They’ll also get to experience the feel of an old broken bone in his arm, one of many he’s incurred during his career.

It makes a deep click.

More broken bones?

“Oh man,” Jones said, thinking on it for a few minutes. “Plenty of ribs, shattered my ankle … there’s a whole list.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Bullfighter Tanner Jones, of Monahans, Texas, leads one of the youth in the Bulls and Bucking Ponies event back to safety Saturday night at the 88th Annual Dayton Championship Rodeo.

Jones, from Monahans, Texas, is on his first professional season. It’s his first time at the 88th Annual Dayton Championship Rodeo. He fought bulls for several years before that. He’s 21.

“Not everybody gets to do what they want to do,” he said.

Jones has a deep faith. Part of his face makeup is a cross.

“I praise God every day for me waking up in the morning.” He said. “As a rodeo athlete, I live by the phrase, ‘Saved by God’s grace.'”

For the rodeo fans, there’s two viewing options.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Rev. Kay Christie keeps her eye on the action Saturday night as she films the action at the 88th Annual Dayton Championship Rodeo. Christie said this is her sixth year of filming. Her work is seen live above her on the big screen.

The live one right in front of them and then the live version on the big screen at the end of the arena.

Rev. Kay Christie, of Dayton, is responsible for what they see on the screen. This is her sixth year behind the video camera.

“I was roped into this,” she joked, after volunteering and doing several other jobs, including a stint in the cook shack.

“I got delegated,” Christie said. “Apparently I’m doing something right — we’ll go with that story.”

Over the years, there’s been a few minor “moments.” Dead camera batteries, mostly in the past before the current equipment, which runs on cabled power.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
John "The One Arm Bandit" Payne, fires blanks as he turns his horse around in a circle atop his livestock trailer during his performance at the 88th Annual Dayton Championship Rodeo Saturday night.

She’s also wired in. An earbud keeps her informed of where the producers would like her to film.

“It’s a divine voice,” she joked.

Christie actually misses out on really being able to just sit and watch the rodeo.

“Not for the past six years anyway,” she said. “I’m very focused on what I’m supposed to focus on.”

Getting into the rodeo arena with a bunch of wild horses, then working with your team to saddle one of them before riding it across a finish line in the middle of the arena might, well, seem a little crazy.

Maverick Dorman, of Harcourt, has been in about 15 of them so far.

One injury so far.

“It was just a concussion.” Dorman said. “I think I fell off the horse and hit the ground.”

A few years ago, his team took home $2,000 in prize money. This year, they’re still working on it.

There’s no real playbook for going into the ring.

“Nothing goes according to plan,” he said.

Before the start of the Saturday night performance, a bit of rain fell for a little while.

Justin Lohrbach, of Hampton, improvised a bit of cover. He used the printed program.

“I give it 8 out of 10,” he said. “It’s getting soggy though; I might need a new program.”

During breaks in the action, there’s often a bit of fun banter with the crowd from the announcers. One of these was a challenge for someone to defend the honor of the Iowa State Cyclones.

Kyle Hunter, of Carroll, rose to the task — on camera for the entire audience … he drank a beer from his boot.

How was the experience?

“It was a little salty,” he said. “I’ve worn these boots for a lot of shows with my guitar. I would not recommend this, however, if you love the Cyclones enough, you’ll do it.”

Apparently, a bit of liquid remained in the boot when he put it back on.

“It’s a little soupy,” he said.

The next challenge, defending the honor of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. That was drinking a beer from someone else’s boot.

It was met by an audience member who took it to the limit. He consumed a beer from his prosthetic leg.

The last event of the night is bull riding.

That’s when bullfighter Tanner Jones got to shine.

He also got a short flight — courtesy of a less than happy bull.

He got up, apparently unhurt.

Saved once again by that grace.