BELLE — The Belle Ya Ya’s 11th Annual Battle of the Bulls — Bucking For a Cure event will be held two days this year on Sept. 27-28 at the Belle City Park. The two-day program will begin Friday at 8 p.m. with the bull rides and on Saturday at 10 a.m. with the Futurity Bull Competition. There is a cover charge for this event.

Ya Ya’s president and treasurer Cindy Butler said the 2024 event supports local people and has given $275,000 to residents in the Belle-Bland area suffering from chronic illness, requiring frequent therapy-type visits. Most recipients are cancer treatment patients.

“Profits support the Ya Ya’s Community Crisis Fund,” Butler said. “Funds go to help people in our area with diseases such as cancer — through fuel credit for frequent visits. The gas credit is provided to lessen the burden of the devastating disease.”

This is the first year a two-day event is planned.

“This will bring more individuals to our community and some revenue for convenience stores and local eateries,” Butler said.

Concessions will also be available on the grounds with other vendors on-site during both nights. The two-night event will feature professional bull riders from states away.

“We are doing two nights and we have 10 of the top 25 National Federation of Professional Bull Riders (NFPB) Association coming,” Butler said. “They are ranging from Missouri to Wisconsin and beyond.”

Bull riders include:

Dakota Warnken from Wakarusa, Ind., who is sitting in first place again for 2024.

Jake Morinec from Mokena, Ill., sitting in second place in the standings.

Perry Schrock from Mendon, Mich.

Casey Coulter from Missouri who has not missed a single Ya Ya battle of the Bulls and currently has been riding in the PBR circuit.

Jack Gilmore from Ironton, Mo., has been to the Fort Worth Rodeo.

Missouri favorite Matthew Weaver, who just placed at the Tuff Hedeman event.

“What makes this event unique is the atmosphere,” Butler said. “The bull riders will tell you they love this event and the energy it gives them from knowing what this event does for our community. They praise the small town for the hospitality they receive while here. In addition, the “sponsored rides” is something nowhere else does. The Ya Yas seek the rider’s fees from individuals and in return, the bull rider receives a photo and a story of who they are riding in memory or honor of at the event.”

Fireworks will follow the Friday night show.

The Saturday Futurity Bull Competition will feature the young bucking stock as this is a stock contract event — no bull teams this year.

“Basically, it’s a competition where young bulls and cows are judged for their bucking ability,” Butler said. “Genetics and performance are important to the stock contractors who provide bucking stock for events.”

The shows will take place at the completed Belle City Park Arena where the Ya Ya’s recently completed a $120,000 renovation.

The Champion Bull Rider will receive a $6,500 prize.

Bull rides will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday night and Country Line Band will play after at the Belle City Park.

For more information regarding this event, the cover charge, and where the proceeds go, visit Battle of the Bulls Bucking for a Cure and Ya Yas-Belle, Missouri on Facebook. The group also accepts donations.

The Ya Yas hosting the event include Butler, Tess Ridenhour, Frankie Hicks, Sharon Hicks, Michelle Butler, Cindy Dworek, Bev Loughridge, Teresa Hicks, Ashley Harris, Sunshine Shanks, Jacy Duncan, Lainyn Shanks, Sara Parker, Tori Weller, Maddie Compton, Amber Goforth, Krissy Zumsteg, Dawn Lange, Sharon Jeoffroy, Liba Meyer and Pam Karr.

Junior Ya Yas include Raelie Harris, Hadlee Poe, Landry Heitman and Patricia Zumsteg.