Crowds flock to witness intense bull riding at Shelby County Extreme Bulls Rodeo

Published 5:55 pm Tuesday, January 28, 2025

By Noah Wortham

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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – Pyrotechnics flared behind the country’s top bull riders as they confidently strode into the room for two rounds of high-octane bull riding during the 16th annual Shelby County Extreme Bulls Rodeo in Columbiana.

This year’s installment of the Shelby County Extreme Rodeo featured three nights of spectacle Jan. 23-25 at the Shelby County Exhibition Center.

According to Ryan Davis, producer of the Shelby County Extreme Bulls Rodeo, this year’s rodeo went well and saw a significant amount of turnout despite the weather with Saturday night’s show completely sold out and positive ticket sales on Thursday and Friday.

“Columbiana has been very good to us,” Davis said. “It’s a great crowd no matter where you go in the sport of bull riding, and we’re always excited to come to the exhibition center in Columbiana—it’s home to the Shelby County Extreme Bulls. We plan on being in Columbiana and producing that as long as people continue to come and watch.”

Davis said his goal each year in holding the rodeo is to produce a professional event that fans want to come and enjoy.

“They seem to love it. They keep coming back every year,” Davis said.

Each night during the rodeo, 35 of the country’s top riders competed against one another by riding a bull for eight seconds before receiving a score from judges. During judging, the bull’s performance was rated out of 50 points and then the riders score was rated out of 50 points for a combined score of 100 points.

A second round was then held in which the top six scoring riders competed for the title of champion. Winners were selected by judges through a score formed by the combination of both rounds. With three nights of adrenaline-fueled bull riding, this year’s rodeo saw three champions crowned who were each rewarded with a golden belt buckle and more than $10,000 in prize money.

“It’s just professional bull riding,” Davis said. “Guys compete on good bulls and try to win money, and we bring production in behind the sport to make it entertaining to watch.”

Along with the bull riding, professional funny man Jake Wilcox broke up in the intense action and entertained the crowd with comedy.

With the 16th annual installment of the Shelby County Extreme Bulls Rodeo complete, Davis looks forward to bringing the action-packed tradition back to Columbiana again next year.

“Just be ready,” Davis said. “We’ll be back, and we’re ready to bring you another great show.”

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