GUYMON, Okla. – The list of bull riders at the 2011 Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo is like a who’s who of the top bull riders in ProRodeo.
World champions and other Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers will be mixed with up-and-coming rising stars in the game, men who are chasing their dreams to walk away from the season with world champion’s hardware. That’s the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo.
It’s where they’ll match their skills against some of the greatest bulls in the game during the four performances, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8.
“My bull herd’s come around in the last year or two,” said Pete Carr, whose Carr Pro Rodeo is the primary stock contractor in Guymon for the fourth straight year. “Kickapoo Warrior is bull I have that I think will be really good. Blues Man is probably my rankest young bull. In Guymon, I’ll also have Charlie’s Bandito, Fletch and, of course, Black Gold.”
Black Gold is a money-maker for cowboys. In 2009, he led Corey Navarre of Weatherford, Okla., to an NFR round win and a check for more than $17,000. Last December, Clayton Williams of Carthage, Texas, matched moves with the 7-year-old beast for 87 points, good enough for third place in the sixth go-round and $10,451 – Williams also rode Black Gold at RodeoHouston in 2010, scoring 91 points.
“He turns back in the gate every time, and when the rider falls off, he just stops and walks out,” Carr said. “He knows his job and likes it. Black Gold bucks hard every time. He’s been pretty consistent, which is what you want in a bull like that.”
Just a month ago, Tater Hins of Huron, S.D., won the second go-round at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo with an 84 on Black Gold. He won $4,525. Hins finished fourth in money won at the DNCFR with $6,170. Carr also had Charlie’s Bandito in Oklahoma City, and the bull was unridden.
“I got on one of Pete’s bulls last year at Guymon, and I should’ve ridden it,” said Nathan Klassen, a former Prairie Circuit champion from Broken Arrow, Okla. “What I’ve seen look good. You couldn’t ask for a better one than I got on last year.”
A number of the top cowboys have seen the work Carr has done to improve his heard, and they like what they see. Throw in that Carr has solicited help from other contractors to produce the Guymon event, and you can see the commitment to providing fans with the best bucking action in the sport – Korkow Rodeo Co., D&H Cattle Co., Powder River Rodeo Co. and Frontier Rodeo Co. will also be on hand with their animal athletes.
“The great thing about Pete is that he went out and bought some new bulls,” said three-time and reigning world champion J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas. “He’s actually trying to get a better bull herd, which is more than you can say for a lot of stock contractors.”
Has Carr learned a few things over the last few years?
“I don’t know if I’ve learned any more about the bulls over the year, but I think there are lots of bulls out there,” Carr said. “The market is more saturated with high quality bulls, and we’ve had an emphasis on futurity bulls and bloodlines. There are a lot better bulls available for me.”