SPRINGDALE — Thanks to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Minor League baseball team, future Major League Baseball stars come through town on a regular basis.
Tonight, future professional rodeo stars will be on display as the Buckin in the Ozarks Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Touring Pro Division (TPD) event at Parsons Stadium.
The division is the minor league of professional bull riding and the series’ one-night stop will feature young and veteran bull riders. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. and admission ranges from $19-$35 for adults. Prices for children (ages 2-12) begin at $14.
Many of tonight’s riders will advance to the top level of bull riding, which is the Built Tough Ford Series.
At A Glance
15th Annual Buckin’ In The Ozarks
Professional Bull Riders Tour
WHEN: Today, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Parsons Stadium, Springdale
“The TPD gives riders the opportunity to compete in PBR-sanctioned events while earning money to qualify for the nationally televised Built Ford Tough Series, which is comprised of the top 35 bull riders in the world,” said public relations director Jack Carnefix. “Every five events on the 9 Built Tough Ford Series), the top 5 riders, based on money earned from the (Touring Pro Division), are allowed to move into the (Series).
“The (Series) features the world’s best and highest paid bull riders competing against the fiercest bucking bulls on the planet. The (Touring Pro Division) allows established veterans and newcomers the opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best bucking bulls.”
Some of the top competitors scheduled to appear include 2008 PBR Rookie of the Year Reese Cates, 2009 Rookie of the Year Cody Nance, 2004 PBR World Champions Mike Lee and Austin Meier, who is currently ranked No. 8 in the Built Ford Tough Series standings.
Cates, of El Dorado, won an event last weekend in Cedar Park, Texas while Nance has recent wins at events in Ardmore, Okla. and Huntsville Alabama.
The winner will walk away with $10,000 and an additional $10,000 in added prize money has helped attract some of the best riders.
Scheduled Participants
Name Hometown
Zac Harris, Early, Texas
Corey Bailey, Paris, Tenn.
Wagner Luciano , Coronel Fabriciano Mg, Brazil
Dusty LaBeth, Archie, Mo.
Chance Roberts, Jewett, Ill.
Jeff Askey, Martin, Tenn.
Bart Miller, Oshkosh, Neb.
Skeeter Kingsolver, Mclouth, Kan.
Markus Mariluch, Elko, Nev.
Ryan Dirteater, Hulbert, Okla.
Jared, Farley, Kempsey, Australia
Chad Vanamburg, Archdale, N.C.
Josh Faircloth, Randleman, N.C.
Cody Nance, Springville, Tenn.
Trevor Reiste, Linden, Iowa
Nic Lica, Garden City, Mich.
Mike Lee, Decatur, Texas
Austin Meier, Kinta, Okla.
Mason Lowe, Exeter, Mo.
Corey Atwell, Moravian Falls, N.C.
Colby Yates, Springtown, Texas
Cody Johnson, Kaufman, Texas
Michael Lane, Randleman, N.C.
Mickey Andrews, Checotah, Okla.
Sevi Torturo, Burnt Hills, N.Y.
Sean Willingham, Summerville, Ga.
Chon Miranda, Ruidoso Downs, N.M.
Lucas Dick, Burton, Kan.
Billy Robinson, Galax, Va.
Tyler Bingham, Honeyville, Utah
Marcus Kimberling, Aurora, Mo.
Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore.
Justin Granger, Tuba City, Ariz.
Matt Bohon, Cole Camp, Mo.
Reese Cates, El Dorado