Along with its American Heritage Futurity, the ABBI presented its first-ever Youth Futurity at the Hardy Murphy Arena in Ardmore on May 31. The event was open to any junior breeder aged 9 to 18, and the bull had to be registered in the junior breeders name.

There were many things that needed to be worked out just so these kids could buck their bulls. Safety was the utmost concern, along with having the youth flank their own bulls, something unique in this industry. The ABBI wanted the youth not only to raise the bull but to actually buck him, learning the entire process of bucking a bull.

Before the event, the participants were instructed on what was required of them to compete. The kids were in small groups or just sitting, going over everything required for the event, and you could see the tension building. There were 30 entries competing in this first youth futurity, and the parents appeared more nervous than their kids.

Once the event was underway, no one would have known youngsters were bucking their bulls. There were some who took a little more time, but that is true with the adults, too.

Girls were part of this exciting affair, and did their own flanking, handling the job as smoothly as a pro. One little fellow required his dad to hang on to his belt while he reached for his flank. When the event was over and the kids were assembled for a group photo, I went to them and told them just how proud I was of each contestant. There could only be one true winner, but I felt they all had won, and proved to everyone just what they could do.

The winner of this premiere event was Cash Roberts and his 55S with a score of 80 points. Roberts was all smiles after receiving his big check for $10,000 and posing with the leaders of the ABBI. When asked to describe his bull’s performance, he uttered, “I really liked him and he bucked good and didn’t run off.” Asked what he was going to do with all that money, he just shrugged his shoulders with a smile. 55S was sired by Best Shot, a Houdini son out of Page C200-441.

The Reserve Champion went to Karl Allen and his JF 666 El Diablo, scoring 79 points. For his second-place finish, Allen received a check for $1,000 dollars and a calf donated by Teague Bucking Bulls.

Third went to Bailey Buck and her Page S35 with 76.75 points. Fourth was Kayla McAfee and 3M67 No Deal. Rounding out the top five was Trevor Terrell and bull 659 Spider Monkey with 74.75 points.

Scott Accomazzo, the ABBI director who headed up this youth futurity, declared, “We are real excited about doing this for the kids. It’s a real neat deal, getting these kids involved and giving them something to do besides hanging out somewhere or playing video games. Just getting them involved where they actually flank their bulls and raise the bull, exercise them, chute break them — and when it’s all said and done, get new stock contractors raising bulls for the PBR. I was so impressed with these kids, each of them were different, and each were ready, and you could tell they had been practicing. We are truly happy with this event and look forward to the next event.”

Without the key sponsors, this event could not have been so successful. Boyd/Floyd Bull Co. donated $10,000 in prize money to the winner of the event, and Teague Bucking Bulls donated $1,000 and the calf to the Reserve Champion. One of the co-sponsors, Brad Boyd, reflected on his part in the event. “I thought it was great. The kids worked really hard, they struggled some but got the job done and I think they really enjoyed it. It sure makes me smile watching these kids work so hard at it. After all, they are the future of all this.”

Tom Teague of Teague Bucking Bulls noted his feelings thusly: "What concerns me is I want this sport to keep growing, and I want to also help the youth. Kids today starting to raise cattle and competing are going to be the backbone of the industry."

Those men were the major co-sponsors, but Wrangler, Little Blue Bucking Dummy, Cattleac Cattle Equipment, Bull Pen Magazine, Priefert Ranch Equipment, Big Tex Trailers and Rocky Boots also added their support to the youth-oriented event.

After holding their first junior futurity, the ABBI and the participants are all looking forward to the next Youth Futurity to be held in conjunction with the PBR BFTS event in Dallas.