Little Yellow Jacket
Encyclopedia
Little Yellow Jacket was a three-time Professional Bull Riders
(PBR) "Bull of the Year", winning the title in consecutive years from 2002-2004. His three consecutive titles has made him unmatched by any bull in the history of the PBR. He was the son of Yellow Jacket and the grandson of Wrangler Rivets.
At the end of his career, Little Yellow Jacket had a buck off rate of 83.53%, with an average buck off time of 2.66 seconds. Before his death, the bull was scheduled to be the inaugural inductee in the PBR's Brand of Honor, and will be honored in a ceremony at the 2011 PBR World Finals.
, former World Champion bull rider Michael Gaffney scored 96.5 points on Little Yellow Jacket, tying the PBR record. At the World Arena in Colorado Springs in 2003, 2000 PBR World Champion Chris Shivers
had a chance to ride him for $1,000,000, but was bucked off in less than two seconds. Instead, the bull's owners received $50,000.
bull. He weighed about 1800 pounds (816.5 kg) and had one horn
pointing upward and one downward.
, and Tom Teague, retired him an the end of 2005. In 2006, Little Yellow Jacket was inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. During his final years, Little Yellow Jacket lived as a stud bull at a ranch in North Dakota
. Little Yellow Jacket died in Graham, North Carolina
on September 19, 2011, at the age of 15.
Professional Bull Riders, Inc.
Professional Bull Riders, Inc. is an international professional bull riding organization based in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. PBR events are televised on Versus, Fox, CBS and NBC...
(PBR) "Bull of the Year", winning the title in consecutive years from 2002-2004. His three consecutive titles has made him unmatched by any bull in the history of the PBR. He was the son of Yellow Jacket and the grandson of Wrangler Rivets.
PBR career
Little Yellow Jacket made his debut in the PBR in the year 1999, and went to his first PBR World Finals that year. He went on to win Bull of Year three times, in 2002, 2003, and 2004.At the end of his career, Little Yellow Jacket had a buck off rate of 83.53%, with an average buck off time of 2.66 seconds. Before his death, the bull was scheduled to be the inaugural inductee in the PBR's Brand of Honor, and will be honored in a ceremony at the 2011 PBR World Finals.
Historic rides
On April 24, 2004 at the Idaho Center in Nampa, IdahoNampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
, former World Champion bull rider Michael Gaffney scored 96.5 points on Little Yellow Jacket, tying the PBR record. At the World Arena in Colorado Springs in 2003, 2000 PBR World Champion Chris Shivers
Chris Shivers
Chris Shivers is a top-rated bull rider on the Professional Bull Riders' Built Ford Tough Series with career PBR earnings of $3,842,739.33 . Shivers has earned the title of PBR World Champion Bull Rider in 2000 and 2003. He turned pro in 1997.Shivers has nineteen career BFTS wins...
had a chance to ride him for $1,000,000, but was bucked off in less than two seconds. Instead, the bull's owners received $50,000.
Physical attributes
Little Yellow Jacket was a dark red BrangusBrangus
A Brangus is a hardy and popular breed of beef cattle, a cross between an Angus and a Brahman. An animal eligible for registration as a Brangus cattle is 5/8 Angus and 3/8 Brahman. -History:...
bull. He weighed about 1800 pounds (816.5 kg) and had one horn
Horn (anatomy)
A horn is a pointed projection of the skin on the head of various animals, consisting of a covering of horn surrounding a core of living bone. True horns are found mainly among the ruminant artiodactyls, in the families Antilocapridae and Bovidae...
pointing upward and one downward.
Retirement and death
Little Yellow Jacket's owners, a partnership of Joe and Nevada Berger, Bernie TaupinBernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
, and Tom Teague, retired him an the end of 2005. In 2006, Little Yellow Jacket was inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. During his final years, Little Yellow Jacket lived as a stud bull at a ranch in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. Little Yellow Jacket died in Graham, North Carolina
Graham, North Carolina
Graham is a city in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate is 14,533...
on September 19, 2011, at the age of 15.