Joel Smith was taking World Champion Bull Rider Charles Sampson to Seattle when he asked the bull rider what more Ellensburg could do for the contestants. Sampon’s answer? A stand alone bull riding.
When Smith took it to the committee the work began and after rounding up partners and stock contractors, they were set up to host their first stand alone bull riding. It was a Saturday in 2002.
It was a sold-out show from the jump.
“We were pretty excited and actually very surprised that it did because we tried to promote it on the radio and we tried to promote it regionally and I think the idea of a standalone bull riding brought these people here, and that’s why it sells out every year” Smith said.
It is an event that is great for not only the Ellensburg Rodeo but for the community as well. Smith attributes the decades of sold-out bull ridings to the caliber of contestants and animals. It is something that he says makes him proud.