Four-time World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Tuff Hedeman announced today that five long-standing events will bear his name as the Tuff Hedeman Breakout series resumes on August 2 adding five events to the schedule.
Produced by Matt Noble, owner of Next Level Bull Riding and Jeff Harris, a previous Stock Contractor of the Year and World Champion bull team owner from Palestine, Texas the events include the Midwest Swing Series in Illinois in August and September and the Nicky Wheeler Memorial Bull Riding in Jacksonville, Texas to be held on October 6.
Jeff Harris and the late Nicky Wheeler
The newly created tour gives new riders the opportunity to break into the ranks of professional bull riding and advance to the national level tours.
“What I really like about the Breakout series is we see relatively unknown young bull riders that show up and make outstanding bull rides and contend with the hottest guys on tour and hang with them,” said Hedeman.
Each event will feature a long round followed by a championship “short go”. Classic rodeo barrel man style entertainment and cowboy lifesaver bullfighters will join Hedeman in front of the chutes at each event as he surveys the new class of young guns as they battle the experienced contenders.
“It is a great chance to come out and see Tuff Hedeman and the high-quality competitors and great bulls that do not get to this part of the country very often, I have been producing this event for several years and it is always one of the highlights of my year,” said Next Level Bull Riding producer Matt Noble who brings Hedeman’s Break Out bull ridings to the Midwest.
Tuff Hedeman and Matt Noble
Hedeman announced the creation of the Tuff Hedeman Breakout Series in May with the first event already in the books on May 5, in Baytown, Texas. The Breakout Series will have several of the top familiar names on the roster, but many fresh faces packed with talent will make the events competitive throughout the Midwest Swing and the Nicky Wheeler Memorial which will pay tribute to an industry great, former bull rider and stock contractor who died suddenly in April.
The annual bull riding, formerly known as the Bull Bash Revolution, is scheduled for October 6 at the Jacksonville Rodeo Arena is produced by Jeff Harris, Brian and Haley Beasley and a crew of dedicated volunteers that raise money and have earned the title of the largest benefactor event for local FFA and 4-H college scholarships. The efforts are all geared towards supporting the kids in local agricultural based programs and operations in an effort to move the agricultural community forward, providing self-sufficiency and local jobs for future generations.
Nickey Wheeler
The schedule is listed below. Please see www.tuffhedemanbullriding.com for details.
August 2, 2018 - McHenry County Fair Bull Bash, Woodstock, Illinois
$7500 added purse and Custom Trophy Buckle
August 10, 2018 - Boone County Fair Bull Bash, Belvidere, Illinois
$7500 added purse and Custom Trophy buckle
August 14, 2018 - Whiteside County Fair Bull Bash, Morrison, Illinois
$5000 added and Custom Trophy buckle
September 14, 2018 -Midwest Swing Series Finale, Waterloo, Illinois
Waterloo Optimist's Blue Army Bull Bash
$10,000 added purse, Trophy Saddle and buckle
October 6, 2018 - Nicky Wheeler Memorial Bull Riding, Jacksonville, Texas
$7,500 added and Custom HyO Silver Trophy Buckle
For more information on the Tuff Hedeman Breakout Series contact Leigh Ann Schroeder, tuffhedemanpr@gmail.com. Nicky Wheeler Memorial contact Haley Beasley at 903-747-7199. . Series contact Matt@nextlevelbullriding.com
Tuff Hedeman Website link.