eight seconds starts in manhattan, kansas

little apple xtreme bulls november 13-14, 2026 bilbrey family arena

Doors Open 6:30 PM, Performance Begins 8:00 PM, roughly two hour performance

Click here to view day sheet (goes live day of performance)

looking to be a vendor?

Whether you’re a local boutique, Western retailer, artisan, or small business, we’d love to have you be part of Little Apple Xtreme Bulls! Our vendor spaces are a great opportunity to showcase your products and connect with rodeo fans from Manhattan and surrounding communities.

Join us in the arena and put your business in front of an engaged, local audience. Send an email to info@xtremebullslittleapple.com

Your Questions, Answered

military appreciation

We are proud to honor the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country during Military Appreciation Night at Little Apple Xtreme Bulls.

Saturday night, we’ll recognize our active-duty service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and the families who stand beside them. We are grateful for the sacrifices made in service to our nation and for the freedoms that allow us to gather together and celebrate the sport we love.

To every service member and veteran in our community: thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your commitment to our country. We are honored to celebrate you.

Logo of a person juggling, filled with the pattern of the American flag. Text reads "Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Military Relations Committee."

Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce

christian@manhattan.org

785-776-8829

Christian Bishop

visiting and local rodeo royalty

A woman smiling with blonde wavy hair, wearing a white cowboy hat with a decorative badge that reads 'Miss Kansas', a red western shirt with white embroidery, and large gold earrings against a dark background.

Miss Rodeo Kansas

A woman riding a horse during a rodeo event, wearing a cowboy hat and a purple shirt, holding a flag with a smile on her face.

Miss Rodeo Kansas State University

A woman smiling, wearing a cowboy hat and a patterned shirt, sitting behind a wooden fence, with a saddle in front of her.

Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas

A woman dressed in a cowboy costume, wearing a cowboy hat, denim jacket, and a sash that reads 'Princess,' standing next to a light-colored horse with a braided mane, outdoors with green foliage in the background.

Miss Rodeo Junction City

Adeline Robinson

Ashlynn Alderson

A young woman wearing a cowboy hat with a rodeo logo, a white sash that says '2026 Miss Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo Queen,' and patriotic-colored pants with star designs, standing outdoors against a large tree and a grassy field.

Miss Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo Queen

Young woman in cowboy hat and western attire standing outdoors in a rural area, wearing a sash that reads 'Miss Rodeo Topeka' and a decorative rodeo skirt.

Miss Rodeo Topeka

Sarah Nemechek

Zoey Lockhart

Faith Roten

Rebecca Thornton

A rodeo cowboy wearing a white helmet and a vest, riding a black bull as they leap over a barrier at the Pendleton Round-Up rodeo event.

Bull Riding

Bull riding has become rodeo's most popular event. The risks are obvious. Serious injury is always a possibility for those fearless or foolish enough to sit astride an animal that weighs a ton and is usually equipped with dangerous horns. But cowboys do it and fans love it.

Bull riding is dangerous and demands intense physical prowess and supreme mental toughness, and the bull rider may use only one hand to stay aboard during the eight-second ride. If he touches the bull or himself with his free hand, he receives no score. But unlike the other rough stock events, bull riders are not required to mark out their animals. While spurring a bull can add to the cowboy's score, riders are commonly judged on their ability to stay aboard the twisting, bucking ton of muscle and rage.​

To stay aboard the bull, a rider uses a flat braided rope, which is wrapped around the barrel of the bull's chest just behind the front legs and over its withers. One end of the bull rope, called the tail, is threaded through a loop on the other end and tightened around the bull. The rider then wraps the tail around his hand, sometimes weaving it through his fingers to further secure his grip. Then he nods his head, the chute gate swings open and he and the bull explode into the arena.

Every bull is unique in its bucking style. A bull may dart to the left, then to the right, then rear back. Some spin, or continuously circle in one spot in the arena. Others add jumps or kicks to their spins, while others might jump and kick in a straight line, or move side to side while bucking.