-22 definitely impressed the ABBI judges. He was awarded an 88.25 which is an extremely high score for any futurity bull. “I thought he could win, because he'd been bucking really good at the house,” shared Rex. “He is out of Party Time and from the mama of What I Say. I exercise him every day and run him through. He's real hard and a real good bull.”

The first ABBI Junior Futurity event of the year was held the weekend of the American Heritage. Junior members entered 28 futurity bulls in the competition and over $15,000 in prize money was paid out. Money raised from ticket sales from the ABBI Derby the night before went to help fund the Junior Futurity, offsetting about half of the prize purse paid out.

Rex also plans on competing at the two remaining Junior events for the season: Tulsa, Okla. and Sulphur Springs, Texas. “ I have one more bull at the house that I'll take to Tulsa and then I'll take Party All The Time back to Sulphur Springs,” said Rex.

In second at the season opener was Colt Baker with 7542, who earned a score of 86.5. He won $1,000 and a heifer donated by Diamond S.

“He was bucking really good, so I thought maybe he could come in first or second,” said Colt of his bull out of the great Dr. Hou. “My brother has a really good bull too, but I like my bull and think I'll take him to Tulsa too.”

Colt, 14, and his brother Cade, 10, are both involved in the Junior Futurity system. The brothers have an agreement to share everything they win. “They boys really aren't competitive with each other,” shared mom Paige, “The ABBI Junior Futurity is such a a wonderful program for the kids to be involved with. And Colt was as excited to get the Smash Hit heifer as he was the money.”

“I have a daughter who is participating in the Junior Futurity events this season,” explained David Simpson, “and I think the program is so important to our younger members that I wanted to find a way to help out and support it, so we donated a Smash Hit heifer.”

Splitting third were Connor Fitzpatrick and Hannah Gant. Connor was another junior breeder who benefited from the generosity a fellow ABBI member. “As we see this grow, there are more and more people getting involved and helping kids with their breeding programs,” shared ABBI President Russ Gant. “Rod Conat and his wife did a really good thing, they donated the calf for Connor to compete with.”

Hannah's 5G773 You Wish and Connor's 749 Switchback were each a 78.75. Each earned $1,222 for their 4-second performances. In fifth was Hunter Murphy with a 76.75 for GV 674 Infinity, which gave him $724. Megan Walker was sixth with 728's score of 69.75 which was worth $634. Rounding at the money was Rayni Maxey whose 997 was scored 68.75 for $543.

All the junior members flank their own bulls at the events and are encouraged to be as handson as possible in the raising, feeding and care of their animals at home. Please contact the ABBI if you are interesting in supporting the Junior Futurity program.