Beauty and the Beast Bull Bash ups its ante

Eight seconds has never been considered a lot of time, unless you’re a bull rider. If that’s the case, it can seem like an eternity.

For the last 10 years, the Beauty and the Beast Bull Bash sponsored by the Terrebonne Livestock Association has entertained locals at the Houma Air Base.

It’s brought bull riders from across the state and surrounding states to Houma for one night to compete for prize money by trying to survive eight seconds on a bull. The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 16, at 7 p.m.

This year, for the first time ever, the Mid-South Pro Tour is sanctioning the event. The Mid-South Pro Tour is a bull riding and barrel-racing tour that competes throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. While it’s not on the same notoriety level as the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), several of the bulls and bull riders from the circuit have been featured by the PBR.

Riders on the tour hail from Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama.

Mark Fanguy, rodeo chairman for the Terrebonne Livestock Association, said that because the bull bash is sanctioned this year, the stakes are being raised.

“The event will feature contestants who are Mid-South sanctioned,” he explained. “Because it’s sanctioned, $500 will be added to the winner’s pot. It should make for more exciting riding.”

While other events will be featured, such as calf, steer and sheep riding, barrel racing, youth barrel racing and team roping, the heart of the Mid-South Pro Tour is its bull riding.

“That’ll be the main focus,” Fanguy said. “That’s the meat of what they do.”

The prize money is determined based on the number of participants in the event. According to Fanguy, once all of the entry fees are collected, the prize money is derived from a certain percentage. Then $500 is tacked on to that figure for a total amount.

“We won’t know how much the prize money is until the day of the event,” he said. “We won’t know who’s actually competing until the week leading up to the event.”

In order to be sanctioned, an event organizer must be a Mid-South member or be eligible to buy a hometown permit. Only Mid-South cardholders are allowed to compete, but Fanguy said there are a number of locals from the Houma-Thibodaux area that are cardholders.

Because the event is sanctioned, past participants and winners of the Beauty and the Beast Bull Bash are not allowed to sign up for this year’s event if they are not cardholders with the circuit.

“Last year’s winner won’t be able to come back,” Fanguy said of the change. “Other than that, I really think this is something that is going to work out for the best. It’ll mean more competition and better bull riding and there will be things for everyone to enjoy. We’re looking forward to it.”

And regardless of card status, the audience can still join in on several events such as a kids’ calf scramble, pony rides and a saddle tramp contest.

Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12 years of age. Children age 2 and under get in free.

For more information or ticket questions, contact Fanguy at (985) 232-0001 or visit www.terrebonne-livestock.org.