Milk River bull rider part of weekend PBR
Dayton Johnston of Milk River will compete in Professional Bull Riding’s Canada (PBR) Canada’s premier Monster Energy Tour at 7 p.m. on March 1 and 2 at Lethbridge’s ENMAX Centre.
The Monster Energy Tour is the top tour in Canada and says events feature the top bull riders in the Canadian standings at the time of entry.
Johnston, who is currently ranked No. 10 in the PBR Canada national standings, is 22 years old and works at his family ranch or working out when he is not engaging in professional bull-riding.
“My family is behind me 100% and they have been since I started,” Johnston explains.
“That’s how I started, with my dad, and they have been behind me ever since. It means a lot to them, they want me to succeed as much as I do.”
Johnston says he started riding calves when he was approximately eight years old.
At the tender age of nine or 10, Johnston began rodeoing and riding steers and has wanted to be a professional bull rider ever since.
“I have always wanted to do it, the adrenaline is most appealing,” Johnston says. “It’s the wildest job you could ever have. Nothing feels better when you ride a 1,500-pound bull, you feel like you’re on top of the world.”
In 2017, Johnston made his professional bull-riding debut at the Canadian Touring Pro Division stop in Lethbridge, but didn’t make the eight inside. At his next event in Teepee Creek, however, Johnston won a flawless 2-for-2.
The second event win of Johnston’s career came in 2018 at the Touring Pro Division in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. In just his third season of professional bull-riding, Johnston finished 11th nationwide.
Johnston is currently ranked No. 10 in the national standings, notably finishing fifth at the Canadian Monster Energy Tour season-launch event in Winnipeg. Johnston also finished 17thon the Velocity Tour in Reno, Nevada.
“I enjoy being part of the Monster Energy Tour because it has at least an extra $10,000 added compared to a Touring Pro Division event,” Johnston says. “The points are also a big plus, as it’s set up like a Velocity Tour and helps me in trying to get to the big stage down south.”