I arrived in Lovington, N.M., this afternoon, driving in from Dodge City, Kan.

I’ve gone from one Wrangler Million Dollar Tour rodeo to another. They’re very similar in many regards, but they’re pretty different, too.

Last week, Roundup Rodeo had a short round, which meant contestants qualified for Sunday’s final night by how well they performed in the preliminary rounds. Each of the five performances featured the very best ProRodeo has to offer.

The Lea County Fair and Rodeo will have the greatest in the game, too. There won’t be a short round, just two rounds and an average for the timed-eventers and one round for barrel racers and roughstock cowboys.

But Lovington offers an Xtreme Bulls Tour event, which kicks off the five nights of exceptional rodeo action. Forty of the top bull riders in ProRodeo will be in town for that, then they will return sporadically through the rest of the week for the tour rodeo.

It ought to be a great show, but I’ve come to expect that.