By Allison Peck
Listen to the full interview on our Kubota Podcast
The Maxwell Volunteer Fire Department is bringing bull riding, mutton busting and live music back to the community this weekend with the second annual Bull Riding Extravaganza.
The event is set for Saturday, August 15, at 7 p.m. on the football field on the east side of Brittenham Park in Maxwell.
Levi Gosnell with the Maxwell Volunteer Fire Department says the idea started during a department meeting while members were looking for something new to add to Heritage Days.
“We're sitting around a meeting and we're trying to look for something new to bring to the community to help the Heritage Days event have a little bit more length to it,” Gosnell said. “One of the guys made an offhanded comment, ‘We should do bull riding,’ and I was like, ‘Well, let's look into it. Let's do it.’ And that's where it went.”
Gosnell says the department checked insurance, liability and facility requirements before moving forward with the event.
“Before we decided to actually go with it, we checked with insurance and liabilities and even if we could get the facilities portable to do it and everything fell into place,” he said. “There was the right people we were dealing with that helped make it happen.”
Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with registration for mutton busting beginning at 5:30.
Gosnell says there will be 30 sheep rides available for children, with the first 15 taking place before the bull riding and the remaining 15 during intermission.
“We will only be doing 30 sheep, so 30 rides,” he said. “We'll do the first 15 sheep rides before the bull riding.”
Bull riding begins at 7 p.m., with 20 riders competing. Each rider will get two rides during the event.
The competitors will be competing for prize money and a championship buckle.
“They're competing for money and a buckle,” Gosnell said. “It's amazing — money, they love money, but man, that shiny buckle looks good and everything, so they love to come out and try their luck and do their best.”
The field of riders includes some local competitors, along with riders from outside the area and occasionally from out of state.
The event will also feature a Calcutta, giving spectators an opportunity to put their money behind the rider they believe will perform best.
Gosnell says the Bull Riding Extravaganza is still in its early stages, with this year's event marking just the second year.
“Last year turned out really well and everything, and we saw some things we thought we could capitalize on and make better,” he said. “We got a lot more sponsors this year, and so really looking forward to how this is going to turn out this year too.”
Following the bull riding, Drew Phillips' band will take the stage at 9 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 through 12.
Gosnell says the department is hoping for a larger crowd this year after getting a taste of the event's potential during its first year.
“I was surprised at how many people didn't hear about it last year, so we're looking forward to seeing how many people are going to show up this year,” he said.
The Bull Riding Extravaganza is also a fundraiser for the Maxwell Volunteer Fire Department. Proceeds will go toward equipment and gear upgrades, as well as the department's long-term goal of building a new fire hall.
“Equipment's getting bigger nowadays and everything, and our old fire hall just isn't quite up to handling everything,” Gosnell said. “We're looking to put some funds towards that and hopefully get that before too long too.”
Gosnell says the event offers a full night of entertainment for the price of admission.