ProRodeo Sports News - September 17, 2021

DIRECTOR’S CUT SCOTT KANIEWSKI Matt Palmer shines at Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale A s Matt Palmer stood on the Happy Canyon Arena dirt, he looked up into the stands at 5,000 fans, a grin as wide as the nearby Umatilla River on his face. The 22-year-old rookie fromClaremore, Okla., had just ridden four consecutive bulls over two nights to claim the 2021 PendletonWhisky Xtreme Bulls Finale.

average with 320 points on four head. All told, he netted $12,741. He knew the pressure coming into the event. As he put it, if he didn’t do well at the X Bulls Finale or the Pendleton Round- Up, only the ProRodeo Tour Finale presented by Pendleton Whisky in Salinas, Calif., would offer a chance to make up ground. And he has ground to make up. He entered the Xtreme Bulls event 21st in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings, $14,189 outside the Top 15. Only 15 days left to qualify for the Wrangler NFR. Two weeks before it looked even bleaker. Palmer was 24th in the standings with $42,042 – more than $24,000 away from reaching a dream. At Ellensburg, he got over the hump. Not only did he cover his eight seconds, he held on for an 88.5-point ride on Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Freaky Friday to win the round, the average and a beautiful buckle that he wore at Pendleton. It set the tone for Palmer. He looked up into the stands and realized that on Wednesday afternoon he would be climbing aboard his fifth bull in three days, this time on the famed grass infield at the Pendleton Round-Up. Palmer took a few deep breaths while on the arena dirt. He held back the tears of joy. Instead, he let the smile on his face grow. He looked at the Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale championship buckle in his hands. He showed it off. He talked about how “slick” some of the Xtreme Bulls buckles were that fellow bull riders were sporting. Whether he keeps wearing the Ellensburg buckle or switches to the tour champion buckle doesn’t matter. “This is a dream come true,” he said. “I’m just marking my name in the history books, and I love it, baby.”

Palmer stared at the fans cheering for him, stunned by what he’d just accomplished. The rookie bull rider tried to take it all in. He tried to fight back the tears the way he’d fought to stay on Sankey Pro Rodeo & PhenomGenetics’ Bad Time in the first round, Beutler & Son Rodeo’s No Doubt in round two, Sankey Pro Rodeo & PhenomGenetics’ Time For Magic in round three and 4L &Diamond S Rodeo’s Rustler’s Roost to cap it off. Not only had he never ridden four consecutive bulls in two days in ProRodeo, he’d never even been on four bulls in two days. He looked up into those stands and saw the first time he got on a sheep. His family didn’t have rodeo roots. The family was driving by a rodeo and Palmer and his brother, Jesse, “started freakin’ out” when they noticed a rodeo. Their folks turned in to the event, and both Matt and Jesse got on sheep for some mutton bustin’. They held on for dear life. After progressing to calves and steers, Matt is still hanging on. “Man, when you’re at these big rodeos and they’ve got this many fans, it makes the hair stand up on my arms and the back of my neck,” Palmer said. “It just gives me that feeling like no other.” He didn’t score a ton of money through those four rounds. His scores of 81.5, 72, 80 and 87.5 earned him a combined $2,401. But those scores led to a windfall – $10,340 for winning the

Scott Kaniewski is the Media Director at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He previously served more than two years as the editor of ProRodeo Sports News. He has nearly two decades of experience in sports journalism, with the last few being consumed by ProRodeo.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/17/2021

ProRodeo.com

6