SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — An event that’s sure to stir up some dirt is set to make its return to the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls.
The Expo Building is currently a blank slate, but Dillon Swanson and his bulls are preparing to make themselves at home for Saturday’s The Buck Before Christmas.
“Bull riding’s one of those sports where nobody in the stands wants anybody to get hurt, but if there’s a wreck they don’t want to miss it,” Raise ‘Em Rank owner Dillon Swanson said.
The competition will feature 36 of the region’s elite bull riders, with the top eight advancing to a short go-round.
“When you live up in the northern states, like South Dakota here, it gets cold out and so in December there’s just fewer opportunities to go ride bulls, so we really get blessed with the caliber of bull riders we have that come and support this event,” Swanson said.
The event will also include a young guns division.
“We’ve got some hand-picked kids from this territory and this area that people need to wake up and start paying attention to, there’s some really fantastic talent coming up in the state of South Dakota and surrounding areas,” Swanson said.
They’ll be competing against bulls from Raise ‘Em Rank in Canton, and stock contractors from other states.
“Should be a very, very consistent pen of bulls that, a bull rider shows up and sees his name next to in the draw he’s got an opportunity to win the round on,” Swanson said.
With Christmas only days away, Swanson says there will be plenty to see and do beyond bull riding.
“We’ll have a mechanical bull here, come test your mettle on that,” Swanson said. “Ugly Christmas sweater night, we’ll have Santa Claus here if you want to bring the kids and plead one more time not for coal and maybe something a little bit nicer,” Swanson added.
Kicking off the holidays — and more than a few bull riders — with The Buck Before Christmas.
“The Buck Before Christmas” is set for Saturday at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., followed by bull riding at 7:00. Tickets are $20. Kids ages 10-&-under are free.
