The 15th Annual Red Wilk Construction Tuff Hedeman Bull Bash
HURON, South Dakota - Two World Champions, one old and the other newly crowned, will be competing for the first time in Huron as the Red Wilk Construction Tuff Hedeman Bull Bash rolls into town on August 29-30 for the fifteenth consecutive year as the opening act of the Grandstands entertainment at the South Dakota State Fair.
In front of the Fairgoers, inside the locked and loaded bucking chutes will be many riders looking to make a leap this season, and if and when they do, the Red Wilk Construction Bull Bash will be the “legend in the making” place where they launch their career.
It takes guts – not to mention enormous talent and stainless-steel self-confidence, for someone who is just a kid, to ride against the warriors and the rulers of the sport - especially with Tuff Hedeman peering into the chutes as you get ready to nod your head.
“This roster of bull riders will be the best one that the SD state fair has seen, we have many great riders returning and many new up and coming riders that I promise will all put on a great show. This is a show you are not going to want to miss - we are honored the Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour is coming to South Dakota," said Red Wilk.
THE CONTENDERS
Tuff’s invitational line-up includes 44 bull riders from two countries, 13 states, and consists of seven competitors including Ardie and Corey Maier (2017 winner of the Bull Bash) of Timber Lake, who call South Dakota home. With their grandfather, Bud Day, enshrined in the South Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Maier's hail from a family rich in rodeo tradition – their cousins are World Champion bareback riders, Mark and Marvin Garrett. Ardie and Rorey, the third bull riding brother, are both National Finals Rodeo qualifiers.
PBR World Champion Mike Lee of Alvord, Texas, the only rider to ever win the PBR World Championship, and Finals event average title in the same year, and Indian World Champion, Cody Jesus, of Sawmill, Arizona lead the roster as the most decorated pro athletes. But, in the remaining 42 slots are National Finals Rodeo qualifiers, International bull riding champions, and the Cinderella’s of bull riding.
Referred to in the industry as the Young Guns, the next generation, and the future of the sport of rodeo and bull riding, many coming to Huron are waiting for the opportunity to strut their stuff in front of 4-time World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Tuff Hedeman. The goal - gaining a permanent seat on his nationwide televised bull riding tour.
“Every year I look forward to this event in Huron and the time of year - the summer’s full of national youth bull riding competitions and turning professional is the next step for these incredibly young, healthy, enthusiastic riders – the next generation of World Champions will be in Huron and the guys are chomping at the bit like thoroughbreds in the gate at the Kentucky Derby - to start their careers,” laughed Hedeman.
WATCH ME!
Dedicated local fans will remember the two Trey's on the roster, Holston, and Kimzey who return to Huron where both made names for themselves early in their careers placing second and third respectively in the 2017 Huron competition. Holston, the former Jr. High and National High School Bull Riding Champion and Kimzey, the younger brother of former Huron Champion and 4-time World Champion bull rider Sage Kimzey, are also on this year’s day sheet as skilled professionals.
Trey Kimzey Returns to Huron as a seasoned bull rider
Fourth generation pro-rodeo cowboy Brett Custer will return to the arena after an injury in July. Custer is the son of 1992 PRCA champion bull rider Cody Custer who was one a co-founder of the PBR with Tuff Hedeman.
Fourth Generation pro rodeo cowboy Brett Custer
At the moment, the three who have been honing their skills in August at the Tuff Hedeman Midwest Swing Breakout Series are Oklahoma cowboy and 2-time Midwest Swing event winner and series leader, Matt Palmer. Hunter Ball, Brandon Davis and Caleb McCaslin who are atop the Midwest Swing leaderboard.
Hunter Ball
18-year-old National High School Rodeo Champion Cole Skender, Hamburg, Arkansas, and International Finals Rodeo Champion Mason Taylor, Maypearl, Texas, return to the tour after a successful summer where they both won their coveted career bull riding titles. Former Youth Bull Riding National Champion Cannon Cravens, Porum, Oklahoma, and Coy Pollmeier Fort Scott, Kansas, who finished in the top 5 two consecutive years at the NHSFR are also schedule to debut in Huron.
IN THEIR HONOR
In addition to the Tuff Hedeman produced bull riding action, Red Wilks will continue his American Hero Ceremony, honoring 24 veterans with individual presentations including a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. and a commemorative coin
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The bull riding action begins with performance one at 8:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, August 29, and Performance 2 on Thursday, August 30. 40 bull riders will get on one bull each in Wednesday night's Breakout Series event followed by the highest scored rider in the round getting on the Tuff Hedeman selected Bounty Bull for an extra $5,000. Performance 2 on Thursday is the three-round tournament style event, the riders' score advances them thru three rounds hopefully earning a coveted slot in the final four-man "Shoot Out round" where the bulk of the $37,500 prize purse, championship title and custom prizes are earned.
Immediately following the bull riding, fans will get a chance to meet and get autographs from Tuff Hedeman and the bull riders. Tuff Hedeman and the bull rider’s appearance schedule will be released at a later date
Tickets for the two-day event are on sale now and start at $12 for youth and $20 for adults. Tickets available in either grandstand reserved seating area or the standing room area located in the party pit. They can be purchased at the SD State Fair Office, or by calling (605) 353-7340, or online at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/12046/south-dakota-state-fair.
Log on to http://www.tuffhedemanbullriding.com for more information or follow us on social media: Facebook – Tuff Hedeman, Instagram @TuffHedemanOfficial. For media credentials and additional information contact Leigh Ann Schroeder, 940.902.1112, or tuffhedemanpr@gmail.com.
About Tuff Hedeman
Hedeman formed the Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour after serving for a combined 23 years as the former head of the two nationally organized professional bull riding organizations (PBR and CBR) since his retirement as a rider from the sport in 1999. Referred to as the “pioneer of the sport of bull riding” after producing the first stand-alone bull riding event in Fort Worth, Texas in 1993, Hedeman is a four-time World Champion Bull Rider, inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the most recognizable cowboy in the world. He resides on his ranch near Morgan Mill, Texas and has three sons, Lane, Trevor, and Ryker.