Inland Northwest stock headed to NFR

Saddle broncs will be in the spotlight for the Big Bend and Flying Five rodeo companies at the National Finals Rodeo next month.

Big Bend and Flying Five, co-owned by Don Hutsell of Ritzville and Sonny Riley of Pomeroy, has long been known for their top flight bulls. However, the two have combined to send nine broncs to Las Vegas for the NFR Dec. 3-9.

Leading the way is Flying Five’s Spring Planting, voted Saddle Bronc of the Year by PRCA bronc riders.

“I was just plumb tickled,” Chad Hutsell, general manager for the two stock contractors, said of the honor. “She’s third generation on one side of our breeding program and second on the other. For Sonny, Dad and me, that was pretty special.

“All of the bloodline had been to the National Finals and they’re producing something that is world champion. That is really special. All the years, the pain, the debts, all that stuff, getting that honor, and that’s a hard honor to get, especially in the saddle bronc, that’s just special. It meant a lot to us.”

The other broncs are Blue Feather, Broken Saddles, Little Iron, Spring Blues of Flying Five and Classic Toddy, Devil Lady and Kool Toddy of Big Bend.

The top 30 riders in each event vote for Finals stock.

Barebacks headed to the NFR are Cajun Queen and Holly Team of Big Bend and Desert Sun of Flying Five. The only bull voted in is Big Bend’s Firebird.

“I thought the bronc riders treated us pretty good,” Chad Hutsell said. “And the rest of it, I don’t know what I should say.”

Big Bend mare Spring Fling was the PRCA bareback of the year in 1997 and the Saddle Bronc of the Year in 1999 and 2000.

Flying Five and Big Bend combined for the Bull of the Year six times from 1997-2004.

Bareback rider Ryan Gray of Cheney, tie down roper Tyson Durfey of Colbert and bull rider Zach Oakes of Elk finished in the top 15 of the 2009 PRCA regular season standings to qualifying for the Finals.

Rodeo secretary Deb Davis of Nine Mile Falls was selected to work the NFR.