Young Contractor Dillon Tateson Looking Forward to Bringing Bulls to Second Annual Koye Larson Memorial

AIDRIE, Alta. – This weekend’s Koye Larson Memorial PBR in Brooks, Alberta, will mark young PBR Canada stock contractor Dillon Tateson’s sixth year raising and hauling bulls in the sport.

Starting life in a ranching family near Brooks, the 21-year-old’s trajectory into the contracting game was far from standard. Attending practice pens put on by various contractors in the area at the town’s Silver Sage Arena, he fell in love with bull riding, picking up his first set of buckers at the tender age of 15. 

“I just fell in love with it and thought it would be fun to buy my own bulls,” Tateson said.

Not long after getting involved in the bovine side of the sport, Tateson, alongside local stock contractors Kinky Bucking Bulls and Wilson Rodeo Company, got involved in a modest BRC (Bull Riders Canada) event in that same arena.

“It was just a handful of the stock contractors wanting to buck bulls, but it evolved into a BRC event there in town,” Tateson said. “That first one went really well. All of this led me to Kink [Kyle Larson] and getting to become his flank man.”

Last season, the event shifted into a PBR with a very special meaning -- commemorating the young son of Larson’s lost in a car accident in 2022.

“After the accident, Slim Wilson said we needed to make it into a PBR event. We were tentative off the start because that is a big step. We went with the PBR last year. Kinky got woken up that night cause people were phoning about how good it went. It really took off. It transitioned from us trying to buck some bulls and go to a show, and now it’s a PBR,” Tateson said.

“It was amazing actually. It is something you don’t see in the community all the time. You don't wish any family to go through something that they did, but for a celebration like this seeing the whole community get involved was incredible. It’s amazing to see how many came together for this.”

A new venue, the Centennial Regional Arena will play host for this year’s edition of the Koye Larson Memorial PBR, evidence of its success, and affording for an even better fan experience.

“The Silver Sage was a nice little building, but you can't fit as many people as we would like to fit in there, and we want to make it so everyone can have a good view of the action,” Tateson said.

“We think it is as good improvement as we can make in Brooks. Make it have that Cup Series event feel, we all love being at those big ones. We will have that same feel with great production, but it is a Touring Pro event.”

Tateson has been able to be a part of the Calgary Stampede, the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the PBR Canada National Finals inside Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, in only four years with bucking bulls, bringing his standout bucker Far Too Filthy to all three last season.

“Calgary was really special for me. We used to always just go buy tickets and watch when I was a kid. It was always so cool to see all of the people that go to the Stampede. But to have a pass around your neck and be bringing bulls is special,” Tateson said, as he recalled the biggest moments of his career so far.

“People I know who are not really involved in the sport were getting in touch saying “wow, you bucked off J.B. Mauney?!”

“My two bulls were last; it was Saturday if I recall. I have seen myself on TV and you can see my hand shaking. I was just hoping my bulls wouldn’t run off in that big arena. And once they were done, and did good, I could have passed out,” Tateson continued.

Looking ahead in his career, Tateson said he wants to continue to grow with the sport.

“I just want to keep growing. I want to haul the best bulls I can. I want to see the sport grow. I love when people come get on my bulls and want to be better,” he said. “I don’t want to change anything outright, I just wanna grow with the sport.”

As for what to expect this weekend out of the Tateson pen at the Koye Larson Memorial?

He says to look out for his red muley.

“I am really high on this red muley. Monday Merl I call him. He was pretty good last year as a 4-year-old, and this will be his 5-year-old year. That is a standout of mine.”

As for the Kinky Buckers’ pen, Tateson says that the bull that 2022 PBR Canada Champion Nick Tetz won this year’s Lethbridge event on is easily the pick of the pen in the championship round.

“Every time I go over there, Grand Funk looks better and better,” Tateson said.

“The last couple times we have seen him he has gotten rode and that has turned it up for that bull. Kinky is pretty high on that bull. He is really flashy, too.”

This weekend's Koye Larson Memorial PBR features the best bulls against the best bull riders the country has to offer, followed up by a performance from one of Canada's biggest names in country music, Corb Lund.

"New venue, even better production this year. We have a world class show planned this weekend," Tateson said.

"Come see some of the best bulls match up with some of the best bull riders in Canada this weekend in Brooks and stick around for one of Canada’s biggest country music stars, Corb Lund."