ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 21, 2018

STOCK OF

THE YEAR

Biggest bang for the buck Cowboys find success with top stock

BY MATT NABER I t takes a perfect combination of animal athleticism and the cowboys capable of showcasing their potential to win PendletonWhisky “Let ’er Buck” Stock of the Year. This year’s winners are C5 Rodeo’s Virgil for Bareback Horse of the Year, Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic FromHell for Saddle Bronc of the Year and Big Stone Rodeo, Inc.’s Spotted Demon for Bull of the Year. VIRGIL Virgil won Bareback Horse of the Year for the second year in a row after taking many cowboys to the winner’s circle in 2018. “It really means a lot to us, me as an owner yes, but it means more to my crew – we all love this horse, and it just means so much to do it two years in a

Bareback rider Jake Brown on Virgil in Round 8 of the 2017 Wrangler NFR. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

saddle broncs of the year in 2014-15 and he was at the top of his game in 2018. He was the top bronc at Clovis, Calif., Fort Pierre, S.D., Deadwood (S.D.) Days of ’76 Rodeo, the Home OnThe Range Champions Ride in Sentinel Butte, N.D., and the United States Open Xtreme Broncs Match in Faith, S.D. SPOTTED DEMON Cowboys love a challenge, particularly if it’s an un-rideable bull, and 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 are a lot of bulls out there to pick from. There are probably 500-600 out there, and to get through that many is a pretty good deal.” The last time a PRCA cowboy made a qualified ride on Spotted Demon was Tyler Taylor with an 89.5-point ride on the bull at California Rodeo Salinas, July 23, 2017.

2018 TOP STOCK BAREBACK RIDING 1. Virgil, C5 Rodeo

row with the same horse,” said Vern McDonald, owner of C5 Rodeo. “You can’t put a price on it, it’s overwhelming.” Reigning three-time PRCAWorld Champion Bareback Rider TimO’Connell won Round 3 of the 2017Wrangler NFR with a 91.5-point ride on him. Their paths crossed again at the Fallon County Fair & Rodeo in Baker, Mont., Aug. 19, and the result was record- breaking with a 91-point ride. LUNATIC FROM HELL The son of Lunatic Fringe was a heavenly draw in 2018. “It’s what we bank on every year when crossing studs and mares,” said Matt Burch, co- owner of Burch Rodeo with brother Chad. “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.” Lunatic FromHell ranked in the Top 3

2. Onion Ring, Korkow Rodeos 3. Showstomper, Frontier Rodeo

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Lunatic From Hell, Burch Rodeo 2. Maple Leaf, Frontier Rodeo 3. (Tie) Spring Planting, Flying Five Rodeo Floodtide, Rosser Rodeo BULL RIDING 1. Spotted Demon, Big Stone Rodeo, Inc. 2. SweetPro’s Bruiser, D&H Cattle 3. Hot N Ready, Smith, Harper & Morgan

ProRodeo Sports News 12/21/2018

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