Keyshawn Whitehorse wins the 2020 Red Wilk Tuff Hedeman Bull Bash
HURON, South Dakota - Partnering with local businessman and Vietnam veteran Red Wilk, Tuff Hedeman is making final preparations for the annual Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding at the South Dakota State Fair on September 1-2 in Huron. For two nights bull riding fans and ticketholders can enjoy a family-friendly, action-packed adrenaline rush entertainment wrapped around an emotional patriotic American Hero Award Ceremony held during intermission and presented by Red Wilk Construction.
"The sacrifice these men make for our country is how we can do what we do today, right here in this very arena, and it is our honor to stand down and be part of this great rite of passage and remember why we can celebrate the freedoms we enjoy," said Hedeman who honors military veterans at all his bull ridings.
Laramie Craigen goes 4 for 4 in the 2020 REd Wilk Construction Bull Bash
Celebrating 50 years of veterans who served our country during the Vietnam War era, the extraordinary ceremony now in its 18th year will honor veterans of World War II, Korea, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and the ongoing fight against terrorists worldwide. Wilk, a Vietnam Veteran himself, has honored 400 plus South Dakota Veterans since beginning the annual ceremony.
“It is real simple, we remember death by celebrating lives,” said Red Wilk.
Red Wilk has honored over 400 Veterans since beginning the American Hero Award Ceremony.
Hedeman, known for lining up elite riders to face off with world-class bucking bulls brings his unique bull riding format to the fair's Grandstands for nearly two decades. The annual professional, fast-paced, bull riding competition features over 30 pro bull riders and two bullfighters matched to animals of superior strength and spirit rivaling that of the cowboys.
In the arena, the only way to get on the roster at Huron's elite event is by invitation from four-time World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Tuff Hedeman who produces his "invitation only" designed event format which yields the best roster of elite bull riders facing off with world-class bucking bulls in two days of intense, highenergy battle.
Produced by Tuff Hedeman, the Red Wilk Construction Bull Bash has been thrilling audiences in Huron for many years including wins by bull riding greats 4-time PRCA World Champion Sage Kimzey (2015), PBR World Champion Mike Lee, PBR’s Keyshawn Whitehorse, NFR Qualifiers Koby Radley and Boudreaux Campbell, NFR qualifiers Aaron Pass and South Dakota’s Ardie and Corey Maier to name a few.
The Tuff Hedeman Tour returned to live audiences in July with events in El Paso, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada where the tour was the first live ticketed event at the South Point Hotel Casino Arena since the pandemic shut down in April of 2020. The tour rolls into Huron for stop number with World Champions, National Finals Rodeo qualifiers, and the young guns who challenge the seasoned riders always in Huron. With its thrilling 8-second attempts and two hours of impressive athletics, Tuff Hedeman’s Bull Riding tour is trending among athletes and fans.
The bull riding action begins Wednesday night as the Tuff Hedeman Bounty Bull night resumes where each contestant competes in the long round followed by the winner attempt at a “Bounty Bull” worth $10,000 if he makes a qualified scored ride. The action continues on Thursday night, September 2 at 8 pm in Hedeman’s three-round tournament-style event, the riders' score advances them thru three rounds hopefully earning a coveted slot in the final four-man "Shoot Out round" where the bulk of the price money, championship title, and custom prizes are earned.
Tickets for the two-day event are on sale now and start at $12 for youth and $20 for adults. Tickets are sold in either grandstand reserved seating area or the standing room area located in the party pit. They can be purchased at the SD State Fair Office, or by calling (605) 353-7340, or online at tickets or https://www.etix.com/ticket/o/4564/SDStateFair?cobrand=southdakota.
The 2021 South Dakota State Fair runs Thursday, September 2, through Monday, September 6. For more information on State Fair events, contact the Fair Office at 800-529-0900, visit www.sdstatefair.com or find them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About Tuff Hedeman
Hedeman formed the Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour after serving for a combined 23 years as the former head of the two nationally organized professional bull riding organizations (PBR and CBR) since his retirement as a rider from the sport in 1999. Referred to as the “pioneer of the sport of bull riding” after producing the first stand-alone bull riding event in Fort Worth, Texas in 1993, Hedeman is a four-time World Champion Bull Rider, inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the most recognizable cowboy in the world. He and his wife Liz reside reside on his ranch near Morgan Mill, Texas. Hedeman has four sons, Lane, Trevor, Ryker, and Rip.