Bull rider's performance tops this year's Linn County rodeo

J.R. Stratford rides bull Jim Dandy out of the chute at the Linn County rodeo on Friday, June 8. Stratford's ride with a score of 94 won the event. (Terri Abrahamsen / Chute Rodeo Images).

By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com

MOUND CITY – The spectators at the rodeo expect action and thrills. Whether it’s bucking broncos or twisting bulls, bulldogging or barrel-racing, its an event that is full of lightning fast action and speed.

Stratford celebrates his ride to the cheers from the bleachers. (Terri Abrahamsen / Chute Rodeo Images).

The crowd at the Linn County Rodeo on Friday witnessed what was likely the best bull ride in the rodeo’s history, according to John Teagarden, a member of the fair board who works with organizing and promoting the event. In fact, he said, it might have been one of the best rides anywhere.

That night J.R. Stratford, a 23-year-old bull rider from Byers, Kansas, drew the bull Jim Dandy, a bull that had not been successfully ridden for more than three years, Teagarden said. 

Stratford, who is ranked sixth in Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PCRA) bull riding standings, competed in the Calgary (Canada) Stampede about a month ago, winning his heat with a score of 86.5 but not making it to the final showdown.

In the month preceding the Linn County fair, he scored 89 at Cheyenne, Wyoming; scored 87 to win the event at Red Lodge, Montana; placed second at Cheyenne Frontier Days; won at Wahoo, Nebraska; won with a score of 90 at Lovington, New Mexico; and won the event at Woodstown-Pilesgrove, New Jersey, with another 90 points.

Ty Blessing moments into his ride on High Society in the bareback riding event. Seconds later his hand would be caught in the rigging as the horse dragged him around the arena. Despite that, he was not seriously injured. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

So when he came out of the chute on Jim Dandy, expectations were high. But maybe not high enough. Stratford pulled down a score of 94 on top of a bull that did everything it could to lose its rider.

Teagarden pointed to the ride and Stratford’s record as one of the reasons the Linn County Rodeo was so successful. With 225 contestants from 26 states, including North Carolina to the east, Texas to the south, Minnesota and Wisconsin to the north and even Hawaii. Of course, most of the contestants hailed from Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Iowa.

Jeff Miller of Blue Mound charges out of the chute in the steer wrestling event. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

Several contestants were from the immediate area, including:

• Jake Johnson from Mapleton in steer wrestling, 

• Jeff Miller from Blue Mound in steer wrestling,

• Jacoby Johnson in ladies breakaway roping, 

• Lane Watson from Fort Scott in tie-down roping, 

• Centerville native Kolby Ungeheuer in tie-down roping, 

• Blake Steuk from Hume, Missouri, in saddle bronc riding

• Miranda Arndt from Fort Scott in ladies breakaway, 

• Austin and Braedon Nation from Mound City in team roping, 

• Shelly Seibolt from Paola in barrel racing,

• Patterson Starcher from Fort Scott in bull riding

John Payne of The One Armed Bandit and Co. put on a show by herding trained Watusi longhorns to climb on top of this livestock trailer. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

On both Friday and Saturday nights, the crowds at the Linn County Fair and Rodeo arena were reminded that rodeo is a dangerous sport.

On Friday, one of the women carrying the American flag on horseback had an accident at the beginning of the rodeo and was taken away following the opening ceremony in an ambulance.

Braedon Nation of Mound City rides out of the chute in the team roping contest. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

On Saturday night, the crowd watched in horror as Ty Blessing of Eudora got his hand caught in the rigging in the bareback bronc riding event. As Blessing was thrown, his hand caught and he was unable to break free. The horse continued to buck as the rider tried to run alongside, and the bucking action tossed him like a rag doll.

With the help of pickup men Andy Eck and Dusty Moore, Blessing was finally able to break free and walk away.

Teagarden said that despite appearances, Blessing was not seriously hurt.

"Boom Boom" wrangles dozens of kids in preparation for the calf scramble on Saturday night. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

Blane Steuck of Hume, Missouri, charges out of the chute atop Hat Trick in the saddle bronc event on Saturday. He scored 85 points on the ride. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)