PBR Stars Eager for Guymon Event

GUYMON, Okla. – The Professional Bull Riders tour is home to many of the world’s greatest bull riders.

A good portion of those are making their way to the Oklahoma Panhandle for the Kasey Hayes & Stormy Wing Invitational PBR Touring Pro event, set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena in Guymon.

“If the fans have ever been to a PBR, they know how it goes,” said Hayes, a five-time PBR World Finals qualifier from Liberal, Kan., just 40 miles northeast of Guymon. “I think they should expect to see the best bull riders and the best bulls.”

It’s just what organizers wanted in this inaugural event in Texas County, Okla. The livestock will be provided by D&H Cattle Co. of Ardmore, Okla., one of the premier livestock producers in the PBR and ProRodeo. D&H has been named PBR stock contractor of the year, and its top bull, Shepherd Hills Tested, was named the 2013 Bull of the Year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

“They’ve got a phenomenal breeding program, and they come out with a new really rank bull every year,” Hayes said.

The bulls are just one piece of the puzzle to having a high-quality event. Both Hayes and Wing are expecting many of the biggest names in the PBR to ride in Guymon during the one-night spectacular.

“I think what we’ve got something good to offer the contestants, and it’s one I’d want to go to,” said Wing, a four-time PBR World Finals qualifier from Dalhart, Texas. “With Kasey and I both being bull riders and living close to Guymon, I think it should be good.”

Wing and Hayes are good. In addition to a strong history in the game, they’re having outstanding seasons. Wing is ranked 19 ^th in the PBR world standings points race, while Hayes is 11 ^th . Wing has earned $85,950 this season, and Hayes has pocketed $61,915.

“I think fans should expect something similar to a televised event,” Wing said, referring to the PBR Built Ford Tough Series, the association’s premier tour. “As long as everybody’s healthy, there are quite a few of the top guys that are planning to be there.”

That bodes well for fans, but there are equally outstanding enticements for the cowboys. The purse will feature a minimum of $20,000 in local money, which will be added to the entry fees to tally the total prize.

“When you add a lot of money, it’s easy for the guys to want to come,” Hayes said.

Both cowboys are following in the footsteps of their bull riding fathers.

“My dad had rode bulls, so I always wanted to ride bulls,” Hayes said. “I was the kid at the local rodeo watching the bull riding. I never grew out of that stage.

“My dad took me to every junior rodeo and every open bull riding there was; whatever we could get to, we went.”

Wing grew up on his family’s ranch 18 miles north of Dalhart, where they raise quarter horses.

“I’ve been around it my whole life,” he said. “I started when I was 4 years old. It was a little Memorial Day event. I went out there and got on my first steer; the rest is history.”

It’s been a pretty good start for the 25-year-old cowboy, who has earned nearly $340,000 since joining the PBR six seasons ago. He has spent much of the summer break from the premier tour working at home, where he continues to work on the breeding program established by his grandfather.

“Besides bull riding, that’s my next love,” he said of working with horses. “That’s what I’ll do when I retire, become a horseman and show these horses.”

Of course, there is some unfinished business he must tend to first.

“For sure I want to finish in the top 10 and possibly be up there for a world title race,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to be a world champion, and I will be; it’s just a matter of time.”

That goal is shared by just about every cowboy in the world. How they go about it depends on the man.

“I want to show up and ride consistently,” Hayes said. “When I show up, I’m showing up to win. I’m expecting to win everywhere I go. I may not win first every time, but I want to place, and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got to make it happen.”

For either cowboy, winning the Kasey Hayes & Stormy Wing Invitational would be a great way to continue that momentum.