Event organizers celebrate 10 consecutive years as PBR ‘Event of the Year’
By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Editor’s note: Outlaw Partners is the publisher of Explore Big Sky and is the producer of Big Sky PBR.
Every July, the Big Sky PBR sets its roots deeper into Big Sky dirt as cowboys and bulls bring a Western display of courage and brute strength. But in 2024, event producers Outlaw Partners and Freestone Productions, and officials with the Professional Bull Riders organization, are celebrating a new symbol.
“10x” signifies the Big Sky PBR’s unique popularity among cowboys and fans of the bull riding event, which has now earned the PBR “Event of the Year” award for 10 consecutive years.
“You have no idea how long we have waited to join you here again,” PBR announcer Matt West told the crowd in the opening ceremony Thursday night, the first of three at the Big Sky Events Arena.
“We have blown the roof off this place now 10 consecutive years,” West said.
“The bar keeps raising up,” said Cord McCoy, PBR bull stock contractor. “To think this is 10-time Event of the Year and it keeps gettin’ better. I look down that roster of cowboys and bulls that are here this week, this stuff you gotta go to Vegas or New York to see… there’s some dynamite on this piece of paper.”
Another dynamite character made an appearance, a surprise after his retirement last year.
West said rodeo clown Flint Rasmussen is “the greatest entertainer in the history of our great sport.” The Montana native strode into the arena missing only his PBR uniform and signature face paint.
“I knew that Big Sky couldn’t happen without me just making an appearance,” Rasmussen told the crowd. “I’ve been here every year since its inception, can’t miss Big Sky… We talk about this event all year. We get to go places like Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles… but the buzz with all the riders, the buzz with all of us, is, ‘Hey, when is Big Sky week?’”
Ophir Middle School rising seventh grader Kaydence Rothmeyer sang the national anthem with confidence and grace, and Big Sky week began.
It took 10 cowboys until the first eight-second ride of the night. The crowd came to life with Conner Halverson’s 80-point ride, and the momentum continued as cowboy Brandon Chambers followed suit.
“How about two in a row, Montana,” West exclaimed after Chambers celebrated his 85-point ride by hurling his hat into the air toward the exhilarated crowd.
Five bulls later, Ezekiel Mitchell topped the leaderboard with his 85.5-point ride. He then cut a rug to “Teach Me How to Dougie” near the arena’s northern fence.
For the 13th year, bull riding had returned to Big Sky.
‘Hold on tight’
Ten little cowboys and cowgirls participated in the mutton bustin’ competition, clutching sheep with all their might.
Seven-year-old Tripp Effler stole the show, earning perhaps the most exuberant crowd reaction of the night.
Visiting from the “Buckeye State” of Ohio, Effler rode a sheep aptly named Buckeye. He had competed in mutton bustin’ once before and seemed to know the winning strategy.
“Just to hold on to the sheep as tight as I can—the wool as tight as I can—and also squeeze my legs on there,” Effler explained to EBS after his trophy-winning ride.
The final contestant, Effler clutched the side of the fast-sprinting sheep and rode into the far corner, trumping the high score. He threw his hands in the air to hype the crowd, which responded by chanting “TRIPP” as he received his trophy and paraded it around the arena.
Effler said it felt good to hear the 2,000-plus fans chanting his name—but he revised his answer to “great,” and then “amazing.”
His advice to future contestants was simple: “Hold on tight.”
Another tradition, the Murdoch’s dance competition began with the commentators summoning a crowd member: “Where is Dan on his bachelor party?”
Call it a setup, but the Bozeman groom-to-be was ridiculed by Rasmussen for his unimpressive dance moves.
“Has your fiancée ever actually seen you dance before,” Rasmussen joked, before congratulating him and wishing him luck with Saturday’s wedding.
However, Bozeman 11-year-old Quinn and West Yellowstone resident Jacquelyn actually did dance their boots off. Jacquelyn won the contest after shaking that to the tune of Eminem’s “Shake That.”
After the arena transitioned back to bull-riding, Keyshawn Whitehorse, former PBR rookie of the year and seven-time world finals qualifier, was successful in his chance to ride one bull, Peyton’s Daddy, to win $1,000 and raise another $1,000 for the axeALS Foundation. The bull is named for Eric Stevens, the foundation’s founder, who is currently battling ALS.
As the sun set and The Wood Brothers took the Music in the Mountains stage at Len Hill Park, the bull riding action culminated in a rare showing of toughness: cowboy Trace Brown was granted a re-ride three times, after a sequence of fouls by his bulls.
West said Brown’s persistence was an example of why bull riders are the toughest athletes in any sport.
Brown was fairly bucked on his fourth ride but applauded for his four gritty attempts.
A three-way tie remained on the leaderboard, and all three cowboys rode bounty bulls for a chance to win $10,000. Unfortunately for the riders, none succeeded, but they will carry their 86-point scores into Friday’s action.
