I was sent by the newsroom to attend and promote the 115th Murraydale Stampede and Picnic, but I took the Golden West team by surprise when I decided to participate in it.

I just rode my first bull, and it was an incredible experience. I grew up on a cattle ranch in the R.M. of Carmichael, so I am no stranger to being bucked off by horses or run over by cows.

However, as my family members reminded me all too often, the bull ride was a much more difficult feat than what I was accustomed to. As soon as I signed up I was a little scared, and that followed for a few days.

However, once I found myself sitting on the bull and rosining up my glove, the focus had clicked and the fear was gone. Some form of single-mindedness took over and my short performance was done nearly on auto-pilot.

I want to thank everyone helping out at the chutes for being patient with a rookie such as myself. I was lent the gear from a good friend, and I was given a relatively brief training session from a retired bull rider a few days before.

Murraydale was the perfect place for me to try this out, and with some help from those involved, I was able to make it happen.

My ride only lasted four seconds, but the adrenaline rush is yet to wear off. Although I highly recommend going through proper and professional training, my personal experience was undeniably positive, and I will certainly consider a future in this explosive sport.