The Bull Thing
The Bull Thing happened in Eureka on Saturday, August 29 starting at 7:00pm at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds (directly after the fair that day). Thousands of spectators bought tickets to watch the professional riders struggle and sway to stay on professional bulls. The event was part of the Touring Pro Division of Professional Bull Riders (PBR). Needless to say...those guys were tough.
And if they are really good at what they do, they can make serious money. Luis Blanco, for example, who currently has top standing in the Touring Pro Division has made close to $50,000 riding bulls so far in 2015. Not bad for an individual who stands 5'8" and weighs in at 175 pounds. Compare this to Sweet Pro's Long John (one of the top bulls) who weighs in at 1500 pounds. There are some riders like Silvanos Alves who earned over $1,400,000 in one year for climbing on the backs of bulls. Guess you just have to decide what you are willing to do to make money.
There were thirty riders in Saturday evening's event. Each one got two rides. PBR says this fast growing sport pits the best bull riders against the fiercest bucking bulls in eight second showdowns. The PBR World Finals were nominated for 2014 Best Single Sport Event by Sports Travel Awards alongside the Boston Marathon, the NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl XLVIII and the NHL Winter Classic. Quite the event to get to watch right here in Eureka and a general admission ticket only cost $15.
So we hope you enjoyed the fair on Saturday, grabbed some dinner at one of the food booths, and then headed over to the rodeo grounds to watch The Bull Thing. Hopefully you bought your tickets in advance and got the early purchase discount. They were available at Montana Market, Ranch Hand, Frontier Bar, First and Last Chance, Trappers, the Eureka Chamber of Commerce, or here on Visit NW Montana.
About the Author: Rita Collins. I am a believer in the power of community and for now I call the Tobacco Valley home. I have lived in nine states and three counties and this community here amazes me - how people reach out to neighbors and even travelers. I've never lived in a place that demonstrates people caring for each other so well. And I've never lived in a place that has such a high percentage of talented musicians and artists. I work with the the Sunburst Community Service Foundation, a nonprofit that began in Eureka twenty years ago and now serves numerous communities in western Montana. And I just started a new business, St. Rita's Amazing Traveling Bookstore and Textual Apothecary. I never could have imagined life being this exciting in my sixth decade.
