Bull Blast rodeo at the Howard County Fair
After 16 years, attendees of the Howard County Fair finally got to see some bucking bulls.
With a new event called “Bull Blast” held Monday night, the fair launched itself back into the ring with professional riders putting on a show for about 2,000 cheering fans.
“We’re going to see some spills, some falls, maybe a couple cowboys getting bucked off real good,” said Justin Howard, of Rockin “R” Western Productions, which produced the show. “We’re going to have some fun.” (Story continues below video)
- Dylan Hightman, left, Justin Reed, center, 17, and Justin Stonestreet, right, 17, all of Middletown sit near the bulls before the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- Bull rider Andrew Griffith, of Boonsboro, puts his socks on before he competes in the “Bull Blast! 2013” at the Howard County Fair in West Friendship, on Monday, August 5, 2013. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- Zachary Purich, left, 6, of Laurel, and his friend Fatima Kahn, right, 7, of Pakistan, pet a horse before the start of the event. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- Bleachers are packed before the start of the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- Bull rider Kyle Andrews, center, of Valley, Ala. gets ready for the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- West Friendship, MD 080513 Staff Photo by Jen Rynda Bulls stay together before the start of the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- West Friendship, MD 080513 Staff Photo by Jen Rynda Bull riders Alton Whitted, left, of Harpers Ferry, W. Va., Nick Proud, center, of Union Bridge, and DJ Colson, right, of Frederick, get ready. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- Gavin Kidwell, 4, of Sykesville, pets a horse before the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- Kids watch as a horse passes before the start of the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- A rider gets out of the gate. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- A rider gets tossed off a bull. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- The “Bull Blast! 2013” at the Howard County Fair in West Friendship on Monday, August 5, 2013. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- People watch the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- A rider hangs on during the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- Wesley Weinberg, left, 7, of Highland, his brother Ryan Weinberg, center, 9, and their cousin Josh Morton, right, of Ellicott City watch the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- West Friendship, MD 080513 Staff Photo by Jen Rynda David Akinabu, left, of Mount Washington, and his daughter, London, 4, watch as the “Bull Blast! 2013” starts at the Howard County Fair. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- The “Bull Blast! 2013” at the Howard County Fair in West Friendship on Monday, August 5, 2013. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- Crowds watch the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- Bodie Winfield, 2, of Middletown rides a sheep during the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- A bull rider hangs on. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- People watch the Bull Blast. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- A bull tries to jump the fence. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- The “Bull Blast! 2013” at the Howard County Fair in West Friendship on Monday, August 5, 2013. (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
- A rider holds on during the Bull Blast (Jen Rynda/BSMG)
VIDEO From the Bull Blast:
But as much fun as it is for those watching, the danger for the riders is palpable.
“It’s not if or when you get hurt, it’s how bad,” said bull rider DJ Colson, of Frederick. “It’s bound to happen eventually.”
Some of the cowboys were thrown off right out of the gate, and others stayed on for the full eight seconds, or longer. The longer the ride, the louder the crowd would cheer.
The event also featured a rodeo clown in full makeup and a bullseye painted on his rear end; a mutton busting competition, which is similar to bull riding but involves children and smaller farm animals; and barrel racing, where riders will complete a course on horseback.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Howard. “If we can get this one successfully done this year, we’re going to try to do one next year.”