Fans turn out for Bull Ride Challenge

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Morning rain did a little to dampen the evening crowd this year at the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department (MFAVFD) Bull Ride Challenge but about 400 enthusiastic fans did turn out for the benefit.

The department paid out $4,900 in prize money to the top riders among 30 entrants in the event at the Charley Taylor Rodeo Arena in Marble Falls.

Jesse Parker of Pinehurst took the top spot, followed by Cimmaron Rucker of Liberty Hill and Elliott Jacoby of Fredericksburg.

Jacoby is a qualifier in National and Professional Bullriders championships and fourth in ranking, Reid Barker of Comfort, is a National finals qualifier.

Shanel Waggoner of Horseshoe Bay, a 2013 Burnet High School graduate, posted the colors at the opening of the event as Faith Academy graduate London Baileigh sang the National Anthem.

The benediction for the event was sober at the remembrance of firefighter Scott Deem, who died Thursday fighting the blaze in a San Antonio shopping mall, and two injured fellow firefighters.

“We want to thank all our sponsors and especially Rickey and Missy Bindseil, who donated their time and talent for announcing and providing the music for the Challenge,” said Manny Trinidad, president of the MFAVFD. “We owe another special thanks to all the other fire departments that were ready to take any emergency calls that came in for us.”