SDCUC sponsors Northern Bull Riding Tour

The bulls are headed to Sioux Falls for the Northern Bull Riding Tour (NBRT) Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Sioux Empire Fair Grounds. The South Dakota Corn Utilization Council (SDCUC) will co-sponsor the event which will bring together top bull riders and rodeo stock for a weekend of riding.

The NBRT kicks off Saturday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. with Make-A-Wish night. More than 50 South Dakota Make-A-Wish kids and their families are honored with a special entrance into the riding arena to open the night of bull riding. The NBRT and Make-A-Wish have a long history of joining together to help raise money to grant wishes to Make-A-Wish families in South Dakota. The Make-A-Wish families enjoy an expense paid weekend during the NBRT finals and take part in various activities such as a free breakfast with the bull riders, horseback and wagon rides and tickets to the bull riding finals.

“The South Dakota Corn Utilization Council is pleased to partner with an organization and event that places a special emphasis on kids in need,” said Jake Volkers, of Brookings, S.D., and chairman of the SDCUC promotion and education committee. “If you’ve never been to a rodeo or bull riding before, this regional event is the one to come out and support.”

After a night full of bull bucking on Saturday, riders will move into the Finals Championship on Sunday, Oct. 1, beginning at 2 p.m., vying for an $8,000 purse for the rider who hangs on the longest.

Also featured throughout the weekend are bull fighters Beaver Scott, Colin Lamont and Jeremiah Horst who play an important role in protecting the cowboys by distracting the bulls and coaxing the animals to buck in certain directions to help both the bull and the cowboy achieve high scores.

No bull riding event would be complete without a rodeo clown and Duane Reichert will entertain the crowds at the NBRT event this weekend.

A trade show will be on hand both days of the event and live band “West Bound” will perform on Saturday night.

“The NBRT finals is an event that appeals to city and rural audiences alike,” said Volkers.

For more information about the NBRT, visit the website at www.nbrt.net.