PRORODEO Sports News February Digital Edition

BULLS NIGHT OUT COLTON BYRAM MAKES MOST OF OPPORTUNITY, TAKES BULLS NIGHT OUT CROWN By Kensie Darst-Todd, Special to PRORODEO Sports News

C olton Byram made the most of his opportunity during the Fort Worth, TX, Bulls’ Night Out Jan. 20-21 at Dickies Arena. The 26-year-old Mound City, Kan., cowboy didn’t qualify as one of the top 40 bull riders in the world, so he took a chance and walked up. When Luke Mast doctor released out of the event, Byram was drawn in as a replacement. On the night of Jan. 21, Byram couldn’t have asked for the script to be written any better as he walked away as the event champion and earned a $30,000 payday. Byram set his memorable outing in motion with an 87-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Misunderstood in Round 1 on Jan. 20, on a bull that had previously gotten the better of him. “I got on Misunderstood a couple of years ago and he bucked me down,” Byram said. “I knew he was going to be a bucker. I got on him and had a real good ride. I tried really hard again and got to the whistle.” The opening-round score positioned Byram among the leaders, placing fourth in the round behind Tyler Bingham,

Hayes Weight and 2025 PRCA Bull Riding and All-Around World Champion Stetson Wright. Still, the middle round nearly derailed his run. Paired with Sutton Rodeo’s One Chance, Byram was bucked off short of the eight seconds. That moment tested both his patience and resolve. “I drew a really good bull in the second round, but it got me down and it ticked me off,” Byram said. “I kind of let it eat at me for just a second, and I knew I still had one in the short round and that’s where the money’s at.” Byram refocused, relying on a mindset he credits to effort and discipline rather than outcome. “I cleared my head and my buddies told me, ‘Just calm down and when you load in there, take the fight to ‘em,’” he said. “A lot of effort goes into this game. You can ride as good as you want, but effort goes a long way. Effort beats anything in this world.” That approach paid off in the short round. Matched with United Pro Rodeo’s Top Gun, a bull that had bucked him off on two previous occasions, Byram stayed focused

and finally matched the bull jump for jump and spurred through the eight seconds for an 88.5-point ride to secure the title and a $26,600 check for winning the final round. The victory in Fort Worth carried extra sig nificance for the Kansas bull rider, who has battled a lingering shoulder injury and en dured a string of tough breaks at the venue. “I haven’t had much luck here at Fort Worth, and I finally got it turned around,” he said. “Last year I was kind of dealing with a shoulder injury, but I trust my ability that I can ride anything at any time. Doesn’t matter how hurt you are.” As his season rolls forward, Byram’s mo mentum continues with an upcoming stop at the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo. “I know I’m meant to be here,” he said. “I’ve loved it since Day 1, and if that love ever goes away, it’s probably time to hang up the rope. But it ain’t going away for a little while longer.”

Byrum made the most of a walk-up opportunity to win the Fort Worth, TX, Bulls’ Night Out title. PRCA photo by James Phifer

20 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2026