Harrell, Simmes To Serve As Bullfighters At Stampede

Central Montana bullfighter J.D. Harrell returns for the 2024 Wild Horse Stampede on Thursday through Saturday, July 11-13.

Harrell’s career as a bullfighter goes back to his time competing in high school rodeo in Roy, north of Lewistown, where he grew up and still lives. Harrell found that bullfighters were needed at high school rodeos. He would compete in the bullriding event, then go on to protect the other contestants as a bullfighter.

He started his PRCA career nine years ago after working for several stock contractors including Brookman Rodeo, Sankey Rodeo and Gunderson. Harrell was selected by the bull riders as one of the bullfighters to protect them at the 2017 Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals. It was Harrell’s first finals.

He said a few years ago that he learned to fight bulls by what he called “hard knocks.”

When home in Roy, Harrell is a welder and truck driver. He is the son of Dave and Laurie Harrell and brother of Jordan and Justin.

Harrell is being sponsored by Cattlemen’s Cut and Fox Truck & Trailer Sales.

Dakoda Simmes of Sunburst will join Harrell in the arena for the 2024 Wild Horse Stampede rodeo as a bullfighter ready to jump between a cowboy and 1,500 pounds of danger.

This will be Simmes’ fifth appearance at the Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede.

In the blink of an eye, a bull ride can go from good to catastrophic, and it’s the bullfighter’s job to keep their own nerves in check and be ready to save the day.

“Everyone is different. It never really leaves, you always get that sense of nervousness, but if you learn how to control that, then that’s what drives you to do better and go out there and use it as a tool,” Simmes said.

Simmes is a 2009 graduate of North Toole County High School in Sunburst.

“You just got a passion for it and I love what I do and want to do it for as long as I can,” Simmes added.

Simmes is sponsored by Blue Rock Co. and Macon Construction.