MONROE - Juda's Chris Swedlund recalls being told he was too small to play football or basketball. Instead, he turned his passion for sports into bull riding.
Swedlund, 27, a 2005 Juda High School graduate, was one of four featured local riders at the Three Hills Rodeo during the 161st annual Green County Fair on Wednesday. Swedlund grew up helping his grandfather, Harold Swedlund, on the farm and still does. Swedlund started bull riding when he was 12 years old. He took the lessons his grandfather and the Little Britches national rodeo program taught him to heart.
"I always wanted to do sports," Swedlund said. "My grandpa told me I was too small for football and too short for basketball. I told him I wanted to ride bulls."
Cowboys and cowgirls dazzled a packed grandstand with bareback riding, team roping, tie-down roping and barrel racing in addition to bull riding and jokes from rodeo clown Danger Dave Whitmoyer.
Swedlund first rode horses at 3, and then eventually grew into bull riding. He was drawn by the physical nature of the sport.
"I just got a thrill from it right away," he said.
Swedlund has attended several bull-riding schools, including the Gary Leffew school.
"A lot of it is natural talent," he said. "He was one of the best bull riders in the '70s. It really taught me how to ride better."
After 15 years of bull riding, Swedlund has experienced a few obstacles along the way. He recently suffered a black eye that also required 20 stitches.
A couple years ago, Swedlund dislocated his elbow, and it wiped out one year of bull riding. He plans to compete in 15 rodeos across the country this year.
"As long as I can keep riding, I will keep going," Swedlund said. "I just have to stay on for eight seconds. I have been about five or six seconds all year."
Swedlund's daughter, Briliey Swedlund is showing goats and rabbits at the fair for the first time. It's similar to how her father showed steer while in high school.
"It means a lot," he said. "My grandpa is 81 and couldn't come and watch me. He always wants me to do good. He always wants me to come home and tell him how I did."
Rodeos have been a family affair for Brodhead's Travis Hull. Hull competed with Grant Sippel of Waldo in the team roping competition. Hull, a 2010 Brodhead High School graduate, has been involved with roping events since he was 7. He has been competing in team roping events at rodeos for 16 years. Hull's older sister competed in the high school rodeo circuit.
"It's awesome any time you can be in a hometown rodeo," Hull said. "Our whole family is into it."
Hull travels to compete in at least one every week from late March to late October culminating in the team roping finals in Oklahoma City. He's already been to rodeos in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Tennessee. Hull will compete in a rodeo in Portage on Friday and another in Tomah later this summer.
Ryan Alexander, Bancroft, and Brent Miller, Greenville, won the team roping event with a time of 8.4 seconds. J.C. Hester Jr., Marshall, Missouri, won the bareback riding with a score of 72 points.
Necedah's Chance Locken finished first in tie-down roping with a time of 17.7 seconds. The winners of the barrel racing and bull riding competitions were not released in time for this edition.
Hull said the key to the team roping event is getting a good steer.
"It's the draw that counts," he said. "If you get one that stops or goes left it will challenge the timing of your run and time."
Hull and brothers Casey Hume of Brodhead and Jess Hume of Orfordville often practice together and travel to rodeos together.
Before the rodeo, officials paid tribute to veterans for their service.
"It's awesome to have people come out and cheer for you," Hull said. "I like how patriotic the rodeos are."
Swedlund, 27, a 2005 Juda High School graduate, was one of four featured local riders at the Three Hills Rodeo during the 161st annual Green County Fair on Wednesday. Swedlund grew up helping his grandfather, Harold Swedlund, on the farm and still does. Swedlund started bull riding when he was 12 years old. He took the lessons his grandfather and the Little Britches national rodeo program taught him to heart.
"I always wanted to do sports," Swedlund said. "My grandpa told me I was too small for football and too short for basketball. I told him I wanted to ride bulls."
Cowboys and cowgirls dazzled a packed grandstand with bareback riding, team roping, tie-down roping and barrel racing in addition to bull riding and jokes from rodeo clown Danger Dave Whitmoyer.
Swedlund first rode horses at 3, and then eventually grew into bull riding. He was drawn by the physical nature of the sport.
"I just got a thrill from it right away," he said.
Swedlund has attended several bull-riding schools, including the Gary Leffew school.
"A lot of it is natural talent," he said. "He was one of the best bull riders in the '70s. It really taught me how to ride better."
After 15 years of bull riding, Swedlund has experienced a few obstacles along the way. He recently suffered a black eye that also required 20 stitches.
A couple years ago, Swedlund dislocated his elbow, and it wiped out one year of bull riding. He plans to compete in 15 rodeos across the country this year.
"As long as I can keep riding, I will keep going," Swedlund said. "I just have to stay on for eight seconds. I have been about five or six seconds all year."
Swedlund's daughter, Briliey Swedlund is showing goats and rabbits at the fair for the first time. It's similar to how her father showed steer while in high school.
"It means a lot," he said. "My grandpa is 81 and couldn't come and watch me. He always wants me to do good. He always wants me to come home and tell him how I did."
Rodeos have been a family affair for Brodhead's Travis Hull. Hull competed with Grant Sippel of Waldo in the team roping competition. Hull, a 2010 Brodhead High School graduate, has been involved with roping events since he was 7. He has been competing in team roping events at rodeos for 16 years. Hull's older sister competed in the high school rodeo circuit.
"It's awesome any time you can be in a hometown rodeo," Hull said. "Our whole family is into it."
Hull travels to compete in at least one every week from late March to late October culminating in the team roping finals in Oklahoma City. He's already been to rodeos in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Tennessee. Hull will compete in a rodeo in Portage on Friday and another in Tomah later this summer.
Ryan Alexander, Bancroft, and Brent Miller, Greenville, won the team roping event with a time of 8.4 seconds. J.C. Hester Jr., Marshall, Missouri, won the bareback riding with a score of 72 points.
Necedah's Chance Locken finished first in tie-down roping with a time of 17.7 seconds. The winners of the barrel racing and bull riding competitions were not released in time for this edition.
Hull said the key to the team roping event is getting a good steer.
"It's the draw that counts," he said. "If you get one that stops or goes left it will challenge the timing of your run and time."
Hull and brothers Casey Hume of Brodhead and Jess Hume of Orfordville often practice together and travel to rodeos together.
Before the rodeo, officials paid tribute to veterans for their service.
"It's awesome to have people come out and cheer for you," Hull said. "I like how patriotic the rodeos are."
