THE LOCAL NEWS OF THE MADISON VALLEY, RUBY VALLEY AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Brummie Boggus’s love for rodeo began the first time he ever watched a rider on a bronco (Holli Bogus)

Ride’em cowboy!

Local 5th grader set for second national rodeo appearance

ENNIS—Brummie Boggus’s love for rodeo began the first time he ever watched a rider on a bronco.

“I’ve just always wanted to do it,” he says. “I always watched rodeos and knew that I wanted to do that too.”

He got his wish at the age of six and has now been riding both bareback and miniature bulls for four years. This summer, the 10-year-old put himself at the top of the local rodeo rankings for the second time, earning a trip to Las Vegas for the Junior National Finals Rodeo (NFR) championships.

His first trip to nationals came two years ago. He was the regional champion in miniature bull riding, topping riders from throughout Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. But that wasn’t even Brummie’s most impressive accomplishment that season: he ended up 12th in the world for bareback riders in his age group. 

“He’s the only kid from Montana that’s won the region,” says Brummie’s mother, Holli Boggus. “They take the top four in each age group from each region, so the NFR championships have nationwide competitors.”

There’s a good chance Brummie would have made it three in a row for appearances at the national championship, but he was sidelined in 2017 with a knee injury sustained when the horse he was riding took off, throwing him into a fence.

“He spent the summer with a cast on his knee,” says Holli. “But he still ended up making it to a couple rodeos that summer.”

Even out of commission for most of the rodeo season, Brummie still ended up second in Montana for bareback riding.

This year, Brummie stayed healthy and took advantage of a full season. He competed nearly every weekend at rodeos around Montana and Wyoming, including Ennis’s own legendary Fourth of July rodeo, all as preparation to ride in Las Vegas. He rode at Montana’s Junior Rodeo Association finals in Three Forks on September 14, where he took home the bull riding gold. It’s safe to say he feels ready for his second trip to Vegas.

“I don’t get nervous,” he says. “I’m excited. It’s just fun.”

Brummie is almost old enough to shift to riding full-sized broncos and bulls, remaining in the no-mans-land between riding miniature horses and adult mounts. But he has the swagger and confidence of a much older cowboy, and he doesn’t hesitate when asked what his goal is for his second trip to nationals. It’s only two words.

“Win it!” he says, with a grin from under his wide black cowboy hat.

Brummie’s national championship appearance in Las Vegas will take place during the National Finals Rodeo from December 6-10. Until then, he’ll be out riding on both real and mechanical bulls, preparing to go after that lofty goal.

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The Madisonian

65 N. MT Hwy 287
Ennis, MT 59729
406-682-7755
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Cori Koenig, editor: editor@madisoniannews.com
Susanne Hill, billing: s.hill@madisoniannews.com 
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