Sometimes to find something you love to do, you have got to just get your feet wet. That’s what Jimmy Essary has done throughout his life. Jimmy grew up on a small farm in Sommerville, TN. He and his brother grew up doing Junior Rodeos, with Jimmy participating in calf-roping and team roping. When his brother and buddies got involved in bull-riding & rough-stocking, they needed a bullfighter in the ring so they could practice. That’s where Jimmy got started in this high-adrenaline sport.
“I always kinda wanted to be a bull-fighter, but never thought I would actually get in there and do it.” he said. “I drew the short straw when they practiced on who would have to protect and keep them safe.” It only evolved from there. Bullfighting went from a necessity for Jimmy to serious fun in no time. He jumped from protection bullfighting to freestyle and soon he wanted to do it all the time.
Bullfighting doesn’t seem to be a career you can go into without a support system. “Some days are easier than others,” he said of this line of work. “Friends and family are always there if I need something, if I’m having a bad week or something needs done around the house and I’m away at a rodeo. They keep me going.”
When asked how he prepares for an event, he says it’s definitely a lot of cardio, running and agility training in addition to mentally focusing on the next task. “I don’t worry about all the other stuff, because you’ve just gotta stay straight and do your job.” Jimmy doesn’t always run on adrenaline though. His favorite pastimes are raising cattle on the farm and woodworking. The detailed work from building projects and creating wood-burned art pieces are a stark contrast to the life of a bull-fighter. “It’s a great way to get your mind off everything and I didn’t realize how hard it was until I really got started in it and I love it.” Hard work, dedication & excitement is the way of life for Jimmy Essary, so working with Bulls, Bands & Barrels was an easy choice.
He got in with Bulls, Bands & Barrels after he subbed in at an event for a friend. “After that first night, Hunter called me and asked if I wanted to work the series.” he recalled. “As fun as this is, a guy can’t turn that down.” Jimmy speaks highly of Hunter Price, and the entire Bulls, Bands & Barrels crew. “There is such hard work that goes into these shows. They do a jam-up job on production and it’s great to work with people who put so much effort into everything they do.”
The excitement of the shows and the kind of people that put the shows on seem to be what brings everyone, performers and fans alike, back again and again. The performers hear about fans who come back to the shows each year and it gives them a feeling of success. If you ask Jimmy about his favorite event, he’ll tell you it’s the Lexington show.
“There’s always a great band, the crowd is pumped and packed in. The Alltech Arena is bar-none and the atmosphere is amazing. The crowd is above you, it’s just cool.”
Jimmy Essary – BBB Bullfighter
Jimmy does have one primary goal for this season of Bulls, Bands & Barrels and that is to beat Knox Dunn. “He’s a great friend of mine and a heck of a freestyle bullfighter and normally he beats me more than I beat him, so that’s my goal for this season. I want to win against Knox.” How’s that for friendly competition?
If you want to see Jimmy in action, come out to his favorite show in Lexington, Kentucky at Alltech Arena Kentucky Horse Park on February 8th, 2020. “Everyone’s been to a concert or a rodeo, but this is a concert AND an action packet western sports event, and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. This ain’t your grandpappy’s rodeo for sure.”
From the concert, to the bull-riding and bull-fighting, to barrel-racing, Bulls, Bands & Barrels has something for the whole family to enjoy. It’ll be one action-packed night and you don’t want to miss it!!
The BIGGEST party of the winter in coming back to Lexington, KY!! For the 4th year in a row The Bulls, Bands, & Barrels Tour presented by LINE-X Protective Coatings is coming to The Kentucky Horse Park Alltech Arena in beautiful Lexington, KY on February 8, 2020 at 7 PM with Bull Riding, Barrel Racing, FREE STYLE BULLFIGHTS plus Brinson James the entertainer and a concert by Whitey Morgan and the 78’s with Kentucky’s own, The Wooks!!
Gates open at 5:30 with the show starting at 7:00 PM! TICKETS ARE ON SALE now at !!