I've known Jeremy since his rookie years and he's been having a phenomenal year," says Tom. This is Jeremy's fourth year of professional bull riding; he is also the brother in law of Devin Long who is a veteran SEBRA Bull Rider. Other notable riders include Michael Lane in second place, Brandon Duncan in third, and Josh Faircloth in fourth. The current fifth place rider, Ryan Radford, was SEBRA's 2006 Bull Riding Champion.
The NBR series offers bull riders and contractors from all over a chance to come together and show off their skills and exceptional bulls. "We've had events all over from as far north as Ohio, to as far south as the Carolinas, Georgia, Kentucky, and Alabama," says Mike. In 2009, the PBBA plans to bring even more events to more states across the country to make them available to more people.
Another great benefit to the competitions is that it promotes the bulls and adds to their value. The current number one bull of the year is Big Show, owned by Clay Ellison. Big Show won $14,240 so far and will compete for the championship in January. Mike Porter is proud of his own bull, Homer, who is currently the number three bull in the PBBA. "The best part is the excitement, I really like to see my bulls get out there and really perform; to see them give 110 percent and but their hearts into it," says Mike.
Don’t miss the action in Clemson, SC on January 16th and 17th. For more information and a schedule of events visit www.PBBAnow.com or www.NBRbull.com.
by Celeste Karpf, Salt Block Gazzette
At the Professional Bucking Bull Association (PBBA), their motto is: If He Bucks, Bring Him! and they aren't joking. The PBBA holds events,co-sanctioned by the Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association (SEBRA), that stand apart from any other bull riding shows out there. That's because their competitions are open to any bulls of any pedigree and any age.. "As long as the bull bucks hard and gives it all they got", says Mike Porter, CEO and co-creator of PBBA. We're for any age and pedigree, once they're old enough to carry a rider.
Mike recalls when he and co-founders Ernie Treadway and Danny Scroggins, all of whom have been around bulls and livestock their whole lives, first decided on starting the PBBA a little over two years ago. "The three of us were driving to Texas to pick up a bull I had just purchased," explains Mike. The long drive sparked a conversation about the lack of competitions for bulls based on their drive and willingness alone, regardless of pedigree or age. "We thought there should be a competition for four-year-olds and older, regardless of their pedigrees." By the time they returned they had picked a name and their first event was held the following spring.
From a total of seven events in their first year (finals included), the PBBA now has 162 different bulls competing in 17 events from May to October with the finals held January 16 and 17 in Clemson, SC. This year Mike partnered up with Tom Smith the former CEO of SEBRA to develop the National Bull Riders (NBR) series finals. “Mike wanted to create a platform to provide quality cowboys for the PBBA Finals and to work out a means to award top quality prizes. The 2008 NBR series finals is sponsored by Wrangler and WW Livestock Systems and features 30 top SEBRA riders competing against the PBBA's top 30 bulls for the championship prizes of a custom World Championship saddle and World Championship buckles. During the competitions the bull and the bull rider's performances are judged separately giving them both individual championships.
"It's a real outstanding group of guys," says Tom Smith, former CEO of SEBRA . The current first place rider is Jeremy James, of Summerfield, NC. "I've known Jeremy since his rookie years and he's been having a phenomenal year," says Tom. This is Jeremy's fourth year of professional bull riding; he is also the brother in law of Devin Long who is a veteran SEBRA Bull Rider. Other notable riders include Michael Lane in second place, Brandon Duncan in third, and Josh Faircloth in fourth. The current fifth place rider, Ryan Radford, was SEBRA's 2006 Bull Riding Champion.
The NBR series offers bull riders and contractors from all over a chance to come together and show off their skills and exceptional bulls. "We've had events all over from as far north as Ohio, to as far south as the Carolinas, Georgia, Kentucky, and Alabama," says Mike. In 2009, the PBBA plans to bring even more events to more states across the country to make them available to more people.
Another great benefit to the competitions is that it promotes the bulls and adds to their value. The current number one bull of the year is Big Show, owned by Clay Ellison. Big Show won $14,240 so far and will compete for the championship in January. Mike Porter is proud of his own bull, Homer, who is currently the number three bull in the PBBA. "The best part is the excitement, I really like to see my bulls get out there and really perform; to see them give 110 percent and but their hearts into it," says Mike.
Don’t miss the action in Clemson, SC on January 16th and 17th. For more information and a schedule of events visit www.PBBAnow.com or www.NBRbull.com.
Comments