Junior freestyle bullfighter Daniel Ramirez changes direction to avoid the bull’s horns during freestyle bullfighting at the Grant County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.

JOHN DAY — For most people, the idea of being locked inside a pen with a full-grown and angry bull equipped with nothing but their own speed, agility and cunning to fight the enraged animal would be a terrifying prospect.

Some people, however, take it as a challenge.

The eight freestyle bullfighting competitors who made their way to the Grant County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 12, for the seventh edition of freestyle bullfights featuring Trever Hamsher’s fighting bulls wouldn’t have it any other way.

Unlike traditional bullfighting, freestyle bullfighters have nothing but their own hands to engage the bull. The fighter’s goal is to keep the bull “locked on” and engaged without suffering gruesome injuries.

The fighters and bulls can each score up to 50 points for a total of 100 points for a perfect run. Fighters are scored based on the control they have over the animal using feints and creative tricks to elude the animal, including jumps and flips.

Bulls are scored based on aggression, the willingness to stay engaged and difficulty in being fought. Saturday’s fights featured four youth bullfighters and four adult bullfighters, with two traditional bull rides by local cowboys breaking up the bullfighting action.

The junior freestyle bullfighting competition was won by Harper FFA member Cope Christensen, who held off three other junior bullfighters for first place. The adult competition was won by defending Bullfighters Only world champion Tyler Mansell, who scored an 80 in his winning run.

Mansell held off Riley McGettrick (78), Vale’s Buster Harmon (77) and Carson Estrada (71) for top honors in the adult competition. A small intermission in the bullfighting action was provided by local bullriders Tatyn Harper and Kingdon Kirby, who both participated in a traditional bull ride.

“I just feel extremely blessed that we’ve been able to showcase freestyle bullfighting at the Grant County Fair for seven years in a row,” said Hamsher, who owns a bull-breeding operation in Prairie City. “Every year it’s a little different.”

Differences this year, according to Hamsher, were the addition of extra seating on the track, which required the bullfighting arena to be moved a little farther back than normal as a safety precaution.

“I wanted to give everybody a chance that came through the gates to see it,” Hamsher explained.

Next year Hamsher hopes to have a large video display screen on hand, which will allow attendees to have a better view of the fights.

There was a bit of confusion the first year the fights were announced.

“At first, everybody thought we were going to be stabbing and killing the bulls,” Hamsher said.

“After the first year, and word of mouth, we had them hooked,” he added.

Having Mansell, the defending Bullfighters Only champ, in the lineup added a smidge of extra legitimacy to the competition, according to Hamsher.

“Any time a big-named superstar like Tyler can come to an event, it just helps build credibility for the event,” he said. “And it gives the people of Grant County a chance to see someone of the caliber when maybe they wouldn’t get to at a small fair like we have.”

Overall, Hamsher is thankful for all of the support the community has shown for freestyle bullfighting since its introduction into the county.

“I just want to thank everybody that came out and attended and also all the great sponsors and the fair board and fair staff and the county court, because without them, we wouldn’t get to do what we love,” he said.