Family Matters

Photo Courtesy of CBRbull.com

If you don’t know already, the rodeo community is more of a rodeo family. That is, they come together in a time of need. Also, many people don’t realize that the job of a rodeo cowboy doesn’t quite come with “benefits.” Cowboys don’t get 401k’s and most importantly, they aren’t given health insurance. This is why the rodeo family is important. Anytime a cowboy (or cowgirl) gets hurt, people come together to help out in the ways they know how since rodeoing is that athletes form of income, in when they are hurt, they are penniless.

This past weekend was a wonderful event for PBR bull rider, Mckennon Wimberly. He was hurt in action and has been recovering and needing major funding to cover the cost of medical bills. Over the past few months, ranchers, bull riders, fans and multiple organizations have donated time, money and different objects up for auction in efforts to raise money for Mckennon.

Personally, I know that my uncle donated a bull calf to the benefit for auction. Exclusive Genetics auctioned off an EG riders helmet signed by Mckennon. It’s times like these that most people have actually been there before. It’s moments like this that I realize I love being a part of the family that comes together when someone is truly at the bottom.

This is something that people should look into. Whether its making a personal direct donation, or researching other things such as the Cowboy Crisis fund. Justin Boots is a big supporter of cowboys, and has their fund. Designating money to the PRCA or other organization is also encouraged. Cowboys do believe in karma and know what its like to be at their absolute worst. 

Join the family and help everyone out! 

"I ain't from Dallas but I can D-town boogie"

Yes world, this weekend I did something completely unlike myself. No, I didn't go skydiving, I did something much more frightful. I went to Dallas. I decided to experience my first Dallas St. Patricks Day parade and block party on Greenville Avenue. I fought the masses of 100,000 crazy DFW party-goers and experienced the plethora of green Dallas drunkards.

I must say, I usually don't give Dallas any credit whatsoever, but I will give them a blue ribbon for their St. Patricks Day. It was easy to survive the day too... 2 5 hour energies and a roll of Tums. The green beer was flowing and overall everyone down there was just looking for a good time. The good news was that more cars were towed than the number of people arrested.

The day consisted of fighting traffic due to blocked off roads and the 5K race that took place through the city. From our parking location, we walked to Greenville where we lined up along the block to watch the parade. After, we visited tailgate spots that people had set up and camped out from the night before, went to house parties along Greenville and of course visited a number of bars and pubs.

The best was seeing the boys (somewhat not in their normal state of mind cough cough) having a dance battle in the middle of the pub. Never will they make it as professional dancers, but we won't tell them. St. Patricks day on Greenville was an event that lasted for us from 8 in the morning until 1 am Sunday morning. Needless to say, it was only me and my friend George who can honestly say we made it the whole day with out a legitimate nap (on a couch), and never fell asleep at a bar.

The weather was perfect, but I will recommend face sunblock. I now have a lovely sunglass tan on my face.

This will probably the only time I talk up Dallas, therefore I shall see you in 364 more days.

Spring Break & Bone Breaks

This is by far the last "spring break" of my life. That is, in 60 days I will have to accept the fact I must join the real world. So what is there to do? Most people head for the coast and go a bit crazy. I thought about going home to Vegas. Yes it's Vegas, but who am I kidding it's just home to me and isn't all that special.

What is on my agenda? I contemplated and it all came together.
The beginning of the week you can find me in Austin, no I will not be there for SXSW, but I'll be hanging out with my buddy Jay of Reckless Kelly while he is at home for a few days before they continue their tour.

From there I will drive back to Fort Worth and catch a plane on St. Patricks Day. Where you may ask? No, it's not where the palm trees are blowing in the bahama breeze where drinks are served with paper umbrellas. I'll be on my way to Lake Charles, Louisiana. I've never been that far south in LA. That night I am getting picked up by my good friend Lance Coleman who is going to tear up the casinos to celebrate the holiday!

Friday morning him and I will head out of Louisiana and drive to Winnie, Texas for Don Gay's Bull Riding at Nutty Jerry's Friday and Saturday night. Lance will be bull fighting both nights. Let's hope it goes a lot better than a few of his other fights down there. More specifically the one that put him in the hospital after he got hooked in the rear and the bull tore his underwear off (had to call you out Lance).
From there we will drive back Sunday where I will get to enjoy the hospitality at the Coleman ranch, the family that owns Coleman Bucking Bulls. Sunday we will most likely host a bull riding down at the ranch and then Monday morning it's back to Texas.

To end this, one of my favorite bull riders is Ben Jones, he is one tough guy beat up to the bone (literally) but I love him for one specific reason: his victory dance. The only guy who can pull it off. Enjoy!

You Can Find Me Playing With The Bulls

As I concluded last weeks post, I mentioned I would have some exciting news! I have been approached by the Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico franchise owner to promote Robo.

That's right. I, Bre Akers, if I already didn't have enough going on, will be learning the in's and out's of Robo and will be gladly taking your small fees to get on him. This means that you can find me propped up at rodeos and shows with good ol Robo.

Although this is very exciting news for me, it won't be until later this year. However, we plan on having things full-force in the fall of 2011. Be on the look out though for more information and what stops I will be making!

Additionally, for those who have been keeping up with my personal stock, the kids are doing great! The heifers are looking healthier than ever and we just introduced a little one this week to the family!

As far as the bulls go, they are currently on some beautiful green pasture out in Justin, Texas getting fed and fattening up. March 1st we will haul them back to Godley where we will check them out, run them through the chutes and start to put some bucking dummies on them to see what these guys got.

Everything looks good. The bulls seem to be showing their wild side. They look mean, built and definitely athletes on the rise. I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for Bre's Bucking Bulls! Wish us luck!!

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"Back Home In Texas"

It was an exciting weekend (again) in North Texas. Between all the events and the full moon, there wasn't a dull moment. The weekend started with Mardi Gras Texas Style 2011 at Fair Park in Dallas. This is an annual music festival that had over 25 bands on 5 stages that started at 1pm and the last set started after 11 p.m. The list of artists included the Josh Abbott Band, Casey Donahew Band, Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers Band, Roger Creager, Whiskey Myers, No Justice, and many more artists who are up and coming in the music scene.

Casey Donahew & Myself

If you know me personally, you know I am a huge Casey Donahew fan. I don't know if it's him (it's a shame he is married) or the fact that his music has themes about not caring, living life, having fun and the occasional beer but I had an amazing opportunity. Yes, I got to say, "Mr. Donahew...can I please have a photo with you?" Well here it is world, me and the man who sings the soundtracks to my weekend.

Halfway back to Fort Worth was the PBR Iron Cowboy Invitational at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas cowboy Colby Yates took home the buckle and a check for $50,000 (not too bad for a few 8-second rides). He had the chance at an additional $100,000 check if he rode the bull Super Duty. Unfortunately Yates was bucked off at 2.5 seconds. It was unfortunate. He came out of the chute centered, in good form, then looked to have lost his grip. If you want to talk about being under pressure I think this is one of those moments. If you had the opportunity to win $100,000 in 8 seconds I would have a lot to think about. The commentators even mentioned that Yates was dripping in sweat while tightening his rope, he was in a cool, climate-controlled stadium, and it's possible the sweat in his glove caused his hand to slip, ultimately costing him a hefty check.

My hat off to Colby anyway. The guy didn't even know he was competing in the event until 72 hours before. Some people may not think it's a big deal and that these guys get on bulls all day long (which my be true), but these guys do have training and work out regimens and of course, prepare mentally. So congrats to Mr. Yates and all the boys who made qualified rides!

Next week I have some exciting news. Here's a hint: It has something to do with a previous post.

A Trade Of Many Trades

A lot of fans who follow the sport of rodeo, more specifically bull riding, are simply that--fans. Of course there is by no means anything wrong with that, because without them, there wouldn't be a sport! (So first, thank you!) However, a lot of those fans don't see what goes on in a cowboy or cowgirls life. Unless you were raised around the sport, you may actually be surprised that "cowboying" is only part of the job.

There are very few individuals who are lucky enough to call themselves a professional cowboy (or cowgirl) and say that is their full-time job. If you made it that far, congratulations! At the same time, watch out there are thousands of others trying to take your spot.

I wanted to give fans an idea of what else these rodeo participants do outside the arena. Simply, it takes money to make money. For these athletes it means working to pay the bills and putting food in their mouths  during the week, and whatever is left goes to entry fees for the weekend rodeos, hoping that they win and are able to makes ends meet and do it all over again next week.

Let's put ourself in a situation. You go down to the local watering hole with me and who is there? To keep it simple, we have lot's of bull riders, some steer wrestlers, bareback and saddle bronc riders, and for the heck of it we will say some team ropers. When we are all sitting there, we don't see what event everyone is in. What we see is a variety of connections.

We've got a bull rider working for a petroleum company traveling across the southern US taking samples on oil rigs. Driving 12+ hours a day for work, coming home grabbing his gear bag, then heading to the rodeo. We have leatherworkers making (by hand) belts, wallets, and those fancy chaps everyone sees. Another just got back home from hauling top-notch race horses from New Mexico. The other is just getting into town after finalizing contracts for his construction company. One just "got off the mountain" after being a hunting guide and packing mules. One is in the studio recording a new Texas Country music album. We've got even more working for the city fire department and on the ambulance saving lives. Or if you are sitting across from me, you'd be looking at a PR & Business student trying to get her foot in the door in the sports marketing industry.

Needless to say, you can do anything and still be a cowboy. I think it's important for the fans to realize that, and see that these athletes are more than just people who get on the back of some livestock. They are just like you and me trying to make a buck and make it big in the rodeo world.

Just for the fun of it here is one of the guys in the studio: This is Lonnie Dee--the next big thing in Texas Country (you'll have me talking more about him in a future post). This is a short clip from Filthy McNasty's Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards of him covering Down In Flames. Just an example of what else those cowboys are doing!

Super Bowl

It's that one day a year where millions of people sit down in front of their T.V. once a year with hopes of drinking excessively and filling up on ungodly amounts of chips and dip. Although I did not get to attend the Super Bowl, I did have the honor of having great memories in the host city.

The Dallas Fort Worth area was out of control. I met some people who tried to convince me that they were multi-millionaire entrepreneurs, co-owners of the dwindling site Myspace and men with money who stayed at a Double Tree hotel so that they wouldn't flaunt their money.

You would think DFW was Las Vegas with all the background stories everyone made up. The best may have been the intoxicated women who didn't understand sports at all. Although the teams were staying in the metroplex, I did witness women go up to multiple men sporting jerseys and ask if they were actually a part of the team.

I did get to enjoy the game from an insiders point of view. A friend of mine, Jay, the drummer of Reckless Kelly had the opportunity to perform on site. With that, him and the band got to watch the game and meet the infamous Cowboy Cheerleaders.

That's right he just loved throwing it in my face that I was in front of a television screen while he was living it up! (I forgive you Jay.)

Everywhere you went in DFW was insane. I actually was stranded in the Stockyards Friday night because a cab took 3 hours to pick me up. Needless to say, I paid a valet to drive me home. It was just that busy. Everywhere you went you ran into yellow---either paired with black or green. The best part was watching the out-of-towners experience the stereotypes of Texas. Mainly seeing cows and horses. They had to get pictures with every type of livestock they encountered.

Overall this year has been insane! Between the Stock Show and the Super Bowl and even the Rose Bowl win by my lovely TCU Frogs, it has been a magical and memorable time to live in Fort Worth.

Now what will the rest of February bring...