2019 PRCA Media Guide - Awards

2018 Stock of the Year

Best saddle bronc 2018

Lunatic From Hell Burch Rodeo

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

The son of Lunatic Fringe was a heavenly draw in 2018. “It’s what we bank on every year when crossing studs andmares,”saidMatt Burch, co-owner of Burch Rodeo with brother Chad Burch.“It doesn’t happen often because there are a lot of great horses now, and to win it in this day and age means a lot. That’s what you raise them for, you raise them to be the best.” At the 2018Wrangler NFR, CoBurn Bradshaw scored 87.5 points on Lunatic From Hell. By Round 10, Bradshaw was crowned the 2018

Saddle Bronc Riding Average Champion. For the 2018 regular season, Dawson Hay scored 92.5 points aboard Lunatic From Hell at the United States Open Xtreme Broncs Match in Faith, S.D. Standing at about 15.3 hands tall and weighing in at 1,350 pounds, this 10-year-old light-colored bay gelding has improved with age. “Everyone in this business is out to raise great horses and make it better for cowboys,”Burch said.“Better horses mean more chances to win and my hat’s off to those guys, everyone has improved their breeding programs.” Swapping studs, artificial insemination and other breeding practices are some of the ways Burch credited for the improvements made in raising roughstock. “The world of bucking horses is starting to blow up,”Burch said.“It’s a tough ballgame, and we love playing it.”

Best bucking bull 2018

Cowboys love a challenge, particularly if it’s an unrideable bull. Big Stone Rodeo, Inc.’s Spotted Demon came out the victor every time he was drawn at a PRCA event in 2018. “They don’t come along every day and when they do it’s just a bonus,” said Bruce Sunstrum, owner of Big Stone Rodeo, Inc.“It means quite a bit because there’s a lot of bulls out there to pick from.” At the 2018 Wrangler NFR, Boudreaux Campbell drew Spotted Demon for Round 10 but was immediately bucked off. The last time a PRCA cowboy made a qualified ride on the bull was Tyler Taylor with an 89.5-point ride at California Rodeo Salinas, July 23, 2017. The 1,800-pound behemoth and last year’s runner-up for Bull of the Year got the best of many top bull riders in 2018. “When he bucks and turns back, he kicks pretty high and he’s a big bull,”Sunstrum said.“He’s not a real mean bull, but he’s got what it takes to be a champion.” Spotted Demon Big Stone Rodeo, Inc.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

PRCA AWARDS

561

2019 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE