Journal

July, 2007

(06-9-2007) Hey folks,
I just wanted to give everyone an update on my training for the United States Army. I finally completed Basic Training in Ft. Benning, GA on March 15. From there I boarded a bus and arrived in Ft. Bragg, NC a day later. I now only have a few more weeks of Advanced Individual Training left to go and then I'll be home with my wife and kids. My wife has been extremely supportive with my decision to serve our country at a time of war. She understands my feelings of why I'm here, doing what I'm doing. I'll spend some time at home catching up on mowing the grass, taking the trash out, etc. and then I am going back on the road, doing what I love, rodeoing. This training that I am getting now is phenomnal. It is both physically and mentally challenging. It's along the same lines as bullfighting. It is physically challenging when working a performance of 60+ bullriders. I now am in the best shape of my life and looking forward to those performances. Some people can somewhat imagine the stress that Drill Sergeants put on you to accomplish a certain task. That stress has educated me further in my ability to handle different situations and I'm certain this has improved my skills as a bullfighter. I am looking forward to my schedule this year and hope to see yall on the road. Good luck and God Bless,

HOOAHH,

December, 2006

(12-06-2006) Hello folks,
It's been awhile since I have updated my site and I apologize for it. It has been pretty crazy round here trying to get things straightened out before I leave. I have decided my country needs my help in fighting for our freedom in this country. On January 3rd I will be leaving for the Army Reserves. I will be headed down to Ft. Benning Georgia for my basic training, then off to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. There I will spend 14 weeks training for Psychological Operations. It is going to be extremely intense, but I am counting downs the days until I leave. I heard from some of you that I am to old and won't be able to keep up with these 18 year olds. I'm 27 years old. I feel I am already ahead of them. I'm a bullfighter. We are the badest, toughest guys around. Ask any of us!!!! I will try to keep everyone updated on what's been going on, but between January 1st, until May, please no more emails.I wish you all the best of luck this year and of course, be safe. Support Our Troops

September, 2006

(9-19-2006) I can't believe it's cold outside already. it seems like just yesterday we were sweating bullets during a bullriding event and now I am wearing a sweatshirt. This past weekend I was in Mountain City, TN for a Mid-Atlantic Rodeo Assoc performance there. What I great time I had. The fans there sure know how to have a good time. I would lke to thanks all the Prisoners from across the street who helped set-up and paint that arena in a record breaking 45 minutes. You guys are good people. I'll have to tell the parole board that. It's almost deer season!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not ready at all. I need to get the bow out and cob-web that thing. I'm not sure if it even works still. I think I was in my stand the last day of deer season last year and missed my buck. Come to think of it, I think I threw it at the buck. I better make sure it still shoots straight. Yall be safe and see ya down the road.

Shawn Nelson, Pro Rodeo Bullfighter

June, 2006

Hello Everyone,
I hope you are keeping as busy as I am. It's been pretty crazy 'round here lately. We wound up in Scotia, Nebraska the weekend of June 3rd for a NFPB, BOA, and Mid West Bullfighters event. It was another great performance put on by Todd Crase and his White Buffalo Productions crew. I know they work really hard on making sure everything goes smoothly, as it did. Shad Smith, owner of Double 'SS' Bulls out of Sidney, IA brought the bulls for the Extreme Bull Riding Tour. This is the second time I got to meet Shad and see his bulls buck. There is a reason why Shad was wearing his PBR stock contractor buckle. This time in Scotia, it was a four man freestyle bullfight competition. My so-called ''travelin' partner'' (dit ditder, inside joke!!!!) Toby Inman (IL) scored an 82 on his hot little mexican bull in which won the bullfight. Jeremy Muntz (KS) and Corey Greibel (NE) tied for 2/3 with an score of 79. Me, well 78 points. After the performance we headed home to get some chores done and get our minds set for the following weekend.

It was nice to be home for those couple days, but they sure seem to fly by. Thursday we left for another performance in Comstock,Nebraska. Comstock is know throughout the west as "The Largest Pasture Party in the World". They had many famous bands playing around the clock. Thousands of fans packed the hillside to watch the Extreme Bull Riding Tour. White Buffalo Productions along with Double"SS" Bulls put the two day Bull Riding event on. They had a performance Friday and Saturday at 1 o'clock and then again at 3 o'clock. All four performances went extremely well. The eight man freestyle bullfight also went well, except Toby won it with 84 points. That guy will jump a buffalo as long as the judges gave him a score. we signed autographs after each performance and they kept coming. What great fans they had out in Comstock. it was worth the 70 mile an hour that we got Friday night. I told Todd Crase, Saturday morning: "We drove to Comstock, but we almost flew back to Ohio that night in our tent". On another note, we should all keep in mind how dangerous the sport of Bull Riding and Bullfighting can be. Jason Clemons of Winterset, IA was taken to Ord, NE hospital then later life flighted to Omaha after suffering facial trauma at Comstock during his bull ride, in the Saturday performance. Keep Jason in your prayers.

I wanted to wish Jeremy Muntz good luck in Cheyenne for the PBR qualifier freestyle bullfights. Jeremy is a good hand and I'm sure he'll have a good time. I'll be in Bedford, IA July 15 for another great performance with the Mid West Bullfighters Association. Until then, I'll mostly be in Ohio for rodeos and bull ridings. Keep the emails up. I love meeting new people and reading their comments. I am blessed for being able to do what I do and I appreciate the support. Good luck and stay safe this summer.

Shawn Nelson, Pro Rodeo Bullfighter

May, 2005

Hey folks, I just wanted everyone to know how excited I am to have my new website up and running. My designer is doing an excellent job. I really did not know how much work actually goes into a website design. It is extremely time consuming, but well worth it, as the end result. I think I'll stick to fighting bulls. We still have some small details to work out, but everything is coming along great.

I started this year off with a bang. I hooked up with Mid West Bullfighters Assoc. this year. For those who don't know, MBA is a freestyle bullfighting organization. I was in Burlington, Iowa for a B.O.A. and N.F.P.B. event. In between go round's, MBA had their first performance of the year. Everyone had an awesome bullfight, and with 12 freestyle competitors, it was a tough competition. I wound up breaking my right hand, during my fight. My bull was extremely hot right out the gate. We went a few rounds, then he died out fast. He was a difficult animal to get around. It got pretty ugly a few times, but I loved every minute. Wade Kuntz won the bullfight with a score of 86 pts. I believe it was my cleats that helped him get around his bull!!! Everyone watch out for Wade, this year.

I'm in the practice pen every week at Bill Lesho's place in Kinsman, OH. That practice pen definently keeps me sharp during my off times. He has a wide variety of bulls, that is a joy to work with. The Bull Riders their have a lot of heart and try. Everyone up there wants to improve in one way or another. I do wind up coaching a few here and there, but that comes with the sport and I don't mind.

I have a couple sponsors to thank. This year is going to be a great Rodeo season, because of them. Gamesnake.com and UXL Sports and Fitness.

I hope everyone is enjoying these nice days. I have been couped up all winter and since we started having these nice days, I haven't been inside yet!!! Hope everyone one stays safe this year. See ya down the road. God Bless.

Shawn Nelson, Pro Rodeo Bullfighter