Country Lifestyles

Bucking Bull Sniper named for fallen Marine, will buck on the fifth KIA anniversary of HD Hogan

Read more about how Sniper the bull got his name. We are forever grateful for our men & women in uniform & we are humbled when we get to share their stories

by
Gretchen Kirchmann
June 22, 2017

Bucking Bull Sniper named for fallen Marine, will buck on fifth Killed in Action date – this Friday June 23rd.

Photo by JR Nichols

Sniper was named in honor of 21-year-old fallen Marine Hunter “HD” Hogan from York, Neb. Hogan was killed in action in Helmand Province, Afghanistan while serving with the 1st BN, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine division on June 23, 2012.
Hogan was a rodeo cowboy himself who turned down a college rodeo scholarship to join the Marines. He competed in all three rough stock events bareback riding, saddle bronc and bull riding.
Patriotism is at the core of each Barnes PRCA Rodeo performance. The late founder Bob Barnes was a US Marine and served in Korea. The Iowa based stock contracting company is known for paying respect to the US Armed Forces during each performance. American Flags flown over the bucking chutes are a signature element at Barnes rodeos across the country.

Photo by Spencer St. Dennis

Marty Barnes, owner of Barnes PRCA Rodeo began bidding on the bull, Sniper, when he realized proceeds were benefiting a scholarship in memory of a fallen Marine. Sniper was part of the livestock auction at the Benny Binion’s World Famous Bucking Horse & Bull Sale held in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Friday June 23, 2017 marks the fifth anniversary of fallen Marine HD Hogan. Hogan’s father Steve said in a telephone conversation, “Gold Star families often refer to the KIA date as the angelversary (angel anniversary) date.” Steve was moved that the bull will be performing on the anniversary date. HD’s great uncle in Grand Rapids, Minnesota is planning to attend the rodeo performance.
Sniper, the black Braham-Cross bred bull will make his fourth Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) appearance at the 63rd Buffalo Championship Rodeo in Minnesota. Sniper is part of the Barnes PRCA Rodeo bull herd that will compete during the rodeo performance on Friday June 23. Sniper’s PRCA record is 2-1 currently. Gumby Wren from Sidney, Iowa made the only qualified ride on Sniper in Merrill, Wis. to date.
For more information www.barnesprcarodeo.com and http://www.circlehdrodeo.org/.
Also, don’t forget to visit Wrangler.com for all the latest and greatest Western apparel.

Gretchen Kirchmann

Gretchen Kirchmann is a veteran journalist covering a variety of events across the country each year. She founded Kirchmann Media Group in 2009 and works as a marketing consultant with a forte for the western lifestyle industry, festivals, fairs and rodeo world. Her work includes 15 national communication awards plus coverage of Nashville's CMT Awards and CMA Fanfest. A favorite assignment was attending the all cast reunion of the Dukes of Hazard in 2006 and 2007 at Dukesfest. In December you will find her covering the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and Miss Rodeo America pageant live from Las Vegas. Her favorite color is orange, favorite song "Rocky Top" and she loves to dance especially clogging.