— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Hans Madsen Bullfighter Tanner Jones, of Monahans, Texas, moves in to help a rider that just got bucked off a bull Saturday night at the 88th Annual Dayton Championship Rodeo. The fighter's job is to keep the riders safe. The same bull would flip Jones into the air a few minutes later.

— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Hans Madsen
Tanner Jones gets a short flight into the air while dealing with one of the bulls during Saturday night’s competition at the 88th Annual Dayton Championship Rodeo.

— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Hans Madsen
The 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.

— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Hans Madsen
Kyle Hunter, of Carroll, celebrates defending the Cyclones’ honor by drinking a beer out of his boot at the Saturday performance of the 88th Annual Dayton Championship Rodeo.

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.”

Jones, from Monahans, Texas, is in his first professional season. And it’s his first time at the 88th Annual Dayton 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 Dayton rodeo fans, there are two viewing options: the live one right in front of them and the live version on the big screen at the end of the arena.

The 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. This 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 have been a few minor “moments.” Dead camera batteries, mostly in the past before the current equipment, which runs on cabled power.

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 said.

Christie actually misses out on just 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.”

Elsewhere at the rodeo, getting into the 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 done that about 15 times.

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.

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

“I give it eight 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, there remained a bit of liquid 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, 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 Saturday was bull riding. That’s when bullfighter 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.

Today is Kids Day at the Dayton Rodeo. Kids 11 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult. At 10 a.m., the Annual Dayton Labor Day Parade begins.

At 11:30 a.m., the Rodeo Arena gates open.