Top billed bull, gelding, working dog sale

One of the most sought after events in the cattle, horse and working dog industry is taking place at the Tehama District Fairgrounds this week.

The 71st annual Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale began on Tuesday with a Kick-off Breakfast and will culminate on Saturday with the Bull Sale and the Cinch Jeans Red Bluff Buckin' Best bull riding event.

"Everyone is invited to attend," says "This is the largest livestock event of it's kind west of the Rockies."

The Sale, founded by a group of Tehama County ranchers and the local Farm Advisor, aims to bring higher quality genetics to cattle herds across the country.

Known to cattlemen across the country simply as "Red Bluff", this premier sale has a reputation of some of the bulls, ranch geldings and working cattle dogs available.

More than 470 top quality bulls are scheduled to be sold, from breeds such as Angus, Simmental, Shorthorn, Limousin, Hereford and Charolais, just to name a few.

To make sure only the best-of-the-best gets into the sale ring, each bull goes through a sifting process, in which it is examined by a veterinarian and accessed for quality and soundness by a panel of judges. If a bull comes up with a flaw, it is sifted, meaning it is disqualified from the sale.

The same holds true for the 118 ranch geldings and four mules to be shown and sold at the 50th Annual Gelding Sale, which draws buyers and consignors from all as far away as Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Geldings are sold at auction to a capacity crowd every year, after competing to be champions in team roping, cutting, snaffle bit, stock horse and conformation. The gelding sale starts at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, with tickets $10 each.

What is a ranch without a good working dog. Showcased and auctioned off will be 19 of the best trained cowdogs in North America. Dogs compete three times herding cattle to crown the champion. The outdoor competition takes place outside at 1 p.m. today, at inside at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, and outside at 12 p.m. on Friday.

The auction of the working dogs takes place in the Don Smith Pavilion at 2:30 on Friday. Dogs sell to buyers from all over the country.

Cattlemen are also interested in the WVM Internet Feeder/Female Replacement Sale, held in conjunction with Western Video Market. Featuring a large offering of steers and feeder heifers from several Western states, the sale includes a large special breeding stock section featuring bred cows, bred heifers and pairs.

One of the biggest attractions for the general public is the huge Western Trade Show and the Western Art Show and Auction.

Hundreds of vendors of all sorts bring their wares to the trade show which is open each day.

The Western art show and auction, now in its second year, is looking forward to drawing high traffic and interested buyers. Pieces entered are judged and winners awarded. All pieces are up for bid in the silent auction. Divisions are painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, western gear and silverwork.

On Saturday night the fun peaks when guts and glory reign supreme with the invitational Buckin' Best Bull Riding.

New champions will be crowned during the 20th anniversary of the event held at the fairground's Pauline Davis Pavilion.

National Finals bucking bull producer Don Kish, of Red Bluff, will showcase some of the toughest, meanest bucking bulls ever, as top cowboys from Red Bluff to Texas compete for the championship honors.

"We are fortunate that we are able to have the quality of bulls we have at the bull riding," said Adam Owens, General Manager Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale. "Don Kish is a local producer who raises some of countries best bucking bulls in the rodeo business. He continues to bring his best bulls to the Buckin' Best year after year".

The rodeo highlights local Future Farms of America teams during the invitational calf scrambles. Each team will race down the arena and try to catch and halter a wild calf. Once caught the teams will try and coax their calf to the winner circle.

Buckaroos under the age of 8 will compete in an old fashion boot race, the top six local ranches will enter their best cowboy in the annual Ranch Hand Saddle Bronc contest, local businesses will complete in the Cow Pie Classic where three-man teams decorate a wheelbarrow, maneuver through an obstacle course, and pick up a fresh cow pie, all the while blindfolded.

Following the rodeo fans will have the opportunity to dance the night away to the Chris Gardner Band.

Seating is limited, gates open at 5 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Tickets, ranging from $20 to $75 are available on-line at www.redbluffbullsale or at the Red Bluff Bull Sale office, Mill Creek Restaurant-Los Molinos, Boot Barn- Chico and Anderson and at the arena prior to the event.