By Natalie Dillon
ndillon@themonroetimes.com
MONROE — Jake Morinec of Mokena, Illinois went the full eight seconds on two different bulls to win the Green County Bulls & Barrels competition Wednesday, July 17. He was the only rider to do two complete rides, earning 175.5 points.
Morinec first ran in Section 3 on Black Powder, recording a score of 87. He was the third rider to go the full eight seconds, as one rider in each section prior had, as well — Mason Collins of Oxford, Iowa on Gold Nugget (83.5 points) and Parker Wolfe of Effingham, Illinois on Chain Smoker (79 points).
With full rides, those three earned a spot in the final section of the show. The next top five riders — those that lasted seven seconds or more — also qualified, including Ueberson Duarte of Brandon, South Dakota; Joe Phillips of Effingham, Illinois; Perry Schrock of Attica, Michigan; Matthew Weaver of Grove Springs, Missouri; and Caleb Buckwalter of Muscatine, Iowa.
In the final section, Duarte and Morinec were the only riders to last eight seconds. Duarte, the 2016 Federation Cup National Champion, rode Dirty Dancer for a score of 85.5, enough for second place. Morinec then had the highest score of the night on Road Hazard, an 88.5. Collins and Wolfe earned third and fourth, respectively.
With the win, Morinec adds $1,609.20 to his 2024 purse, which totaled $6,477.37 as of July 13. Morinec recently won the bullriding event July 11 in Madison, Indiana with 167.5 points. He also finished first June 15 in Allegan, Michigan (168 points) and November 25 in Osseao, Michigan (160.5 points). With these results, Morinec ranks fifth in the Federation Cup Standings.
Two of the four riders ahead of Morinec also participated in the Green County Bulls & Barrels. Denton Fugate of Ash Flat, Arizona — the top-ranked rider as of July 13 — rode Tornado. Previously, he had won back-to-back events July 5-6 in Stoughton and Bagley, Wisconsin. Dakota Warnken of Wakarusa, Indiana — the third-ranked rider as of July 13 — rode Baby Cakes. Previously, he won Feb. 17 in Sedalia, Missouri and took second in four other events. Warnken was the 2021 and 2022 Federation Cup National Champion.
Green County’s event is part of the National Federation of Professional Bullriders 2024 schedule, which includes events in Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. The first event was Feb. 2-3 in Verndale, Minnesota, and the final event will be Oct. 12 in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Between the first three sections and the final of the bullriding, there was the barrel racing with 18 participants.
Natasha Napp and horse Reba won with a time of 12.659 seconds. Bonnie Henry-Buchholz took second with a 12.911, and Aalyiah Lathrop with horse Dash finished third with a 12.984.
Two riders and horses were sponsored by local businesses — Charlie Long by Beast Buffet and Jess Olson by Cactus Co. They finished with times of 13.512 and 13.844, respectively.
Bulls & Barrels was the first of 11 Grandstand events including the Badger State Tractor and Truck Pull (July 18), Mini Rods (July 19), SWIRA Dirt Bike and 4-Wheeler Races (July 19), Tug of War (July 20), Green County Local Truck and Tractor Pull (July 20), SW Wiscsonsin ATV/Garden Tractor Pull (July 20), Fireworks (July 20), Antique Pull (July 21), Horse Pull (July 21) and the Demolition Derby (July 20).