Originally hailing from Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia, where he was taught how to ride by his father, a former bull rider, Jared Farley has not only arrived in a literal sense in the United States, but has “arrived” figuratively as well, making a resounding mark in the PBR during 2004. Farley experienced nothing short of a dream year in 2004 with four U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) Challenger Tour event titles.
Injuries sidelined the Australian cowboy for portions of 2005 season. “I haven't had any serious injuries, which was good, but I pulled my groin in the start of July. That put me out for a while, and I wasn't able to hit all of the Challenger events like I was able to last year.” States Farley of his proudest bull riding moment, “Winning the Cheyenne Challenger event in 2004 is the greatest accomplishment of my career. I mean everyone knows about Cheyenne. I would also say qualifying for the PBR Finals is right up there, too", says Farley.

Jason Bennett got on his first calf at age 7 and gradually progressed to steers. “Nobody taught me how to ride,” chuckles Bennett. “It was definitely trial and error, but it was fun.”
The Texas cowboy stuck with it and has overcome serious injuries along the way. “I broke my leg when I was thirteen and had to sit out for six months. When I was in high school, I got my face stepped on, and my teeth kicked in. But, I was back riding the next week,” recalls Bennett. However, several injuries sidelined Bennett for much of the 2004 season. He’s sat out for six months off and on and battled back from a broken collarbone, a tore PCL and MCL in his knee, and a cracked rib. Bennett says his proudest bull riding moment was winning the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Tour Finals in 1999. The win gave him enough money to qualify for the PBR World Finals in 2000 where he won Rookie of the Year honors.

As a toddler, McKennon Wilmberly was riding the family dog or anything else he could climb on – trying to follow in his father’s footsteps. “My dad [Joe Wimberly] was a bull rider and went to the NFR five times. I’ve always wanted to be just like him,” he states. As a kid, McKennon entered in mutton bustin’ competitions and later calf riding and steer riding competitions. He continued to progress through the ranks of junior bulls and eventually big bulls and recalls entering competitions alongside his dad. “It was great. My dad was still riding and we would go to bull ridings together and enter together. He has always been the one to teach me and tell me what I needed to do with my riding.” He says his proudest accomplishment to date was winning $50,000 at Challenger Tour Finals in 2007 “That woke me up inside and got me on [the BFTS] tour.” You’ll often notice Wimberly taking a few practice boxing jabs before he climbs on his bull. “I box a lot when I’m not riding. It helps me to stay mentally prepared so I keep pushing myself. After all, when you’re bull riding – you’re just fighting a bull instead of person.”

Tony Mendes started riding at age 3 on top a sheep. “My dad and grandfather rode bulls, and my older brother Scott rode, too. I guess I just wanted to be like them.” Over the years, he progressed from sheep to calves and steers before climbing on his first bull at age 14. “My role model was my dad because he’s honest and hard-working. But I always have looked up to Lane Frost. I met him at the Finals in 1985, and I showed him a buckle I had won. He was so nice to me,” recalls Mendes.Mendes is often referred to as the “Wild Man” because of the energy he displays inside and out of the arena. It’s common to find him dancing around the arena and cheering on fellow bull riders.

Coming from China Springs, Texas, Cody Rostockyj is no stranger to rodeo. He grew up around rodeos and started rididng at the the age of 14 after watching his dad. He is the one who taught Rostockyj to ride. The first open rodeo he ever went to, he won and has been hooked ever since. Now at the age of 19, Rostockyj has only ridden for the PBR for one year. While being a college student also, Rostockyj has not had a lot of challenges yet. He has been riding for his college rodeo team as well. Since he began riding, Rostockyj has only been injured twice seriously. He has had most of the bones in his face crushed and has been hooked too. Most recently he was stepped on and that resulted in a lacerated liver, collapsed lung and his spine was pushed down cutting his spine in half. Though he has had these injuries, he has recovered, is healthy and ready to get back to riding. He will start back up in March and plans to hit it hard! Rostockyj says, "My greatest accomplishment I think so far is making the college rodeo finals my first year!"

Unlike most of the bull riders on tour, Dave Samsel didn’t climb on his first bull until the age of 24. He says, “I thought it looked exciting, and after I rode a couple, I decided this sure beats working for a living.” Samsel taught himself how to ride by watching bull riding videos and, in particular, studied the rides of Clint Branger. “You could say Clint was a mentor to me. He was one of the greatest riders to never win a world title,” recalls Samsel. Samsel says winning second at the 2000 PBR World Finals helped put him on the map. One of his most memorable accomplishments was capturing top honors at the Cabela’s Classic event in Kansas City, Mo. in June 2004 in front of family and friends. Samsel walked away with $27,939 in the process.

Gilbert Carrillo and his twin brother, Adam, got their start riding bulls with the help of Roach Hedeman, brother of Tuff Hedeman. “Roach was our mentor. He taught us the basics.” Throughout their teens, the Carrillo brothers worked their way up from high school and amateur rodeos to college and professional rodeos.“We traveled with Ted Nuce for five years and became good friends with him. I admired his ability of riding. Not to mention, he’d been through so much, and he still made the sport fun. Once you’ve been [bull] riding for a lot of years, your desire starts to burn out.”Carrillo has numerous accomplishments and buckles to his name. One of his most memorable moments came atop Blueberry Wine of Herrington Cattle Company in 2002. He rode the bull for a score of 96 points at the Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which was enough points for a second place finish at the event. When it comes to injuries, Carrillo definitely has seen his share. “Sometimes I think—why me? It seems like right after I recover from one injury, I get injured again.” One of the most serious injuries happened at the BFTS event in Nashville in 2003. “The bull threw me up in the air, and I landed on my head. I kept thinking my arm was broke, but actually I broke my neck , and when that happened, it pinched all the nerves, so I couldn’t feel my arm.” Carrillo walked out of the arena and was taken to an area hospital where X-rays confirmed his neck was broke. Fans might notice Carrillo riding with a helmet now. “I’ve gotten too many concussions. I think we figured it up, and in four years, I’ve had 11 concussions.” Gilbert says one of the best parts of competing in the PBR is doing it alongside his brother. “Adam and I are really close. I can tell how he’s going to do just by looking at him. There’s no sibling rivalry between us—we just pull for each other.”

Adam Carrillo and his twin brother, Gilbert, got on their first bull at age 13. Roach Hedeman, brother of legendary bull rider Tuff Hedeman, helped give the Carrillo brothers their start, and both had success in rodeo throughout their teens. In 1992, Adam along with his brother and 18 other bull riders founded the PBR. Since then, Adam has had numerous accomplishments. He believes his proudest moment was winnng two back to back event titles which he did during the 1999 PBR season in Tunica, Miss. and Lexington, Ken. Adam says his most memorable ride to date was his 94-point trip atop Mossy Oak Mudslinger of Page/Teague Bucking Bulls at the 2001 Columbus PBR event. “That was my greatest ride I’ve had away from my hand. I don’t think he could have bucked any harder than he did during that ride.” This fan favorite has enjoyed the years spent competing along side his brother. “If I do good, it’s a win for him. If he does good, then it’s a win for me. I know before Gilbert gets on if he’s going to ride. I know exactly how he’s going to do—I always know.”