Wrestling season is just around the corner, and in Camp Verde, that means the Bull Bash is here.
The 15th annual Bull Bash will be Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12 and 13, at the Cliff Castle Casino Pavilion, and like every year, all of the proceeds will benefit the Camp Verde High School wrestling program and the Camp Verde Wrestling Scholarship Fund.
The bull riding performances will be at 7 p.m. nightly. The kids rodeo starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday which includes sheep riding [3- to 6-year-olds], stick horse riding [2- to 5-year-olds]. calf riding [6- to 9-year-olds], steer riding [9- to 13-year-olds] and Junior bull riding [12 to 18-year-olds].
This year the bulls will be supplied by some of the best professional rodeo stock contractors. Several of the bulls have been in the Professional Bull Riding finals and other championship bull ridings. Top bull riders will attend from Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming and Arizona.
“We have had some of the top PBR bull riders ride in our bull riding in the past.” Bob Weir, CVHS wrestling head coach and founder of the event, said. “We have had L.J. Jenkins, Ryan MaConnel, etc. Last year we had the National High School champion, Joseph McConnel, win our bull riding. This year we have several top [Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association] circuit bull riders along with several top Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada bull riders coming.”
Anyone can enter the bull riding competition, but experience is helpful.
This year, a new attraction will be the Miniature Bull Riding for kids ages 9 to 11 years old. It will be held each night during the bull riding. CVHS’ new agriculture teacher, Arcel Allsup raises miniature bucking bulls and is donating them for the event.
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Oct. 10, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.
