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What an experience it must be to learn bull riding from professionals, including one who is from the same area you are.

Local legend Shane Proctor is hosting his 11th annual bull and steer riding school at the Nespelem Rodeo Grounds this week, where 44 kids between the ages of 12 and 18 are learning the ropes, literally.

Proctor is a former Grand Coulee resident, Lake Roosevelt High School graduate, and the 2011 National Finals Rodeo World Champion Bull Rider.

Proctor is joined by a number of other accomplished professional bull riders, and together they are showing the young cowboys and cowgirls how to hold the bull rope, what to do if they get stuck in the rope after falling off the bull, how to stay on the bull, the motions to use, and more fundamentals to the daredevil activity.

Pros present at the event include cowboys accomplished in Pro Bull Riding, National Finals Rodeo, and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association: Rosco Jarboe, Garrett Smith, Chase Dougherty, Dalan Duncan, Brady Portenier, and Derek Kolbaba, who was a student at Proctor's school years back, plus more.

"I knew Derek when he was little," Proctor said. "Through this school we've had a national college champ, a national high school champ, a reserve national high school champ, and two guys got on the Built Ford Toughs. I watched a ton of these kids grow up."

"We got a really experienced group of guys here, really fun group of guys," Proctor continued. "We all have different riding style, so the kids can learn something from each of us and apply it to their own style. It means a lot to me that these guys are here to help the youth."

Proctor himself started riding calves at about age five, moved on to steers, and got on his first big bull when he was 15.

"It was this arena right here," Proctor said while standing in the arena at the Nespelem Rodeo Grounds. "It's reminiscing. It's always good to be back, come to the community. Just reminds me why I started riding bulls in the first place."

Proctor hopes to pass on the tradition to the youngsters at the school.

"We'll get to put them to the test the next few days," he said. "I hope they learn life lessons. If they want to keep pursuing the bull-riding dream, then we give them the fundamentals to do it.

"They learn things about themselves and life. We're big on respecting our elders, respecting our heritage. Be excited about where you grew up and where you're from. I take a lot of pride being from here. It's something that these kids should know; they should know the history of what this valley has produced, and so we just want to teach them life lessons about getting knocked down, getting back up. If you want something, you have to work for it, you have to put it all out on the line. Kids are gonna get knocked down; they're gonna get beat up a little bit. They learn that anything worth it, you persevere and never quit. That's kinda the bull rider's atmosphere ... not quitting when it gets tough."

The bulls at the school were provided by the Katich family of Red Knection K Bulls, based out of Keller, as well as Corey and Lange Rodeo Company from Moses Lake, and some more from the Soap Lake area. "Without them, we couldn't do what we do," Proctor said. "Everybody donates their time and so it's a community effort to bring this all together."

Proctor said he will be competing in rodeos in Nevada and Colorado next weekend. "I've been riding bulls and broncs and continuing down the rodeo trail," he said. "We stay busy all throughout the year."

The rodeo school is continuing today (April 3) at the Nespelem Rodeo Grounds starting at 9 a.m.