COWBOYS SAY THERE'S NOTHING LIKE BULL-RIDING

They came from across the nation, equipped only with a well-resined rope, a pair of spurs and a lot of guts.

The 2nd Annual Big Bull Chute-Out was the grandstand entertainment Wednesday at the SEMO District Fair and featured about 20 cowboys participating in rodeo's most exciting event the wild bull ride.

Some of the riders came from such exotic locales as Hodges, Ala., the home town of Sheldon Isom.

Isom, 20, has participated in rodeo since he was old enough to walk and ride, but has been riding bulls only about six months. He prefers the rough and wild world of bull-riding.

"It's nothing like the other stuff," Isom said as he prepared for his first ride Wednesday. "It's a lot more fun. There's a lot more risk."

In his last ride, Isom explained, he got hung on a bull and, when finally dislodged from the beast's head, found he was missing part of his front teeth.

But injuries are part of the sport and not something any rider dwells on, Isom said.

"Somewhere in your mind you know it's got to come," he said. "But when they open that gate, you just think about one thing and that's stayin' on him.

"There are a lot of little things to think about as far as technique, but I'm still learning that."

Isom's father, Charles, goes with his son to rodeo events a demand of Sheldon's mother. Dad used to ride bulls "That was a long time ago," he assures and he contends that many riders have told him his son has a natural talent for the sport.

"He wanted to ride when he was little," Charles said. "Everybody who saw him ride said he was one of the most natural riders they had seen."

But not the consummate masochist, Sheldon rides bulls with the hope of winning money. Wednesday's event netted the first-place rider about $1,500 and six or seven others at least something to make the pain easier to bear.

Isom has won before. On July 4, he rode in three different events and took money away from each. His best score is 77 (anything above 50 is considered exceptional).

"I'm shooting for an 80," Isom said. "If he gets an 80, he'll take home some money tonight," added his father.

But Charles Isom said it takes more than a good cowboy to take home prize money. A lot depends on the bull that's drawn.

"A whole lot of it is the draw," he said. "You can get a good bucking bull or one that just stands there.

"I'm sure there's going to be a lot of good cowboys who won't do well tonight because they get a bad bull."

Jeff Baugher, 18, of Gordonville has been riding bulls for about two years. As he coated his riding rope with resin in preparation for Wednesday's ride, he explained that there's really no strategy involved when you mount an ornery mossy-horn.

"You just try to ride them, jump for jump," Baugher said. "Every bull is different. Some jump and kick and some jump and spin."

Baugher guessed he gets on about 40 different bulls a year.

But it's not likely he's ridden bulls like the ones at the fair. In the first go-around of rides, only two cowboys lasted the eight-second duration that's required for a legal ride. Isom and Baugher were among the cowboys who ate dirt instead.

Wild Horse Rodeo Productions from Wynnewood, Okla., provided the livestock, and Wendell Ratchford, the outfit's producer, said the 45 bulls there Wednesday are among the best in the world.

The Chute-out also included specialty acts, including trick roping and riding, and American bull fighters. The comical rodeo clowns who serve the invaluable function of protecting the riders from the bulls make up the bull fighters.

For Isom and Baugher the excitement of the event Wednesday will have to suffice. The winner of the Chute-Out was Tator Porter of Stillwater, Okla.

Todd McDonald of Enid, Okla., finished second; Blake Burns of Marietta, Okla., placed third; and Ricky Ratchford of Wynnewood, placed fourth.