Bucking Bull Herd Owner is How Old?

The NPRA Championship Bull Riding has come and gone, but my memories of a conversation at the W. H. Lyon Fairgrounds with an interesting young man remain.

While I was preparing for one of our stations remote broadcasts I was told I should interview this, kid. Turns out, it was one of the more captivating conversations I've had with someone still in the eighth grade.

His name is Cash Smith. He's from Sydney, Iowa and he had several pens of bulls at the bull riding. Here's the catch, he 'owns, yes owns the bulls.' He's 14-years old!

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The more I talked to the guy the more I was impressed. When I was 14-years old I couldn't decide what I wanted to do that afternoon. This kid's decided and is doing it!

Here's the kicker. When his dad's on the road, hauling HIS bulls to places like Denver, CO, Smith is out taking care of the place. It's crazy to think that a young man like that could be intrusted to taking care of animals, let alone rough stock like bulls and you start to get the picture.

He's no ordinary kid.

I'd always wondered how they sorted bulls prior to the ride. As we stood out back, Smith told me, these bulls are sorted to go right or left. Turns out bulls are just like people. They prefer to turn to either the right or left when they come out of the buckin' chute. I didn't know that.

Smith said his Dad also owns bulls and hauls them around to different events. For example, Smith had bulls bucking in Denver at the stock show the previous weekend.

Listen to the young man talk. It's pretty impressive.