The Elite Professional Bullriders will pull into Darby on Saturday for the annual Darby Bullarama put on by the Darby Rodeo Association. The gates of the rodeo grounds open at 4 with the performance at 7pm. In conjunction with the bull riding event, the Pink Bull Explosion will feature one ‘pink’ bull who will either earn his rider some extra cash, or the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign will benefit if the bull bucks the rider off.
This year, $10,000 has been added. The highest total score will take home the $10,000 plus the first place portion of the purse. There is $5,000 added money in the purse which will be paid out to four places. Only 30 riders can ride in the event, and there are six alternates. The top riders come back in the second go for the money.
The added $10,000 has generated a lot of interest according to Cal Ruark, the ramrod of the event. In fact, there are several Professional Bull Rider association cowboys who will be riding at Darby. These PBR cowboys are in the lower ranks of the PBR and are working to move up in the ranks. Among them are Cody Campbell, Cody Ford, Shawn Best II, River Stephenson, Zach Peterson, John Smith and Brandon Wallentine. In addition, some PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) bull riders will be riding. They include Tristan O’Neal of Valier, who won the PRCA rodeo in Augusta last week; and he was the Montana High School Rodeo bull riding champion last year. Another well known Montana cowboy, Gerald Eash, will be in attendance as will Clay Applegate of Deer Lodge.
The event is an action packed evening of snot-blowing bulls from Red Eye Rodeo of Deer Lodge. Following the bull riding, there will be a concert by Cold Hard Cash. Tickets are available at the gate for $20 or reserved tickets at Murdoch’s or Darby Wine & Spirits for $25.
On Friday night there will be a kids rodeo. This will feature a kids horse race, steer riding, and calf riding. For entry information, please call Janine at 406-802-4374The High Country Cowboys will play from 6:30 to 8:30. Admission is $10.