The 63rd annual Tooele Bit N’ Spur Rodeo tonight and Friday at Deseret Peak Complex will draw some of Utah’s finest young cowboys along with two-time world champion bull rider Blue Stone. Mutton Bustin’ starts at 7 p.m., the grand entry at 7:50 p.m. followed by non-stop rodeo action.

“The Fourth of July is Cowboy Christmas,” said veteran rodeo announcer Ed Bingham. “There will be rodeos going on all over the state.” Cowboys will be able to compete one night at the Bit N’ Spur Rodeo and then compete at a couple other rodeos in Utah during the same weekend.

An estimated 200 contestants will battle for prize money in eight events which include bull riding, calf roping, bareback riding, breakaway roping, wild cow milking, saddle bronc riding, team roping and barrel racing.

Some individuals will win up to $1,000 for their efforts thanks to $3,000 added prize money overall from the Bit N’ Spur Club plus money divided up from all the entry fees with the top-four finishers in each event winning money.

After the prize money is awarded, all proceeds from the rodeo go to the Bit N’ Spur Club.

“It’s the longest running rodeo in the state,” said rodeo chairman Karl Scott. “It’s our annual fund-raiser with money used to operate the Bit N’ Spur Clubs.” About 4,000 people are expected to attend this year.

Broken Heart Rodeo Company, owned by Ben German of West Point, will provide livestock this year. Many of their rough stock have seen the lights of Las Vegas at the National Rodeo Finals and other PRCA rodeos.

“It is great to participate in the sport and relish the excitement of our western heritage,” said announcer Bingham. “Rodeo is one of the truest athletic challenges in the world. It is especially fun for me now, because I no longer get any bumps and bruises as I did when I competed, and I get paid every time out for annoucning.”

Stone, from Plain City, will compete on Friday. He won the world championship in bull riding in 2002 and 2003.

Stone will be joined by other top athletes including Hutch Haslam of Morgan who is a two-time high school bareback champion and finished third in bull riding in the College National Finals at Casper, Wyo.

Another top competitor is Casey Hoffman of Lonetree, Wyo. Hoffman is an Intermountain Professional Rodeo champion in saddle bronc riding. Spencer Wright of Milford is another top saddle bronc rider who has qualified for the National High School Finals in Farmington, N.M. this year. Breezie Anderson of Erda is another top cowboy competing this weekend.

The athletes will face some ornery livestock including IPRC bull of the year “Crossfires” and bareback horse of the year “Wrong Number.”

“The good thing about a rodeo like this is that it is an open draw which means even the most inexperienced cowboy may draw an animal like Crossfires which makes it possible for them to score big points,” German said. “Half the performance is graded on how difficult an animal is while the other half is on the performance of the rider.”

The Bit N’ Spur Rodeo also provides an opportunity for local cowboys to showcase their skills with about 35 cowboys from Tooele County are scheduled to compete.

mwatson@tooeletranscript.com