About: Ted

LAS VEGAS – Steer wrestler J.D. Struxness has a lot of faith in the horse he’s riding at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and well he should. “He worked good,” Struxness said of Peso, a 14-year-old sorrel gelding he owns. “He remembered being back in the building. I feel like we got a pretty good start. He ran all the way through there and gave me a chance to make a good run at the end of the arena.” The Appleton, Minn., cowboy stopped the clock in 4.3 seconds, finishing Thursday’s first round in a five-way tie for third place. He earned $7,531 and pushed his earnings to just shy of $94,000. The biggest thing, though, was that he moved up three spots to No. 10 in the world standings. “I knew that steer was going to run a little bit, so I just tried to get a good start,” he said. “We were able to make a good run to break the ice for in our first run.” With fellow steer wrestler Jacob Schofner hazing, Struxness has the confidence in himself, his horse and Schofner as he makes his runs at his second straight NFR. A year ago, Struxness earned nearly $129,000 in Las Vegas and finished fourth in the 2016 world standings. “Hazing is probably the hardest part of bulldogging out here,” Struxness said. “He kept the steer straight for me, and we were able to make good run on him. “This is where we make our money at the end of the year. To get a good start, it just helps motivate you to have a good 10 days from here on out.” With a purse of $8 million, the NFR is the world’s richest rodeo. Go-round winners will earn more than $26,000. “Being out here is still exciting,” said Struxness, who attended Missouri Valley College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University on rodeo scholarships, winning the 2016 college championship while at Northwestern. “I think it’s just as exciting as it was last year. It’s a fun, electric building to be in. All the money we get to run at this week is awesome. I couldn’t be more excited to be out here again. “At this point, we’re just going to work with what steers we have. The biggest goal is to get them all thrown down this year and just try to win as much as we can when we can.” He’s well on his way.

Illinois man hoping to climb new heights chasing BFO world championship LAS VEGAS – Toby Inman isn’t a man of danger, but it seems to lurk around every corner he turns. It’s how he makes a living, whether as a bullfighter or with Toby’s Tree Service, a business he owns in his hometown of Davis Junction, Ill. He faces danger from towering heights trimming trees, and he looks at it square in the eyes as he maneuvers within inches of the raging horns of powerfully agile beasts. He’s pretty good at both. He is the No. 2 man in the Pendleton Whisky World Standings heading into the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship, set for 2 p.m. Dec. 7-10 and 13-16 at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Las Vegas. “I’m the old guy, and the old guy still wants to win,” said Inman, 34, who came out of retirement a little more than a year ago to be part of the BFO. “I don’t have anything to prove, but to come back and jump in without training wheels, I’m pretty proud of myself.” He should be. Over the course of the 2017 season, Inman earned several key victories and placed well at other stops en route to earning more than $25,000. He can more than double his season earnings in Sin City, with the Las Vegas Championship winner pocketing $25,000. With that, he can overtake the season leader, Weston Rutkowski, and has a chance to pocket the $50,000 bonus paid out to the BFO world champion. “The money doesn’t necessarily motivate me; fighting bulls motivates me,” he said. “Vegas and the finals motivates me. I’m just excited to be a participant and be a top contender at my age. I definitely don’t show it a lot, but I still grin ear to ear, and it’s because of that. I’m thankful for the opportunity.” Inman has earned that chance. A decade ago, he was one of the top freestyle bullfighters in the game. He stepped away from it for about six years to focus on his business in Illinois, but Bullfighters Only not only got him back to work in the arena, it sparked a focus. He has long been recognized as one of the smoothest men in freestyle bullfighting. He makes moves around the athletic bulls with ease, and his tall frame and equally athletic talent allow him to score big points. He is one of nine top bullfighters who will compete in the third annual Roughy Cup to kickstart the Las Vegas festivities Thursday. All nine advance to the Las Vegas Championship, which begins Dec. 10, while 27 other men will try to earn their place through three days of qualifiers. “I’m excited because fans continue to help us reach our initial goal, which is making freestyle bullfighting a mainstream event,” Inman said. “We’re able to do this because of the fans.” Of course, having an opportunity at the big cash in Vegas doesn’t hurt either. “I’ve got skid loaders and other things on my Christmas list that I’ve got to buy for myself,” he said with a laugh. “For the most part, though, I still like to do it and have fun with it. “It’s exciting that my friends and family – and even new fans – get to see my progression. They can see that I still enjoy it and can still do it well.” He has plenty of reasons to be happy with where he is, whether it’s atop a tree or jumping a fighting bull. BFO’s Seeded Bullfighters Weston Rutkowski Toby Inman Kris Furr Dayton Spiel Schell Apple Justin Josey Zach Call Tanner Zarnetski Cody Emerson Las Vegas Championship Schedule All performances begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7: Roughy Cup – a stand-alone competition featuring the top nine athletes in the BFO. The event has become a staple for BFO fans. Friday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 10: Qualifier Rounds – An open door for the sport’s rising talent, providing a chance to compete at the elite level. Nine of the 27 bullfighters competing will advance to the Preliminary Rounds. Wednesday, Dec. 13-Thursday Dec. 14: Preliminary Rounds – Winners from each performance advance to Championship Saturday. Friday, Dec. 15: Wild Card Round – Bullfighters will get one final chance to advance to Championship Saturday. Saturday, Dec. 16: The 2017 BFO world champion will be crowned at the completion of a 9-man semifinals, followed by the 3-man Hooey Championship Round.

DALLAS – Pete Carr has been known for having one of the biggest and best herds of bucking horses in ProRodeo. He just added to it. Carr, owner of Pete Carr Pro Rodeo and Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo, has acquired the livestock, breeding program and entire rodeo herd from Mack Altizer’s Bad Company Rodeo. “Mack was an innovator in rodeo, from his breeding program to his production,” said Carr, who was part of the acquisition of Harper & Morgan Rodeo Co. before establishing Pete Carr Pro Rodeo and acquiring Terry Walls Rodeo Co. and Classic Pro Rodeo. “By making this purchase, we’re not only increasing our herd, but we’re also adding quality in the form of great bloodlines and some good bucking horses. “This will allow us to add the things we need to help make every rodeo we produce even better, and it sets us up for years to come.” The bloodlines date back several decades, and the influences have come from several long-standing stock contracting families: Sankey, Kirby, Franklin, Vold and Thompson. “I’m pretty excited with what we’ve seen in the horses that are seasoned,” Carr said. “I think the potential for the unproven horses is endless, because they have some outstanding bloodlines.” He understands the importance of having a strong genetic background in bucking animals. In addition to having acquired some of the greatest in the game, Carr’s breeding program is showing results. This year, he will have two ranch-raised bucking horses at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo: Painted River and Dirty Flirt. Bad Company Rodeo introduced exciting sound, pyrotechnics and increased value in every production, and many producers have followed suit. The Carr team has been praised for several years for its level of production. “Mack was ahead of his time, and most of his innovations are part of how stock contractors produce our rodeos today,” Carr said. “In getting these horses, we know that we are getting a ton of really good stock. When you mix in the breeding program to that, we have a lot to look forward to in the years to come.”

Respected barrelman a saving grace in Las Vegas Championship bouts LAS VEGAS – The cliché of rolling with the punches has never been more applicable than for Andy North. He’s the barrelman who will be in the arena during the Bullfighters Only Las Vegas Championship, set for Dec. 7-10 and 13-16 at the Tropicana Casino and Resort. He is a safety valve for the freestyle bullfighters in the competition, which begins at 2 p.m. daily. His protection is his 120-pound, aluminum-shell barrel that is padded on the inside and out. At full speed, a fighting bull can hit the barrel at nearly 20 mph and with enough force to send it end-over-end. It can be brutal for the man inside, despite the padding. His body already contorted to absorb the impact as much as possible, those shots take their toll. But that’s OK for North. “I love working the barrel,” said North of Piedmont, Okla. “I think it’s something I was born to do. I’m trying to put a little subtle attention to what we do and what we’re there for.” North has a few tricks to his trade, which is why he’s the most sought-after barrelman in the industry. His seven years as a bullfighter have helped him with the instincts of being in the right place at the right time. By gripping the hand-holds on the inside and shuffling his feet through a one-foot-square opening at the bottom, North just glides into position. “Having fought freestyle bulls before, I have a little more insight where a guy is likely to get into trouble,” he said. “What makes a difference is that I have a knack for knowing when the wreck is going to happen. I don’t want to distract the bull and pull him away from the bullfight. Fortunately, I’ve always had the ability to get sneaky with that thing.” He’s made it into an art form. “Andy North is the best barrelman in the business, hands down,” said Weston Rutkowski, the reigning BFO world champion is No. 1 heading into the eight days of competition in the City of Lights. “In times that pure chaos has come out, he’s been the guy to save me. He’s always been there when I needed him. He’s just so savvy in the freestyle bullfights that he knows where to be and when to be there.” One reason he’s always there is that he’s protecting his dear friends. He’s been in their position before, and he wants to be there for them again. Being part of Bullfighters Only is just an added benefit. “The reason I keep doing this is the brotherhood I have with those guys,” North said. “Being in the arena with the very best is a good thing. It’s neat to be part of, to me that’s such a big thing. It doesn’t matter if it’s the No. 1 guy out there or a rookie, I value them and what they bring to the table. “If I have to take a shot in that barrel to save someone, I’m going to do it.” The bullfighters know that. They hope to never need North, but they trust him if the situation arises. “What makes Andy special is that he’s always right there,” said Kris Furr, the No. 5 man in the Pendleton Whisky World Standings. “If you go down in the arena, it may take four seconds for the other bullfighters to get to you to help you, but Andy is in position in a second.” That savviness comes from 13 years on the job. Now he has the best seat in the house to watch the sport’s top men battle for the Bullfighters Only world title. BFO’s Seeded Bullfighters Weston Rutkowski Toby Inman Kris Furr Dayton Spiel Schell Apple Justin Josey Zach Call Tanner Zarnetski Cody Emerson Las Vegas Championship Schedule All performances begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7: Roughy Cup – a stand-alone competition featuring the top nine athletes in the BFO. The event has become a staple for BFO fans. Friday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 10: Qualifier Rounds – An open door for the sport’s rising talent, providing a chance to compete at the elite level. Nine of the 27 bullfighters competing will advance to the Preliminary Rounds. Wednesday, Dec. 13-Thursday Dec. 14: Preliminary Rounds – Winners from each performance advance to Championship Saturday. Friday, Dec. 15: Wild Card Round – Bullfighters will get one final chance to advance to Championship Saturday. Saturday, Dec. 16: The 2017 BFO world champion will be crowned at the completion of a 9-man semifinals, followed by the 3-man Hooey Championship Round.

Rutkowski hoping to capitalize in Vegas to win second world championship LAS VEGAS – Every championship fighter wants to defend his belt in Las Vegas. Weston Rutkowski is no different. He clinched the first Bullfighters Only world championship last December. Now he will battle to retain that title belt during the BFO Las Vegas Championship, set for Dec. 7-10 and 13-16 at the Tropicana Hotel and Resort. “I have a lot to prove,” said Rutkowski, 28, of Haskell, Texas. “Las Vegas is where you go to prove that you know what you’re doing.” He has earned more than $42,000 through the rigors of the 2017 season and owns a lead of just less than $17,000 over the No. 2 man, Toby Inman of Davis Junction, Ill. Rutkowski will kick things off with the Roughy Cup, which begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7; he is the two-time reigning champion of the BFO’s inaugural event. “The Roughy Cup is a big event,” he said. “If I want to win another world title, I need to win it for the third time in a row. If I can win the Roughy Cup, it’ll be tougher for those guys to catch me.” He’s talking about the other top nine bullfighters who will be in the mix that opening performance. They have all earned the right to compete for the biggest payday in the game. Not only will they kick-start the Tropicana festivities, but they will also earn a bye into the Las Vegas Championship. That’s huge, because $50,000 will be paid out over the eight days of bullfighting. In the BFO, dollars not only help pay bills, but they equal championship points. The man with the most money earned through the season will earn the crown. And this year, for the first time, that comes with a little more incentive: A $50,000 bonus paid to the world champ. “I just want to go in there and take care of business. I’ve been in these situations where everybody is gunning for you, but I can only do what I do.” Rutkowski said. “It doesn’t seem like that long ago that I spent $750 to fly out to North Carolina to win $600 at a bullfight, so this shows how much the BFO has changed things for bullfighting. “I’ve got to trust in what I’m good at. I’ll just let the points fall where they fall and, if I do that, I should come back with back-to-back world titles.” He’s confident, but he’s proven why. He’s picked up some key titles through the season and brings a boat load of momentum into the Nevada desert. “It’s been a year of ups and downs,” he said. “In the beginning, I pulled my groin, and I had to go to two more stand-alone events on a peg leg. I was fortunate enough to pull out a little money at one of those. “Over the summer, I didn’t win a lot, because I was fighting my head. I was learning how to get through some tough times and still be able to put myself in a place to win another world title. I hope that shows how hard I work at this.” The hard work is paying off as freestyle bullfighting has taken to the main stage of extreme sports, especially Western sports. Rutkowski is making a name for himself with his style, experience and athleticism. It’s a good time to be at the top of the business. “Bullfighters Only has changed everything for guys like me and, especially, for those guys that are coming up in bullfighting,” Rutkowski said. “It has created a platform for guys that are up and coming to show off what they can do. To pay out $100,000 in Las Vegas is unreal. The BFO has brought freestyle bullfighting to the mainstream, and that was our goal.” It’s happening, and Weston Rutkowski and all the others in the BFO are reaping the rewards. BFO’s Seeded Bullfighters Weston Rutkowski Toby Inman Kris Furr Dayton Spiel Schell Apple Justin Josey Zach Call Tanner Zarnetski Cody Emerson Las Vegas Championship Schedule All performances begin at 2 p.m.| Thursday, Dec. 7: Roughy Cup – a stand-alone competition featuring the top nine athletes in the BFO. The event has become a staple for BFO fans. Friday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 10: Qualifier Rounds – An open door for the sport’s rising talent, providing a chance to compete at the elite level. Nine of the 27 bullfighters competing will advance to the Preliminary Rounds. Wednesday, Dec. 13-Thursday Dec. 14: Preliminary Rounds – Winners from each performance advance to Championship Saturday. Friday, Dec. 15: Wild Card Round – Bullfighters will get one final chance to advance to Championship Saturday. Saturday, Dec. 16: The 2017 BFO world champion will be crowned at the completion of a 9-man semifinals, followed by the 3-man Hooey Championship Round.