Tuesday, January 29, 2008

CBR News

CBR News
by Sheila Totten
NBBA Youth Scholarship Fund
The CBR  has sure been busy lately.They had a great Finals in Las Vegas at the South Point Hotel and Casino where they raised over $250,000 at their Charity Auction for the benefit of the NBBA Youth Scholarship Fund.The 45 Findley Toyota CBR World Championship qualifiers were auctioned off as  well as breeding straws from some of the top bulls  out there bucking. I am glad to see that two of my favorites  were the high sellers of the auction. Navajo Nation and IIFR World Champion Bull rider Spud Jones (Twin Lakes,NM) was the highest selling rider of the auction at $11,000. Derringer, a son of the great Zorro of Lufkin Ranch and Rodeo was the high selling bull at $19,000. There were also donated  items  from CBR sponsors as hats, briefcases and trailer hitches and so much more. Resistol, Professional's Choice, B&W Trailer Hitches, Cody Ohl, Chad Berger, 440 Ranch, Terry Williams, Wes Bruce. Lyndal Hurst, Marty Foutch, Locke Bulls, Lufkin Ranch and Rodeo, Tuff Hedeman, Brad Boyce, Ace of Spades, Jerry Lindley, Mitch Terrell, Danny Mason, Karen Holman, and Wesley Silcox all made auction donations while Michael Gaughan the owner of South Point sponsored the food and beverages for the event.His South Point hotel and Casino is a great place. Their Equestrian Center  Arena is one of the best in the country. 
Barrelman Cody Sosebee  whom I had just seen the previous week at the NABA Finals  in Memphis and CBR head bullfighter Ray Clary acted as the bid spotters.CBR CEO Wes Bruce  was the high bidder of the event just edging out Board member  Benny Cude(The Woodlands,TX) for the high bidder buckle. I don't know if Ray pulled out his guitar  at all but  if he didn't  everyone missed  a good time.Not only is he a top notch bullfighter but Ray Clary can write and sing top country songs. Nashville  sure is missing out on a good one!
The CBR Moves  To RFD-TV
After being voted the #1 Fan Favorite show for the past three years on Outdoor Channel, the PBR has decided to move on to greener pastures. Outdoor Channel will have a hard time finding  another fan favorite as the CBR  but the move   had to be made. RFD-TV and RFD HD goes out to more viewers while targeting both the agricultural audience and  those who follow the cowboy way of life. There are many shows on breaking and training horses,cattle auctions,and even the NCHA Futurities..Its a prime spot for bull riding and rodeo programming and my favorite  member of the PBR's broadcast crew  who was absent this past season,Pam Minick  has been working at RFD-TV for the past year. I sure hope this means Pam will return to the CBR.
March 5,2008 will be the date of the first CBR  broadcast on RFD-TV.The fast paced ,action packed  show will air at 10 PM EST  on Wednesdays,and repeat at Midnight.It will also air at 11 AM  EST on Saturday. On RFD HD it airs  Thursday at  12 AM EST, 10 AM EST and again on Saturday at  11 PM EST.The best part of this  is that the fans will have a shorter wait between actual events and the airing of them on TV. Another plus is that fans will not have to buy the channel as an extra or  pay for a higher priced package just to get it on satellite.It is part of the basic  packages  offered by both Dish and Direct networks. Currently negotiations are in the works with many cable companies to increase their distribution of these channels.
As the CBR grows in the right direction where the prime concern is for the riders  and contractors welfare,it has also moved its offices from Carthage ,TX to Waxahachie, TX.The CBR may be growing fast but  it never forgets what the sport is all about; and the fans that support it.With  founder Terry Williams as Chairman of the Board, Tuff Hedeman as President and Wes Bruce as the newly appointed CEO you can bet  you will always see exciting bulls against top riders at all events.
Zorro Named as 2007 CBR Bull of the Year.
I am thrilled  about this. Ever since I first saw Zorro come on the scene I knew  this was a great bull in the making.Not only has he been a top contender everywhere that Chuck Griffith of Lufkin Ranch and Rodeo bucks  him,but Zorro is also  a top notch sire as already seen with his sons that are out there bucking now.
Zorro was just one of ten yearlings that Chuck Griffith bought from Kevin Loudamy(K&K Cattle Company).Loudamy bred Zorro out of a Panhandle Slim daughter  he owns and  Bob Wilfong 's bull Doodad.
I really like this bull and I love the way Chuck lights up when he talks about Zorro and his offspring.
8 year old Zorro has produced a lot of top notch  sons who buck on several professional circuits. Derringer,whom I saw in Longview is the NBBA  Classic Champion. I also got to see his brother ,4 year old Maverick there and Maverick finished  second behind Derringer. LZ (Little Zorro)may have been one of the first I saw at previous CBR events. Another son gaining a reputation  is Dirty Demon.
Look for these great bulls and even more of Zorro's sons  bringing their game to the CBR and NBBA futurities this season. Congratulations to Chuck Griffith,Zorro,and everyone at Lufkin Ranch and Rodeo.

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