Tuff Hedeman selects son of Bodacious as the Bounty Bull for the South Dakota State Fair

HURON, S.D. - Aug. 28, 2015 - PRLog -- Four time World Champion bull rider Tuff Hedeman has decided to give the cowboys of Championship Bull Riding a second chance at riding one of Dakota Rodeo's fiercest bucking bulls  - 02 Beaver Creek Beau.

Hedeman who selects all the stock on the Road to Cheyenne Tour, made the announcement that Chad Berger, owner of Dakota Rodeo Company’s Beaver Creek Beau, will be the bounty bull on the first night of the 12th Annual Red Wilk Construction Bull Bash at the South Dakota State Fair.

Out of 51 attempts, “Beau” has been ridden three times on the professional circuits, with two of the three in 2015. He was ridden twice by Shane Proctor and once by Ben Jones, but in the last eight attempts, no rider has heard the 8 second whistle while still on his back.

“This bull is the best of the bred to buck program, said Berger. He is strong like Bodacious and quick like Little Yellow Jacket.  Bailey was unsuccessful against the 2,000 pound beast. “He came out so quick for a big bull and he just beat me out of the gate,” said Mahindra Young Gun, Corey Bailey.

Beaver Creek Beau, a son of the legendary Bodacious and out of a Little Yellow Jackson cow, lived up to his pedigree and bucked off Corey Bailey in two seconds at last year’s bull riding at the fair.

But Bailey was not the only dejected bull rider who has attempt Beau. Beaver Creek Beau boasted a 100% buck off rate in 2014 which included his performance in Huron last August on the first night of competition at the South Dakota State Fair CBR event. This year, after one round of competition on Wednesday night, the rider with the highest score will have the opportunity to win $10,000 if he can make the required eight seconds on Beaver Creek Beau. Sounds easy? Keep reading.

On the Mahindra Road to Cheyenne Tour, Hedeman shares the arena with forty different bucking bulls, but rarely does he have the opportunity to be in the arena with a descendent of the bull that almost ended his star studded career. On September 1^st at the South Dakota State Fair, the legend comes back to life, even if just for a brief eight seconds.

The history of professional bull riding cannot be told without including Tuff Hedeman and Bodacious. Tuff is a four time world champion, Bodacious is still the standard by which other bucking bulls are measured. There was once a time when Tuff and Bodacious met face to hump in the bucking arena. That won’t happen anymore since both are retired from competition, but the genetics live on in his many offspring.

Bodacious was known for one particular trick that resulted in many injuries for riders. It involved him bringing his rear up with his head to the ground, forcing a rider to shift his weight forward. Bodacious would then lift his head up full force, smashing the rider's face. In the final round of the 1995 World Finals, Bodacious head butted Hedeman, breaking every major bone in Hedeman's face. Hedeman needed a 4-hour reconstructive surgery to repair the bones in his face.

Hedeman and Beaver Creek Beau obviously have mutual respect for each other as each have a rich history with the sport and each other.

Although he was raised by Colby Robertson of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, he now travels the professional circuits with Chad Berger and the Dakota Rodeo Company of Bismark, North Dakota.

The CBR makes its way into the South Dakota State Fair for two nights where three South Dakota natives will be competing against multiple world champions for the $30,000 in prize money made available to the bull riders. Tanner Bothwell, Rapid City; Kritter Lamb, Whitehorse; and Corey Maier, Timber Lake.

Great seats are on sale now but you better get yours quick. Who knows what legend will be added to lore of cowboy versus bull on opening night.

DATE: Wednesday, Sept 2 & Thursday, Sept 3

TIME: 8:00 PM

LOCATION: South Dakota State Fairgrounds, 890 3rd Street SW - Huron, SD 57530

TICKETS: SD State Fair Box Office, 866.605.FAIR or www.sdstatefair.com

Buy your tickets before Wednesday, Sept. 2 and save!  All tickets purchased before Wednesday, Sept. 2 will include gate admission!

PRICES: $17 Adult & $12 Youth