American Bullriding Association Rider Budda Gatons

Budda Gatons
by Sheila Totten
I had the pleasure of meeting Budda , his traveling partner Dustin Dohman and Budda's mom Donna McKittrick at Circle 13's American Bullriding Association's Jackson,TN event  on May 6th. I want to thank Donna for her help.We had been storm delayed and lost and I had missed rides.She had  everything written down and offered me  the use of her notes,her umbrella and a chair. She's a great lady with a great personality. During intermission I got her to tell me about her son .
Budda(Ronald) began riding steers at age 11.The following year  he graduated to Jr. bulls and rode primarily in the Cape Giradeau/Jackson MO. area.He was reserve champion his very first year and was the champion  his second year on the tour.In 2003 he rode in high school rodeo and in 2004 he was 3rd in the state of Illinois.He was 15th in the nation at the National High School Rodeo Championship in 2004 and second in Illinois in 2005.The amazing thing  is he missed the first half of the season each of those years;and that in itself says a lot about this young rider's talent.When he turned 18 Budda joined the PBR and rode in two Enterprise events but did not place.He admits there is a big difference in the caliber of bulls at youth and high school rode and at the PBR.(Well,that is unless you ride in Texas  or Oklahoma where many of the big stock contractors  provide bulls for these events.)Budda now rides in open rodeos and he joined the ABA last week when he rode in the first event of the season at Circle 13.Budda was first in the long go at the Jackson event and was second in the average.
He and Dustin think the world of fellow Illinois bull rider Craig Sasse who is a great guy.Craig rides PBR and has set up a bull riding facility at his home.Good luck Craig.