The Red Wilk Construction Tuff Hedeman Bull Bash
When renown stock contractor Garrett Burruss of Burruss Bucking Bulls in Bradford, Arkansas, describes his unridden bucking bull, 401 Party Rock, it is like describing the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. His 1,600-pound gray bovine is 15 and 0 in the ring and already resting in Huron to try and make it 16 on Wednesday night at the Red Wilk Construction Tuff Hedeman Bull Bash.
Five year old 401 Party Rock, sired by Jack Daniel’s After Party has been selected by Hedeman as the Bounty Bull for the Red Wilk Construction Bull Bash at the South Dakota State Fair
Four-time World Champion bull rider and pro rodeo Hall of Famer Tuff Hedeman selected 401 Party Rock to be the last bull out on Wednesday night at the Bull Bash when the bull rider with the highest score in the first performance will have the opportunity to ride him for a $10,000 bounty. If he hears the 8-second whistle while still on the bulls back, he gets the paycheck.
"A really, good bull, in my opinion, comes out and does his job -- which is to buck, getting points for the cowboy," said Tuff Hedeman. "It's the cowboy's job to ride them."
What is in store for the fans is an exciting attempt or possibly even the first qualified ride for this bull in over two years.
“Cowboys like to get on rank, hard-to-ride bulls, and not get thrown off,” said event promoter Red Wilk.
According to the bull’s owner, matching him move for move will be the only way a bull rider hears the whistle while still on his back at the opening performance of the Bull Bash.
“He goes both ways, you never know if he is coming out to the left of the right which makes it difficult to predict, “ said Garrett Burruss, the bulls owner, chauffeur and personal trainer.
Party Rock does not discriminate, and he can't read a cowboys resume. He bucks of World Champions and rookies with the same style, a big jump and lots of speed with intensity and boasts an average 42.5 bull score in 2019. His statistically rankest trip this year was with two-time NFR qualifier Boudreaux Campbell at a rodeo in Jackson, MS where he was marked 45.5.
A good bull is said to have heart. They are genuine athletes — each with their own attitude and personality. Most buckers prefer to spin either left or right and determine their own "pattern." According to Burruss, this bull is undecided at the moment, which is the challenge the cowboy has to accept.
The bull named Party Rock is a bred to buck performer with a pedigree to match his ability. He is sired by the infamous PBR bucking bull Jack Daniels After Party.
"You can train a bull to buck to the extent you can train a coon or rabbit dog," Burruss said. "But it's bred in them, although maybe you can tweak it a bit, tweak a few things."
Garrett and Scott Burruss, Bradford, Arkansas accepting round win buckles for the bucking stock at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
401 was recently nominated to be on the list for the top 15 professional rodeo cowboys in Las Vegas at the National Finals Rodeo in December, one of the highest honors a bucking bovine can receive. He has probably earned that right after two years of unanswered career outs on the professional tours.
“There are no tricks about that really good bull of Burruss he is just really rank,” said the last rider who attempted 401 in Cheyenne.
The bull earns half (50) of the 100 points score available to the bull rider in competition.
“You know I expect the guys to ride him more than they do, he’s got something about him and he just really bucks,” laughed Burruss, trying hard not to “jinx” the bulls’ performance by talking too much about him before the chute gate swings open.
Bull Riding and Rodeo participants have chosen Burruss' pen of buckers for both the National Finals Rodeo of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association held each December or the World Finals of the Professional Bull Riders each November, both held in Las Vegas.
"Scott and Garrett Burruss are on my list as top bull men in the business, and they see hundreds of bulls each year -- literally hundreds of animals and they have a great eye for livestock, added Hedeman."
Garrett Burruss and Party Rock will be waiting patiently in the back pens in Huron to see whose name will survive round one and who will get the chance to put their bull-rope around him, slide up and nod.\
About Red Wilk Construction Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding
The Red Wilk Construction Bull Bash South Dakota State Fairgrounds, 1060 3rd St. SW. Tickets are on sale. Tickets are $12 for youth and $20 for adults and are available by calling 866-605-FAIR, or online www.sdstatefair.com. A list of contestants will be available at a later date.
Media contact and press credentials: Leigh Ann Schroeder, 940.902.1112 or tufhedemanpr@gmail.com or www.tuffhedemanbullriding.com. Follow Tuff Hedeman on Facebook and Instagram @TuffHedemanOfficial