Incredi-Bulls coming to J. Neils Park Saturday

The 6th annual Incredi-Bull bull-riding event will return to J. Neils Park this Saturday as the first big event of the summer.

The event’s President Brett Bronson, 64, and Vice President John Burke, 62, expect more than 1,000 spectators this weekend at the event, advertised only a weekand-a-half in advance.

This year’s event will include 40 bull rides in two long runs. The Backyard Cowboy event will make a return for an amateurs attempt at a mechanical bull ride. For the younger patrons, a foot race in the arena will take place between runs. The highlight as always is a $1,000 scholarship that will be awarded to one college-bound graduate. Music will be provided by the country-music method of the Copper Mountain Band.

And, as in previous years, this event will be put on entirely by six people.

The cooperative includes Secretary Ashley Perkins and Treasurer Arlene Barnette, whose work was defined by Burke simply as, “what don't they do?” The pair began planning and fundraising in January, and worked nearly everyday in preparation for the 2013 Incredi-Bull.

Jason Colclough and Ryan Wood, both as sergeant at arms, ran around the northwest to hand-choose each rider, announcer and judge.

Heading the committee, Bronson and Burke handle all legalities including insurance and obtaining a liquor license for the event. All members will take on multiple roles on the day of the event.

Bronson could barely categorize the work or number the hours put in by the crew, pulling the strings needed to put together an event of this size, on a budget that doesn’t actually exist. Six members estimated above 500 hours of work from January until Saturday’s event.

“It’s going to cost us $4,000 just to get the bulls here,” Colclough said.

“And In order to have bull riders come,” Bronson noted, “you have got to have a lot of money up or they aren’t coming”

Bronson said he had not intended to take over the competition when he was asked to judge the competition by former owner PJ Morrison, but he soon found himself with more work and planning than he signed up for. He finally brought on a dedicated crew over the last four years, developing a successful team ready for rain or shine.

Four years ago, Bronson recalled the event as a failure, falling $2,700 short of breaking even after the competition, leaving expenses to be paid internally. But the assemblage carried on to the following year, determined to support the community with a family-friendly event that would provide a scholarship to one high school graduate each year.

This year’s Incredi-Bull scholarship was awarded to Jordan Quinn to attend a college of his choice.

This year marks the first invitational and non-sanctioned event since the first Incredi-Bull, offered out by Colclough, who sighted in only the best and upcoming riders in the northwest. Colclough plans to put on a PBR-caliber event for his hometown crowd.

The gates open this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and the main event begins at 7 p.m.