“These are not your typical bucking bulls,” said Mike Ramsey, promoter of the Stafford County Fair and Rodeo. “These bulls like to tear things up.”
Saturday night these bulls will get their chance.
The Stafford County Fair and Rodeo is adding a new attraction with American freestyle bullfighting for the final night of the two-day rodeo, which runs July 9-10 with events beginning at 8 p.m. both nights. The rodeo is held at the Bernard Bartlett Arena at the fairgrounds north of Stafford.
Evan Allard, a 21-year-old from Vinita, Okla., is one of the top names that has signed on to compete.
Allard was the 2009 Ultimate Bullfighters association champion and the 2009-2010 spring champion at Rex Dunn’s World Championship Bullfights. He also won Rex Dunn’s Bullfight in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the Kentucky Derby Festival Extreme Bullfight in Louisville, Ky.
In freestyle bullfighting competitors are given 70 seconds to engage with the bull. Points are scored by how close of contact they keep to the bull, working with the barrels, and “jumping the bull is extra points,” according to Ramsey.
“The bull is about half the points,” he said. “If the bull is charging a lot you’ll get more points than one you are constantly having to call and coax over.”
With the stock coming up for the rodeo coaxing may not be a problem. The Spanish-bred bulls have a nasty demeanor. They are a bit smaller in size than some of the bucking bulls, but they make up for it in attitude.
“These are not timid bulls,” Ramsey said. “Nobody likes having them around because they are always breaking something. I don’t even like having them out at my place over the weekend.”
The Stafford County Fair Rodeo will feature a full program on both Friday and Saturday, but the bullfighting will be at the end of the program on Saturday night only. Ramsey said they have to make some changes for the bulls, and shorten the arena.
The regular program this year is sure to have some good competition as the rodeo continues to draw top competitors.
Local cowboy Dalton Gleason is scheduled to attend. Ramsey said Gleason has been doing well this season, and will put on a good show.
Jayme Ramsey, Mike’s daughter, will be showing her breakaway roping skills. Jayme is currently ranked fourth in World competition.
Advance tickets are $5, and available at either Farm Bureau office in Stafford or St. John. Admission at the gate is $8.
“This should be one of our best rodeos yet,” Ramsey said. “These are no timid bulls.”
