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...