This year, the cowboys had the big bull害羞草研究所檚 number.

Devil害羞草研究所檚 Advocate is an approximate 1,600-pound Brahma cross who likes to twist, turn, buck, kick and do everything bullishly possible to get the cowboy off its back in rodeo害羞草研究所檚 classic event, bull riding.

And six-year-old Devil害羞草研究所檚 Advocate 害羞草研究所� born and raised in the North Okanagan 害羞草研究所� has done it well.

At the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas, cowboys were 0-2 against the bull, meaning the riders did not make the mandatory eight-second horn. But at the 2023 NFR in Vegas Dec.7-16, riders went 2-2.

Jeff Askey, from Athens, Texas, rode Devils害羞草研究所� Advocate to an 85.5, good for second place in the go-round. Australian cowboy Ky Hamilton became a remarkable NFR story when he had the only qualified ride of Round 7, aboard Devil害羞草研究所檚 Advocate, scoring 88 from the judges to collect all the prize money 害羞草研究所� more than $99,000 U.S.

The day before, Hamilton had been taken to hospital for precaution after being thrown by a bull and was released the next morning, suffering only minor injuries. He then climbed aboard Devil害羞草研究所檚 Advocate, the 2022 Canadian Bucking Bull of the Year, that night.

Devil害羞草研究所檚 Advocate害羞草研究所檚 story begins on Westside Road in Vernon.

The bull was born to the Coyote Creek Rodeo Company, owned and operated by the Marchand family. Devil害羞草研究所檚 Advocate is a third-generation NFR bull, as explained by company spokesperson Chad Marchand.

害羞草研究所淲e purchased his grandpa from (Duane) Kesler Rodeo (in Alberta) way back when,害羞草研究所� said Marchand. 害羞草研究所淒evil Advocate害羞草研究所檚 father is out of that bull. He made the NFR, too. He was called White Devil.害羞草研究所�

The goal for Marchand and his family is to get bucking bulls ready for professional rodeo events.

害羞草研究所淭he last three-four years, we害羞草研究所檝e had a bull go every year (to the NFR),害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 what we害羞草研究所檙e always shooting for. Try to raise the best bulls we can. This bull (Devil害羞草研究所檚) has done lots already. Whatever he does from here is a bonus.害羞草研究所�

Devil害羞草研究所檚 Advocate was sold by Coyote Creek to Kesler Rodeo, who the Marchands have been dealing with for almost a quarter-century, and the bull turned professional at age four.

Since then, he has been Professional Bull Riders Canada Finals害羞草研究所� Bull of the Event. He害羞草研究所檚 won the Canadian Bucking Bull title, been to the Canadian Finals Rodeo, and has twice made the NFR. Cowboys have won go-rounds aboard Devil害羞草研究所檚 Advocate at both the CFR and NFR.

Devil害羞草研究所檚 Advocate has been ridden just five times as a pro, including twice in the past week at the NFR. Those will be Devil害羞草研究所檚 Advocate害羞草研究所檚 only two rides of the 2023 finals.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 going to get a bit of a break now,害羞草研究所� said Marchand.