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Dare to Dream - Bonsall Bucking Bulls

The Bull Pen - 09/08/2007
by Doreen Shumpert

If Sandie and Muriel Bonsall of Minneola, Kansas, were to pick a theme song for their fledgling bucking bull business, it would be country music star Alan Jackson's popular hit, "Itty Bitty." After all, it is alright to be itty bitty, especially when you first embark on a dream.
It's wisely been recognized that everybody starts somewhere and every champion was once a beginner. Combine that realization with a good dose of humbleness, hard work, trusted friends and mentors, perseverance, and a rock solid faith in the Good Lord, and you've got an unbeatable recipe for success.
"Dreams add that touch of imagination to our goals, that vision to our plans, and an expectation to our future," Muriel said. "Henry Ford said, 'A poor man is not that one without a cent. A poor man is that one without a dream,' and Helen Keller said, 'To have eyes and no vision would be worse than being blind'," she added.
The Bonsall's dream is to raise top-level bucking bulls. They just purchased their PBR stock contractors card, and have one bull on the PBR circuit. He may come from an "itty bitty" operation, but he's on his way to making a big name for himself and Bonsall Bucking Bulls. His name is 761 Mud Flap, a son of Mossy Oak Mudslinger and this is his rookie year on the PBR Built Ford Tough Series.
"He's learning how to handle diesel smoke and sticky bull riders," Muriel said. "He's a big bull, and Sandie compares his physique to boxing legend George Foreman. Many might criticize his bulk, but just like George, when it comes to the fight, you know he has heart," she added. "We are humbled by his success this year, and he has a small cross burned into his right horn. Mud Flap bucks for the brand, just like Psalm 150:6 states, 'Let every thing that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord," she said.
Mud Flap was only two months old when he was purchased by the Bonsall's as part of a three-in-one package from the 2002 Legacy Sale in Fort Worth, Texas from H.D. and Dillon Page. Under Bonsall's care and training, he's blossomed into a bull that "bucks with a plan and a purpose." Now, thanks to Lynn Rice and Gene Owens, Mud Flap is getting his chance to shine amidst the smoke, music and lights of the big time.
"Thanks to the kindness of both Lynn and Gene, Mud Flap was given an opportunity to be exposed at the PBR level," Muriel explained. "Gene only has so many slots for bulls on his semi. But with Lynn's solid reputation as a breeder of high-quality PBR bulls, his recommendation solidified Mud Flap's opportunity. We are grateful to both of them for giving us a chance," she expressed.
Not only is this a dream come true for the Bonsall's, it's a prime example of "all things working together for good" as the couple hails from very different backgrounds.
Sandie grew up in the small town of Burwell, Nebraska, home of Nebraska's Big Rodeo, and where thousands of cattle would pass through the Burwell Livestock Market, which made an idea social gathering for multiple Western personalities. His boyhood home bordered another ranch that served as a rest stop for the stock contractors, Beutler and Son, to drop off rodeo bulls. Sandie remembers trying to pick out the legendary bull "Spec" amidst them. And, his neighbor to the north was none other than Nebraska State Rodeo Association seven-time bull riding champion, Sterling Bowers, now the grandfather of three PBR bull riders—Rusty Patrick, Austin Meier, and L.J. Jenkins.
The community left its mark, and through the years Sandie became everything from a brand inspector to rodeo cowboy, and he still team and steer ropes to this day. But, given a choice, you won't find him very far from the bucking chutes.
"I love it all, and if possible, I'll be a part of it some way—up to when they close the lid," he said.
He indeed found another way in 2000, after inquiring about a calf owned by Lynn Rice. The little white speckled calf stuck out like a sore thumb amidst the beef cows..
"Right away, I could see a way to add to my little cow herd some 'value added' beef," Sandie said. And from that day forward, the Rice's mentorship in the bucking bull business has been priceless, as has Muriel's partnership.
"No one knows better than me what a good girl is worth. Muriel proves it daily and reminds me that the female is nowhere to cut a corner," Sandie said—a concept reflected in their breeding program.
That life partner, Muriel, grew up in Belleville, Kansas, dreaming of an agricultural career. While she didn't have constant access to the lifestyle, she was one of the first girls to join FFA, and graduated with a degree in Animal Science. She was one of the first girls to be on the KSU meats judging team, and was one of the only and currently the longest female employees of the USDA Meat Grading Agency. She's also been Mrs. Kansas America, a massage therapist, and barrel racer. Prior to meeting Sandie, Muriel had no experience with cattle, but she did know what elements made a good horse and applied them.
"The horse has to be a good prospect, but what brings them to completion and excellence is the mixture of training, feeding, exercise, vet care, etc. When all of these are applied to a great prospect, the results are awesome," she explained.
"Old timers used to say you can't mix chicken poop with mayonnaise and produce chicken salad," Muriel continued. "That's my theory for researching and buying the best proven genetic cows and bulls to begin our bucking herd foundation. I understand the high importance of the maternal genetics. As they say, it's not all bull."
By day, Sandie remains an agricultural products sales representative, and Muriel works as a USDA meat grader—jobs they juggle in conjunction with the bull business. But, as Muriel eyes retirement, she likes nothing better than to sit on the porch and watch her "Dream Girlz," all of which are ABBI registered cows and carry the proven genetics of the best buckers in the industry.
"When we decided to invest in the bucking bull business, I knew we wanted quality over quantity," she explained. "We also believe in the importance of building a herd foundation of high-profile female genetics, based on statistical proof that maternal genetics are 80-percent of the influence of heritable traits. Our herd numbers are small, but they're big on proven genetics," she said.
Muriel likes to name "the Girlz" after strong women with attitudes. Colonel Diana Shalem, Miss Rosemary Harrison, Twist & Shout Sharla, Lori's Cappuccino and Kathy's Muddy Wranglers all graze in the pasture, along with other notable producers like RK 92 Grace (the dam of PBR/BFT bull Mr. Harrison), 625 Calico Spot, (the dam of Mud Flap, she is such an impressive producer that Bonsall's had genetic preservation done on her), and 170/3 Red Water, (whom Muriel wanted to own so badly that she sacrificed a 25th wedding anniversary trip to Hawaii by sticking her hand in the air for the winning bid).
Aside from Mud Flap, there's been another successful bull so far—Burwell. He secured K/L Bucking Bulls' first invitation to the Indian National Finals Rodeo in 2006, where he won the coveted "Bucking Bull of the Finals" award.
These days, the Bonsalls have several irons in the fire, including marketing semen (offering special discounts to youth organizations like FFA and 4-H plus an opportunity for a life calf guarantee), launching their Web site (www.bonsallbuckingbulls.com), and selling cattle at the major sales. Their training program includes cattle being handled and living with the roping steers as yearlings, therefore constantly being exposed to horses, alleys, and chute help. In addition their exercise program includes a Free Flow Exerciser adapted from the equine industry.
"This all helps insure the bull and competitor have equal status," Sandie said. "I give my bulls the opportunity to stand in the chute solid as a rock, take your rope, and give you a fair shot."
No longer does Muriel aspire to be a beauty queen; she now dreams of being the "Bull Queen."
" I have found my passion and purpose, knowing my Creator and taking care of His cattle," Muriel added. "It's pure joy to sit on the porch swing with an iced tea and watch the baby buckers jump, kick and play in the front pasture," she said. "Forget TV—I have my own entertainment. We all need to remember how truly blessed we all are and Who continues to bless us. Our heartfelt prayer for others is Psalm 20:4, 'May He give you the desire of your heart, and make all your plans succeed'."

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