Capping a career on a high note

WORLAND - After winning his second straight Wyoming State bull riding championship, Worland bull rider Buck Butterfield capped off his impressive high school rodeo career last week with his third-straight trip to the National High School Rodeo Association high school division rodeo in Gillette, on July 16-22.

Butterfield won his second bull riding championship with ease, scoring a 159.75, 31.5 points better than second-place, and punched his ticket to his third-straight trip to Nationals.

"It was pretty big. I was happy to win state last year as a junior and again this year. My dad and I went back and looked for the last Wyoming bull rider to two-peat and couldn't find anybody that hadn't done it recently," said Butterfield.

Even though it was his third trip to Nationals Butterfield still enjoyed every moment from the competition, as competitors from 45 states, five Canadian provinces and one Australian team descended upon Gillette.

"It's a lot of fun and it wasn't as much pressure compared to the last two years. Seeing all the people that come up from all over the country was cool," said Butterfield. "Sunday we had the mandatory contestants meeting and the grandstands were completely full of rodeo kids. It was pretty cool to see that kind of participation from all over the world."

As far as competing, Butterfield caught some tough breaks in both his rides. On Tuesday, July 18, Butterfield and his bull hit heads, knocking him unconscious; then Thursday for his second ride, a slight misplacement on the bull allowed for the bull to knock him off.

"Coming out of the chute Thursday, my left hip was maybe an inch or two back than it should have been. I thought when he came out I could get my hips thrown forward and come out clean. But the first jump out he was kicking over his head and back to the left, and beat me to the corner and there was no making that move back over," said Butterfield.

Naturally, going 0 for 2 at Nationals was a disappointment, but as Butterfield recapped his high school rodeo career, the pride he had from each accomplishment showed through.

Butterfield's high school rodeo career is impressive with the highlight being, two state titles, three trips to Nationals and being named to the 2016 -17 Wyoming High School Cinch All-Star Team.

"I'm glad to leave something behind. In wrestling I only placed at state once and that was disappointing. When you leave high school you want to say you accomplished something and while I didn't do that in wrestling, I qualified for Nationals three times and was the state champion two times in a row. I thought that was a pretty good way to come out on top for high school rodeo," said Butterfield.

Butterfield's advice for younger riders who will look to make their mark at the high school level is to practice as much as you can, establish a good routine and build your mental strength at every turn.

"Practice and get on as much stock as you can and prepare for the mental aspect. There's only so much you can do on a bucking barrel or practice dummy," said Butterfield. "Bull riding is 90 percent mental, there's the physical aspect, but you have to be prepared mentally to show up and ride. That's really hard at the state and national level because of all the added pressure."

Added Butterfield, "Getting on as many bulls as you can and getting a routine set so you can get in, get your stuff done and get out and treat it like another rodeo. That way you're letting the pressure get to your head and can perform the best you can."

Next for Butterfield, he will continue his academic studies while riding bulls for Chadron State College for the next four years on an academic/bull riding scholarship. After his collegiate career is finished Butterfield will go pro in bull riding.

"I'll ride for the next four years at Chadron and, because I was a state champion, the PRCA [Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) sponsored my pro permit. So when I'm done with college I can submit the paperwork and start riding pro," said Butterfield.