George Ferguson Column: Thanks to all who made it possible to bring pro bull riding to the Great Northern Fair

Cody FourColors Memorial Bull Riding is a big time event, and a lot of fun

Rodeo is a big part of the fabric of the Hi-Line. It has been for decades, probably even longer. It's part of our culture and it's part of our heritage.

Rodeo is also, and has always been, a big part of the Great Northern Fair, and we've already had two full nights filled with great rodeo action inside the arena at the Great Northern Fairgrounds.

Having said that, one part of rodeo that has become extremely popular in recent years is the bull riding standing on its own. No, that doesn't mean the bull riding inside a rodeo isn't still popular, because it certainly is. But just take a look at what professional bull riding has become. The PBR has become a worldwide phenomenon now, and fans flock to those events from everywhere. Television ratings continue to soar for the PBR, and popularity continues to grow.

Yes, there's no denying how much fans, even those who may not be true or diehard rodeo fans, love to see bull riding, and that fact makes what has happened to Friday nights over the last two years at the Great Northern Fair so entertaining.

Tonight, the second annual Cody FourColors Memorial Bull Riding comes to the fair, and while it may not be on the same stage, or have the same type of exposure as the PBR, or other world bull riding tours, it's still professional bull riding, and it will still be something that fans of all ages can see only once a year in Havre.

In fact, at this level, it's something that only comes to the United States twice a year.

The Cody FourColors Memorial Bull Riding, in honor of the late Cody FourColors of Box Elder, is a stop on the Bull Riders Canada Tour. The BRC is Canada's equivalent to the PBR, and it has become a very popular sport, and very quickly. There are over 40 stops on the BRC each season, and Havre is one of just two events held south of the border, with the other being Minot, North Dakota.

And while the BRC doesn't come to the U.S. often, apparently, when it does it's a big hit. That was evident in the fact that the BRC named the 2017 Cody FourColors Memorial Bull Riding event the best event on the BRC schedule for the year. It was a special honor, and it speaks not only to what a great organization the BRC is, because fans obviously liked what they saw, but also to what a great job everyone involved in bringing the BRC to Havre did.

So, with how great last year went, don't be surprised if round two is even better.

Tonight's show will be exciting, with 30 pro riders in the arena to compete on some of the best bulls from around the area. Stock is being provided by Havre's Clint Solomon, as well as Whitford Bulls, Crasco Bulls Kittsons Bulls and Triplett Bulls. And with so much great stock in the pen tonight, the action should be intense, and scores for qualified rides should be high.

Of course, there's also the riders. Bull riding is man against animal, both with a unique skill set. In other words, the bulls are going to do their thing, and the riders are going to try to counter those moves with what they do best. It's a contest really unlike any other sport, and it's a whole lot of fun to watch because both man and animal are great athletes in my mind.

Tonight's event will also feature a pair of well-known cowboys serving as judges, including famed bull rider Scott Breding, who is one of the top bull riders to ever come out of the state of Montana. Breding is a former NFR competitor, who also competed in the PBR. He's also the father of Parker Breding, who is currently one of the top bull riders in Montana and an NFR qualifier as well. Russell Friend, a former PBR rider and head of BRC, will serve as the other judge, while Jeff Marn will be the announcer.

So with all that in mind, here's a little tip for all of you looking for something to do tonight. Go see the Cody FourColors Memorial Bull Riding for yourself. No, I wasn't paid to say that, and I'm not a promoter. However, I'm a big fan of sports, including rodeo, and I love bull riding and I know a great event when I see it. And this event is nothing short of great.

To have professional bull riding in Havre is a big, big deal. I for one am grateful to everybody who brought this thing together, and I hope it sticks around for a long time because this is a unique and special sport to come to the Great Northern Fair.

In other words, it's professional bull riding. Again, it's man against beast. It doesn't get a whole lot more entertaining, or more fun that.

Tonight's Cody FourColors Memorial Bull Riding starts at 7 inside the arena at the Great Northern Fairgrounds. There will be 30 contestants in the long go and 10 contestants in the short go. The event is also worth double points for the riders toward qualifying for the Bull Riders Canada Finals, which will take place Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.