Stock contractors who participated in the Professional Bull Riders’ (PBR) Chihuahua Challenge held on August 26th & 27th in the city of Chihuahua located in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, made history when they sent a large contingent elite bulls south of the border. With help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the National Center for Import and Export, the bulls have all been safely returned to United States soil. Transport was authorized by the Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación (México) (SGARPA), allowing the Chihuahua Challenge to exclusively feature PBR bulls from the U.S.
Full-time police escorts were provided by the Mexican government for the bucking bulls from the moment they crossed the border at the Santa Teresa port. Officials from both the State of Chihuahua and City of Chihuahua Police Departments assisted PBR security officials with full-time surveillance, while border officials worked diligently to insure that no co-mingling of PBR bulls with Mexican cattle occurred.
According to PBR livestock superintendent and vice president Cody Lambert, the colossal task was made easier thanks to full cooperation from all involved.
“Everyone on both sides of the border was extremely helpful. The stock contractors were very patient with the added paperwork that was necessary. The process was time consuming, but everyone kept their cool and did what was necessary to make it work. PBR staff members Andee Lamoreaux and Dennis Gach did much of the legwork in order to ensure that the process went as smoothly as possible. I have to give credit to the stock contractors who committed to do this when others wouldn’t because it was considered risky. I’m happy to say that everyone arrived safely back in America without incident.”
Said CEO of the PBR, Randy Bernard, “Expert guidance from the USDA, SGARPA and Customs officials from both the U.S. and Mexico helped to facilitate this monumental task. The PBR wishes to extend a special thank you to each individual working at the Santa Teresa Livestock facility and at the Santa Teresa port for their tireless efforts in helping us see this historic project through.”
Lambert was quick to credit those who supplied the ten stock trailers necessary to transport bulls: Martin Baca, Toby Floyd, Doug Butcher, Gene Owen, Andy Hale, Scott Pickens for Mike Solomon, Billy Jones for Herrington Cattle Company, Chad Hawks, and Bo Davis and Tom Wilson who hauled their own bulls, as well as bulls for Guidry, Bad Company, and Mike Solomon.
Lambert praised each stock contractor in attendance at the historic event for their cooperation and important contribution: Chad Hawks with C4 Bucking Bulls, Davis/White/DX3, Davis/Wilson, Mike Solomon, Martin Baca Bucking Bulls, Boyd/Floyd/Paradise Farms, Andy Hale, Thorsell/Owen, Herrington Cattle Company, Bad Company Rodeo, Bo Davis Bucking Bulls, Guidry Rodeo Company, Scott Pickens and Diamond S Bucking Bulls, Gene Owen Bucking Bulls, and Doug Butcher Bucking Bulls.
For more information on the Professional Bull Riders, please contact 719.471.3008.
About the PBR:
More than 104 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on NBC, OLN and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With over 500 hours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the PBR Canada Rocky Cup presented by Dickies series, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR‚s governing board of directors is comprised of renowned bull riders who have developed the event into a stand alone sport which is experiencing unprecedented growth in global popularity. The PBR is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and has over 600 athletes competing in more than 100 PBR sanctioned competitions.
