Just as not every oyster can produce a pearl, not every cow can produce a champion bucking bull. But Steve and Julie Ravenscroft’s Whitewater cows certainly have produced their share of gems. The Ravenscroft’s crowning jewel, 250 Black Pearl, is now the 2009 ABBI Classic Champion.

After winning ABBI Reserve Classic Champion last year as a 3-year-old, Black Pearl was able to take it to the next level this season. From an extremely competitive field, Ravenscroft/Boyd-Floyd’s Black Pearl emerged victorious on Nov. 5 and was crowned the 2009 ABBI Classic Champion and earned a check for $250,000. That brings the bull’s career earnings to just under half a million dollars.
“I’m going to nickname him Mr. Las Vegas!” declared Brad Boyd when asked about his superstar. The Ravenscroft/Boyd-Floyd bull was also the regular season year-end champion, but his owners knew that was no guarantee of what might transpire in Las Vegas. The slate is wiped clean at the ABBI Classic Finals and each bull starts over again—all that matters is the scores the bulls earn during the long and short round.

“The bull spoke for himself,” affirmed Boyd. “He came through and did it all and was perfect—and that is what it took to win in Vegas. He didn’t even stub his toe.”

It may sound like a fairy tale, but it took a lot of effort by a lot of people to get Black Pearl to the top. “A lot of the decisions we and Toby and Brad made about his career I think really played into this outcome,” shared Steve Ravenscroft. “People have to realize that the decisions you made three years ago will have an influence on the outcome. It isn’t just feed and how much you buck them or how much you don’t. There’s a lot more to it than just raising a great bucking bull.” Those decisions included waiting to compete until the Wild Card when he was a 3-year-old last season, and sending him to Texas to be hauled by Boyd and Floyd. “That made all the difference.” Affirmed Steve. “We couldn’t get him shown enough if he had stayed up here with us and Brad and Toby (Floyd) did a great job with him. We couldn’t ask for better partners. We feel so fortunate to have Brad and Toby.”

Julie Ravenscroft still isn’t sure the reality of the win has set in yet. “We (Julie and Steve) were sitting in the second row next to Brad and Nicole Boyd and Zach Gunter (with the ABBI) motioned up to us that we won,” recalled Julie. “It was quite a relief. That was the most nerve-wracking week of my life. Neither of us could eat that day.”

“It was an immense relief when it was over,” confirmed Steve. “Unless you’ve been through it I don’t think you can really explain and understand how proud we were.”

Not only were Steve and Julie proud, almost their entire hometown of Islashi, Neb. came out to celebrate Black Pearl’s victory. “Our community has always been really supportive of us and Black Pearl. They were so excited for us,” shared Julie. “We wanted to thank them so we rented a building and had an open bar and snacks. 115 people showed up (their town has 190).”

As the breeders of Black Pearl, Steve and Julie received the ABBI Breeder of the Year award.

“I still don’t think it has really sunk in. It is hard to explain how rewarding this is. When it happens you can’t really believe it,” said Julie.
“To be Breeder of the Year has been a goal of ours for a long time, as was to have the Classic Champion,” shared Steve, “this is unbelievable.”

The ABBI Classic Finals long go was held in conjunction with the PBR’s Round Three of the Built Ford Tough World Finals on Nov. 1. This was the first year that PBR livestock director allowed an entire round to be comprised of nothing but ABBI Classic bulls—a testament to just how good the 3 and 4-year-old bulls are. From that field of 44, the top 20 advanced to the ABBI short go during the PBR’s Round Four on Nov. 5.

Black Pearl won the long round with a 92.75. Black Pearl helped 2008 World Finals Event winner Robson Palermo to a round three victory after they teamed up for a ride that garnered the cowboy a 92.25 point score. “He has a huge heart,” said Steve of Black Pearl. “When a Brazilian gets on him and really pulls his rope, it seems like he tries harder.”

Martinez’ 514 Top Notch took second in the round with a 90.75. 911 Ground Zero was third with a 90.25. In the short go, Black Pearl was again first with a 91. With a 90.75, Hebert’s 510 Red Bone was second. MO350 Bushwacker from Julio Moreno and Richard Oliveria was third with 90.25.

Nearly $580,000 was paid out to the top 20 Classic bulls in Las Vegas. Reserve Champion Top Notch earned $100,000. Bushwacker finished third in the average for just under $35,000. Splitting fourth was H&D/Huff’s 507 Chick ‘N Fried and 510 Red Bone, each earning $23,330. 632 Copp Hou from Lightning C, who made his mark as a Futurity bull, advanced to the Classic Finals from the Wild Card by winning first and $50,000. Copp Hou finished in fifteenth overall and added another $7,000 to his career total.

During the long round of the Classic Finals, Top Notch helped new PBR World Champion Kody Lostroh earn a 91. During the Classic short round, it was 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s 569 Mission Accomplished who helped Lostroh to get it done—Lostroh earned a 90.25 and won the round on the Classic bull. Diamond S’ Mission Accomplished earned an additional $15,717 for being in the ABBI’s Breeders Trust Incentive program. His sire, Mission Pack, earned Trevor Walker $5,750 in incentive money.

Black Pearl was one of two Classic bulls in contention for PBR World Champion Bucking Bull and finished fourth in the PBR race. Black Pearl was also chosen by PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert to buck in the PBR World Finals Championship Round on Nov. 8. PBR star J.B. Mauney rode Black Pearl in the Championship Round for 93.75 to cinch the event win and become the first man to ever cover eight bulls at the World Finals. “That was gravy,” shared Steve. “For J.B. to ride him to the highest scored ride of the Finals.”

The other ABBI Classic bull in contention for World Champion Bucking Bull was D&H/Wiggins’ Crosswired, who Lambert also selected for the Championship Round. Crosswired was the 2008 ABBI Classic Champion and finished second overall for the 2009 regular season. Crosswired had a slip in the ABBI long go (which gave his cowboy a reride) where the ABBI judges gave him an 86.5—which was not enough to advance to the short go of ABBI competition. But Lambert was confident in the bull’s ability and Crosswired did not disappoint in the Championship Round. He dumped Caleb Sanderson in 1.5 seconds, ending the Florida cowboy’s hopes for Rookie of the Year honors. Crosswired finished fifth overall in the PBR’s World Champion Bucking Bull race.

“I think it is just amazing that we have an organization like the ABBI who can pay out $250,000 to the winning bull and is able to showcase all of the member’s bulls like this. So a big thanks goes to the ABBI who made this all possible,” concluded Steve.