CBR Announces 2017 Stock Contractor of the Year Nominees

The list of 12 Stock Contractors competing for Championship Bull Riding (CBR) Stock Contractor of the Year was announced today by four time World Champion and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Tuff Hedeman on behalf of Championship Bull Riding.

For 15 years bull owners and their partners have seen the opportunity CBR offers to men who breed, raise, train, and own bucking bulls. These men and women have a direct impact on the sport by providing the best opponents for the top bull riders competing professionally. 

On July 23, one deserving individual from that category will be named Stock Contractor of the Year at the CBR’s annual Awards Gala and Presentation of the Bulls and Riders. You cannot win or purchase this title, it is a secret ballot process by which the CBR World Finals qualified bull riders and stock contractors each cast their votes.

The 2017 Stock Contractor of the Year title will come with a Bloomer stock trailer, Juan Jose Muñoz Andrade Custom Saddle, Custom Fenoglio boots, a custom American Hat from American Hat Co., and a HyO silver custom engraved trophy buckle and a $2,000 cash bonus.

A CBR stock contractor’s objective is to provide quality bucking bulls that give the bull rider athletes a sound shot at winning each and every out.  This is the difference in the CBR 8 Second competition format and other events. Bucking riders off is not the goal of these professional bucking stock owners on the Road to Cheyenne.

It makes no difference who the rider is or what round of the tournament style format they are competing in, the bulls are expected to buck with a good sense of timing that give the rider an opportunity at a competitive score.

Some years these bull men seem to have it all figured out. Their bulls are healthy, bucking, and always on go, but some years are lean and their teams of bulls require constant attention.  It is after these years that bull men have to re-focus on raising, acquiring and developing bucking bull prospects for Championship Bull Riding’s Road to Cheyenne caliber bulls. 

These men never stop working… it is a constant grind of finding and trying new bulls to compete on the Road to Cheyenne and provide the stock it takes to produce a good show for the fans and the competitors.

According to most contractors, keeping a pen of bucking bulls is more difficult than the fans and public realize. Once you have them then you have to figure out which events to go with them and when to rest them. It’s a full time job according to most of this year’s nominees.

Twelve different stock contractors have been nominated by Tuff Hedeman. They are a highly charged group of competitive men and women, but many travel together and think of themselves as group and a family.

Recruiting top bulls to compete in the sports elite CBR Bull Team Challenge is just one aspect of says bull team owner and 2014 stock contractor of the year Jeff Harris who qualified six teams to compete at this year’s CBR World Finals at Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 24- 25.

According to Harris, riders enjoy being able to get on bulls that can produce event-winning rides and this year’s total payout to stock contractors participating on the Road to Cheyenne events was $900,000 with additional monies totaling in excess of $100,00 in Open bull team competitions.

With yearly increases in the prize monies available to the winners of the CBR’s wildly successful Bull Team Challenge division, 24 professional bucking bull teams, led by many of the stock contractor of the year nominees, will head north and west this summer to Wyoming to compete for $300,000, including a $100,000 bonus check to the winner of the CBR Bull Team Challenge World Finals.

2017 Nominee Mike Rawson has won the title three times and is tied with Harlan Robertson for the most number of wins. Thus far they are the only multiple repeats for the coveted award since the CBR was founded in 2002.  ~ CBR Media

2017 CBR Stock Contractor of the Year Nominees

William Barnett, Cypress, TX

Skip and Elaine Jones, Amarillo, TX (JQH Bucking Bulls)

Rhon Brown (Brown Ranch), Perrin, TX

Norris Dalton, Petroleum, TX

Mike White (Jerilyn Harmon's Elite Bulls) DeKalb, TX

Mike Sellers (Sellers Bucking Bulls), Duncan, OK

Mike Rawson, Martinsville, TX

Lyndal Hurst (Hurst Pro Rodeo), Lufkin, TX

Jeff Harris, (Rafter J) Palestine, TX

Cory Melton (Melton Bull Co.), Tolar, TX

Billy Jaynes (The Jaynes Gang), Orchard, TX

Benny Cude (Championship Pro Rodeo), Priddy, TX

CBR Stock Contractors of the Year

2016 Mike Rawson, Martinsville, TX

2015 Mike Rawson, Martinsville, TX

2014 Jeff Harris, Palestine, TX

2013 Mike Rawson, Martinsville, TX

2012 Billy Jones, Moscow, TX

2011 Danny Reagan, Palestine, TX

2010 Brad Vogele, Ark City, KS

2009 Scott Burrus, Conway, AR

2008 Alan Murphy, Saratoga, TX

2007-2009 Harlan Robertson, Gilmer, TX

2004 Chuck Griffith, Lufkin, TX

2003 Terry Williams, Carthage, TX