N E W S R E L E A S E

N E W S &n= bsp; R E L E A S E

Texas Heritage National Bank PBR Challenge – Sulphur Spri= ngs, Texas=

presented by Priefert Ranch Equipm= ent and Pro-Trak Trailers

Benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas

cychallenge.com=

For information = = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; (660) 254-1900

Contact Ted Harbin = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = = &nb= sp; = imteditor@gmail.com

New competition = to feature youth riding mini bucking bulls

SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas – It’s happening again this week, and it’s featuring something fabulously new.

When the Texas Heritage Nat= ional Bank PBR Challenge presented by Priefert Ranch Equipment and Pro-Trak Trail= ers comes to town, it will highlight the American Mini Bull Tour and the best y= oung bull riders in the business. It will be part of both performance set for 7:= 30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.

While the whole event that = benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas, the American Mini Bull Tour will= be another piece of the multi-level competition that also features the cowboys from the Professional Bull Riders association, the outstanding young bulls = that will buck their way to an American Bucking Bull Inc. title and the great athletes that are part of the Professional Bullfighters Daisy Protection Bullfight Tour.

“With our tour, we gi= ve kids ages 10 to 14 the opportunity to get on animals that are real similar to wh= at the big boys get on,” said Jeff Ballard with the American Mini Bull T= our. “With the weight ratios, it’s more like the bull fits the kids.= It gives the kids the chance to ride and get used to what they’re going = to ride when they get older.”

&nbs= p; Unlike steer riding that has been the staple of youth rodeo for years, this tour features miniature bulls. They look just like the nearly one-ton of bucking beasts that are featured in PBR events all across this land.

&nbs= p; “This tour gives the kids of being on a big bull, but it’s more like the big bull for their size,” Ballard said. “These kids are 4-foot-6 an= d 80 pounds, and they’re on 700-pound bulls.”

&nbs= p; But these aren’t just any kids, and that’s something special to the group producing the PBR Challenge.

&nbs= p; “These kids are the best of the best,” said Jim D. McLain Jr. of TwoBulls Gr= oup, who is producing the event with Emory ranchers Donny Gowin and Jay Weddle. “This is going to be a great part of the competition, and we know the fans here in Hopkins County will just lo= ve it.”

&nbs= p; The action will feature the top 10 boys in the association who are rapidly maki= ng names for themselves in the world of bull riding.

&nbs= p; “The group of kids that are riding in Sulphur Springs are Texas state champions,” Ballard said. “These 10 kids have made over $150,000 combined in their careers, and their just 10 to 14 years old. It’s pr= etty amazing.”

-30-