Semiannual bull riding, barrel racing contest returns to Expo

 

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Savannah Sawyer
Assistant Features Editor

Another Bull Blowout returns to the William “Bill” Cherry Agricultural Exposition Center this weekend.

The semiannual competition will feature bull riding and barrel racing competitions.

Parsons & Miliam Rough Stock Contractors and Promoters sponsor the event, which takes place at 8 p.m. today and Saturday. The event is held once a semester at Murray State.

While every Bull Blowout features barrel racing and bull riding, the weekend will also feature a calf scramble for children 10 years and under and mutton busting for children 6 years and under.

The actual competition will draw in people from all over.

“We have cowboys and cowgirls from all over the area that will be riding in it,” said Penny Parsons, sponsor for the event. “They come from all states around. It’s not limited (to Murray State students), we will have some of the Murray State students I’m sure riding in it but it’s an open event.”

The event gives individuals of all ages a chance to participate.

“It could be high school people, it could be college people, it could be older people,” Parsons said.

Last semester Murray State had two students who placed in the events.

Kristen Yunker, senior from Frankfurt, Ill., competed and won first place in barrel racing in the Oct. 7 competition.

Yunker, who is scheduled to compete today, takes advantage of the competition by considering it practice.

“I have run at Bull Blowout a couple times; it is usually practice for other rodeos that I go to,” she said.

Bull Blowout has been held in Murray for quite some time now.

“We started putting on different rodeos in different places and we have been producing a show at the Murray State Expo Center for many years now,” Parsons said. “It’s just a good venue for us.”

Cost to attend the event is $12 for the public, $10 with a Racercard and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the door of the Expo Center.

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