Iowa State University will host the second stop of the 2018 Barnes Bull Riding Challenge tour at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center Friday March 2 and Saturday March 3 at 7 p.m.  Bull Riders from across the region are making their way to campus.

Three current Iowa State students are in the lineup of the 30 plus contestants.  Sophomore Jackson Matthews from Trenton, Illinois, senior Malachi Schroeder from Ida Grove, Iowa and sophomore Will Halstead from Story City, Iowa will exchange their backpacks for gear bags this weekend. 

All three cowboys are majoring in Agricultural Business/Studies and are current members of the Iowa State Rodeo Team.  The father-son duo Marty and Westin Barnes are producing the event with their company Barnes PRCA Rodeo.

Bull Rider Matthews won second place on  Barnes' bull #26 Young James at the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa this past September.  "Whenever I got on him, he went out there to the left, real honest, nice spinner and a really fun bull to get on," mentioned Matthews who would like to draw him again this weekend. 

Balancing schooling, work and rodeoing for Matthew has come with helpful guidance from Marty Barnes (class of '84).  "It is great to have the support from Barnes. They have been putting on our college rodeo for so long. It is good to do something in the Spring.  Hopefully it will turn into an annual event and stick a chord and get more people involved.  People think you have to start out as a little kid but a lot of guys didn't start (bull riding) until college," stated Matthews. 

The doors open at 6 p.m. for shopping among the western merchandise vendors. Tickets are $15 at the door.  A VIP section is available on the arena floor, with food included for $35 per person. 

Current students and also former Iowa State Rodeo alum are working the event as proceeds benefit the Iowa State Rodeo Team.   Alum include bullfighters Darren Chambers and Luke Moore, announcer Jeff Lucas along with stock contractors Marty and Westin Barnes.  The US Coast Guard is sponsoring the bullfighters on the 2018 Barnes Bull Riding Challenge Tour.  Assisting Chambers and Moore are Justin Prom and Darren Dubois.  Don’t miss the second tour stop of the Barnes Bull Riding Challenge tonight March 2-3, 2018.  Proceeds benefit the Iowa State Rodeo Team.

Media Contact: Kirchmann Media Group

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