All Fired Up at Buckeye Days Bulls & Sheep 2017
Written by: Lara Serbin
Buckeye Main Street Coalition
The sun snuck out in time to warm up cheering fans at Buckeye Days Bulls & Sheep event last Saturday January 21st. Cowboy gladiators smiled and high fived as the Honeycutt Rodeo Family assembled the fringed bull riders inside the Helzapoppin’ Arena located in Historic Downtown Buckeye, Arizona.
Buckeye Days Bulls & Sheep
Among the 23 riders were Jason Bigman from Campe Verde, Dawson Stutting from Buckeye, Nate Zamora, Carlos Ravago from Benson going on to Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Finals, Bucky Rump from Queen Creek, returning champion from Buckeye Days 2014 Nate Zamora, Eric and Brandon Cordova, Cody McCarroll Buckeye resident, Navajo Nation Brent Yellowhair, Bradford Spencer sporting pink chaps, Cameron Minter from Anchorage, Alaska, Jesse Flores riding a bull called “Lucky Charm”, Efren Gallego with his bull “Gale Force”, and Jose Mora wore cream chaps with turquoise accents. Mora was fired up as he shuffled through the chunky dirt to adjust everyone’s attitude with a smile.
Brent Yellowhair, Bullrider
Strapped to a slobbery wild beast named “Turd Hurdler” or “Snake Snot” and ejected from a chute most riders looked like death, others made it look easy like Jorge Quinonez from Bloomington, California. Quinonez seemed relaxed arm straight up and the other holding on for life. Bull and rider working as one. In the end, only 4 riders made 8 second cuts. Clint Holcomb came out on top with a 81 score. Holcomb went toe to toe with a 1750 pound bounty bull named “Smokin’ Hot” but didn’t last 8 seconds, so rodeo fan Melina Maple won $500 dollars from Buckeye Main Street Coalition.
Muttin’ Buster Isaac Escobedo
Mia Paco Littleton-Williams, Miss Rodeo Arizona Sweetheart 2017 ushered in the 7 and under club of Muttin’ Busters. Isaac Escobedo, 6 years old decked out in hat and chaps, captivated fans as he single handedly held on to the wool for 95 points. Jerry Honeycutt, owner of Honeycutt Rodeo remarked that if Escobedo returns as a bull rider in the future he will cover his entry fees!