04/08/2024
Now that dust has settled and we officially close the curtain on another successful Bull Battle, I would like to send out our thank you's and give gratitude to everyone involved that makes this event possible. It's the people who step in and get behind us and this show year in and year out. To the community of Alva, our tourism board, and all of the businesses and supporters and surrounding communities, this show could not exist without you. It takes a year in the making of this show and we appreciate all of you for coming on board each and every year, already ready for the next one! Next I'd like to say thank you to our Western Sports Committee, Cody Dees, Jed Smith, Renae Acker, Re*****on Rose, Joanna Johnson, Cody James Moore, Kathryn Baugh, Patrick Hawley, for their hard work and dedication all year long in putting this show together and making it be what it is every year. We are consistently growing and getting better and better. The sky is the limit. I'd like to thank Coy Keenan and his expertise in gathering up some of the best in business to come work this show. We truly put on a professional class production and event because of you! To our contract personnel, these guys are the absolute best there is! From Matt Stacie Tarr a 3X NFR Alternate Barrel Man who never ceases to entertain here in Alva and is truly loved by our crowd, to Tanner Zarnetski a Multi-Time Selected BFO World Finals Protection Man and Champion Freestyle Bull Fighter, Luke Ballard the 2023 BFO World Champion Freestyle Bull Fighter and our Local Legend himself Tyler Forell who can hang his hat with the best of them anywhere he goes! You guys simply put on a clinic this weekend! Robert Blue Jeanes was back again behind the microphone calling all of the action and being our voice of the Alva Bull Battle! James Hajek and Bromby Hajek, the dynamic duo who no bull stands a chance once attached! Dakota Riggin and his music, makes the show fun and exciting, always helping to keep the crowd pumped up and ready for action! I'd like to send out thanks to the gals often behind the scenes, but absolutely considered key pieces to this show, for if it wasn't for them, there would no order! So thank you to my mom Debbie MurryKerns and all that you do all year long, putting up with me and the insanity that comes along with things from time to time, thank you for believing in me and standing behind me no matter what, thank you and I love you mom! and thank you to Aronda Hajek, Maichell Wilson and Jeannie Workman-Bunch, you ladies rock! From getting all of the contestants entered, keeping times, recording scores, counting the numbers, you guys keep it all flowing as it should! My judges Shane Bowman, Brad Alicia McCurry and Poppa Ben Bearce, we appreciate you guys coming every year and providing excellent professionalism. The scores are always correct and the one who should win, always does! To our stock contractors, Clay Taylor, Cooper Kanngiesser, Phil Sumner, Rod Sumner, Jason Aduddell and David Wesson, the bulls were fantastic this year! I truly believe every cowboy who tied their hand in this past weekend had a fair shot to win, no matter the draw. Our crowd and contestants were very pleased with their performance as always! I'd like to thank Brandon Wren and Jimmy Silva for bringing the mini and senior bulls for the youth event and as well as the following of contestants ya'll bring with you every year! Those kids are a bright shining star of what's to come in the sport of bull riding! I'd like to send out a thank you to Brock White and the Woods County Fairgrounds for allowing our event to call this facility Home each and every year. Brock, thank you for the countless hours you spend out at the fairgrounds prepping for weeks on end for us as well as being there day in and day out this entire past week during set up to make sure we had everything we needed. You are an absolute cornerstone piece to this show and this community having you here at the fairgrounds. Top Notch my friend! Thank you to Troy Bonifas and Mike Owens for coming to the show and jumping in and lending a hand when you know you don't have to! I appreciate yalls help very much and are happy to have you here apart of everything! Also, Thank you to Landon Watts, Tripp Cole and Jantz Heaton for working and running the stripping chute and keeping the show rolling. Ya'll do a great job and your help often times can go unnoticed. If it weren't for you guys, the show could drag on, and we never have that happen when it's you guys back there! I'd like to send out a HUGE Thank You to Victor Burdick, you truly are our business card for this event. You keep us looking sharp and professional with all that you do from the photography, to the graphic design work to just anything imaginable. Your ideas and your work truly takes this show to next level and it's a special art and gift that you have, especially in the rodeo world! Thank you to Ginger Smith, Norville Ritter and Ladonna for working the front gate and keeping the traffic rolling in as well a thank you to our Alva, Oklahoma Police Department and Northwestern Oklahoma State University Police Dept for coming and working security for us! Thank you to Northern Chophouse for cookin the world's best steaks for our dinner this past Thursday, it is truly looked forward to every single year! Thank you to Longshots Bar & Grill in Woodward, Ok for coming and bringing the adult beverages for everyone! You guys were a huge hit, more than you know! To all of our great vendors, thank you coming and supporting this event and settling up! Our crowd loves that you guys are apart of this show and you guys have been a great addition! Joanna puts her heart and sole into this show and her and I couldn't be happier with having you vendors show up! I know there are many many more, and if I have failed to mention you, I sincerely apologize. This event takes not just a community, but a whole pile of friends and family and strangers who become friends and family once it's over to make this show a reality. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the Western Sports Committee and the Alva Bull Battle, THANK YOU!! We will see you all again in April of 2025 for Bull Battle IX!!
