It’s not who you know. It’s what who you know...knows. Mike Porter, bull owner, businessman, and entrepreneur from Lyman, South Carolina knows by looking at the stats of almost 11,000 bulls with a bucking record on probullstats.com, that a bull’s career changes when he reaches 5 years of age. “The Professional Bucking Bull Association is launching a specially formulated series designed to increase the competition bull’s earning potential thus adding years to their competitive career and that means additional paychecks available for their owners,” said Mike Porter from the Professional Bucking Bull Association (PBBA) Headquarters.

With the numbers steadily rising in the bucking bull industry registrations, futurities and three year-old competitions, a record number of bulls are entering what we can now call “the system”. Whether he is bred and groomed for greatness or plucked from the feed lot as a “hot calf” today’s bucking bull has earning potential from the time he turns 2 years-old until he reaches the end of his four year-old year. At that point, he enters the “pool” of bulls available for rent, lease, or sale to contractors who supply stock to a variety of professional and amateur associations nationwide.

The American Bucking Bull Incorporated (ABBI) the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and the National Bucking Bull Association (NBBA) have done wonders for the bull industry, says Mike Porter, founder of the newly established PBBA. “As a breeder I’ve been involved with the ABBI since it was the Rodeo Stock Registry and I am amazed at the progress it has made in so few years.” The PBBA will only complement the current futurity and classic system. Mike Porter envisions breeders competing with their bulls in ABBI and NBBA futurities and classics as two, three and four year-olds. Then as five year-olds they continue to compete in PBBA events. The PBBA will increase the competition bull’s earning potential thus adding years to his career.

So how did all this start? Early in 2006, Mike Porter began taking a look at the boom in the competitive bucking bull business as he had bulls competing in the ABBI system. Each year the numbers of bulls entering the futurity and classic systems exceeds expectations. Other bull owners also began to realize that there are hundreds of bulls that once they turn five their career as a competition bull is over, the next step was years on a contractor’s trailer or merely breeding. It became evident there is a need for another level of competition. Consequently the PBBA was formed.

In this world, it is not enough to merely be connected. Success requires something more.

So what makes Mike Porter the man for the job of creating a new rung on the bucking bull ladder?

He not only owns bulls, but his business career has been, to a great extent, diversified. “I’ve been an executive and consultant for Fortune 500 Companies, privately held companies and co-negotiated the sale of a privately held business to a Fortune 200 Company. In addition, he has been involved in many startup businesses. He is currently a partner and Chief Financial Officer in a real estate development firm. “In 2002, I also created RodeoStockyard.com, the first-ever internet-based website for buying and selling bucking bulls. But first and foremost Porter adds, “I am also a bucking bull breeder,” which puts me in the same situation as lots of other breeders. What to do with our bulls after their eligibility is up in the current ABBI or NBBA series? Some bulls go directly to the PBR and rodeo circuits, but not all owners have access to those events or want to see their bulls on a trailer week after week for, at the most, $400 an out.”

The message is simple: LISTEN UP GUYS…OPPORTUNITIES ARE SELDOM LABELED.

“The PBBA is a startup company in a very new and uncharted business. Like all new business ventures, you must provide a needed service or product. The PBBA will fill the void that currently exists for sanctioned Open Bucking Bull Competitions,” said Porter.

The PBBA has three primary objectives: First is to provide a means for bucking bull breeders and owners to continue competing with their bulls regardless of their age and breeding. Secondly, while the bull owners are competing and winning money, they are also promoting their bulls and, consequently, adding value. A PBBA event champion should very well become more valuable to the owners and possibly even more valuable as a breeding bull, particularity if they are consistent winners. The third objective gives non-registered bulls an opportunity to compete. If a non-registered bull proves himself at PBBA events, the owner may consider registering his bull, his parents and offspring.

“In 10 years I would like for the PBBA to become the standard with most sanctioned bull riding events also being PBBA bull competitions. There are tens of thousands of bull ridings at all different levels for the bull riders to prove themselves and work their way up through the ranks. The bulls also need a similar venue to prove themselves. I would also like to see the PBBA secure enough sponsorships so that it can hold an annual finals competition with a purse that is comparable to the purse the ABBI Finals is paying,” said Porter when asked of the association’s long term goals.

We all know that the development of an association takes time. So when and where are these events happening? “We currently have seven events planned. They are in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. We are also looking at venues in Ohio and more in Tennessee,” said Mike. These events are all Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association (SEBRA) sanctioned bull ridings and primarily in the southeast because of the great reputation SEBRA has for providing top notch bull riders. SEBRA is one of the fastest growing and most progressive associations in the country. They are a perfect fit for sanctioning the PBBA events and have been extremely supportive of the PBBA. Because we are producing these events, it is easier and cheaper to produce them in our area. “I’ve had inquiries and discussions with other bull riding producers who want to have PBBA-sanctioned events in Oklahoma, Missouri, Ohio, North Dakota, Florida and Illinois. The PBBA will become nationwide as it grows and others produce PBBA-sanctioned events.”

I spoke to SEBRA director Tom Smith about the PBBA partnership. “I spoke to several different organizations about holding SEBRA-sanctioned classic events. Classic events allow ordinary business-minded people to experience the adrenaline rush of bull riding. Business-minded people will allow more money to come into the sport. New people mean new ideas and fresh enthusiasm. In a few years, I believe that the bulls in the Finals will be qualified and entered just like the cowboys. I felt that for SEBRA to be on the cutting edge we needed to be a part of these competitions. I really liked the idea that the PBBA would be open to anyone who had a bucking bull and wanted to compete. There are a ton of outstanding bulls out there just waiting to be co-owned and entered into a competition. Not everyone can afford to enter an event in Vegas, but that doesn't mean that they don't want to participate and don't have anything to offer the sport. The more people who can be involved with bull riding, the bigger and better it will become. Bob Tallman once told me “if it is good for the masses, it will be successful” I took that to heart and have been trying to make sure that SEBRA is run that way. I know Mike Porter to be a straight up honest individual and I know the PBBA organization will be trustworthy. The six-judge rule, dropping the high and low scores will help to ensure that the events are fair. The PBBA is going places and SEBRA is planning on being right on their coat tails."

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO KNOW OR HAVE IN ORDER TO PUT ON ONE OF THE THESE EVENTS?

Producing a PBBA event is not much different than producing a sanctioned bull riding. Instead of renting bulls and paying out money, the producer will accept PBBA entries through the PBBA office. The producer will have to supply safe and adequate pens for all of the bulls, plus the short-go and re-ride bulls. If, for example, he receives 30 PBBA bulls but he has 40 bull riders he will also have to provide another 10 bulls. They must also agree to follow the PBBA rules and the PBBA payout schedules. The event producers will receive a percentage of the PBBA bull entry fees to offset the costs of the extra pens and judges needed. Anyone interested in producing a PBBA event can call the PBBA or visit the website.

“The PBBA wants the producers to know that there is no reason why just about any sanctioned bull riding cannot also be a PBBA-sanctioned open bull competition. All the producers need to do is contact the PBBA, agree to follow the PBBA rules, follow the PBBA payout schedules and provide adequate pens and accommodations for the bulls,” said Porter. The PBBA has posted a set of rules and Places & Percentages Paid schedule on their website (see sidebar).

WHAT DO YOU GET FOR $400?

An entry into a six-judge system event for 5 year-olds and up that requires no registration papers for your bull to compete and a chance to win much more than the $400 entry fee.

And the point is…If He Bucks, Bring Him.

For more information contact the

PBBA website, www.pbbanow.com.
Or PBBA Headquarters at 864-313-9024 or 1113 Jordan Rd., Lyman, SC 29365