Escaped bull at Sisters Rodeo was likely disoriented, officials say

Published 4:00 pm Monday, June 10, 2024

A 1,400-pound bull escaped the Sisters Rodeo arena Saturday, jumping a fence and injuring several people before being caught in the parking lot.

Videos posted to social media showed patrons of the 84th Sisters Rodeo swaying to the lyrics of “God Bless the U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood, with their phone flashlights held to the sky, when a 3-year-old bull named Party Bus hopped a fence and ran through the rodeo grounds.

“It’s rare. It’s just so rare to have a bull jump the fence like that,” said Brian Witt, the vice president of the rodeo’s board of directors.

The bull was likely disoriented, Witt said Monday. After it jumped the fence into the rodeo arena stands, Party Bus ran through a concession area, head-butting a woman and flipping her in the air.

Rodeo staff including “pickup men” roped the bull in the parking lot eight minutes later.

The woman was one of three injured. She walked away with just bumps and bruises, and she was able to attend the rodeo’s buckaroo breakfast the following morning, Witt said.

Witt, who was at the rodeo when Party Bus was on the lam, said the rodeo’s emergency protocols were enacted within 20 seconds of his jump over the gate. Announcers quickly came over the loudspeakers informing people of the situation and telling them to search for higher ground. The rodeo has plans for incidents like this, and Witt said an investigation likely isn’t warranted.

“I don’t think we need to do anything differently, but obviously we’re going to look at our incident response plan,”

Party Bus comes from a long line of “excellent bucking bulls,” Witt said. He was taken back to Moses Lake, Washington, on Saturday night with the rodeo’s longtime stock provider contractors, Corey and Lange. The bull likely won’t compete any more this season, Witt said.

“He’s a young animal,” Witt said. “He’s not a grizzly bear that you have to put down.”

The Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, which sanctions the rodeo, said in a social media statement Sunday the incident was “alarming.”

“PRCA selects only the best pickup men,” the statement said. “They are the most highly trained, best horsemen anyone can find, and we are grateful that their training helped to prevent further injuries or loss of life.”

Bull riding was the last event of the evening at the Sisters Rodeo, and festivities were business as usual on Sunday. The rodeo is held annually in June, often drawing thousands of attendees.

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