CSI Champions Rodeo School 2023

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If you’ve ever had the desire to learn how to ride bulls or bull fight here’s your opportunity to learn from the top rodeo professionals in the business themselves! Whether you’re a beginner or advanced this is for you! The College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, Idaho is offering an annual CSI Champions Rodeo School on bull riding and bull fighting on February 17-19, 2023. There are limited spots available!

The Bull Riding School is $425.00 but if the full amount is paid upfront, the cost will be $400.00. The cost of Bull Fighting School is $500.00. There is a $200.00 non-refundable deposit. Your deposit guarantees you a spot in the school. All students under the age of 18 (at the time of the school) must have the release signed by a parent or legal guardian and notarized before participation in any CSI Champions Rodeo School event. You don’t have to be enrolled at the College of Southern Idaho to enroll, anyone can enroll. All students must have proof of health insurance. Students will not be able to participate if they do not provide a copy of their health insurance card.

**Pictured: Justin Andrade – Photo Credit: fnyulassy**

Whether you’re signed up for bull fighting school or bull riding school, you’ll learn many different skills. This includes the importance of stretching, exercise, and traveling with the right type of people who have big goals and want to succeed. From there you’ll be on your way to learning more skills from some groundwork and drills that’ll get you on your way to the next level. There will be a live buck out to hone in on your skills. You’ll be able to get on an unlimited amount of bulls for three days and there will be bulls for every skill level. At the end of the program, there will be awards and diploma presentations. The awards include Event Champions, Most Improved Students, and the Cole Hatcher Memorial.

Photo Credit: CSI Rodeo Team

Register

To get a registration form to attend please email Steve Birnie at sbirnie@csi.edu or Kelly Wardell at kwardell@csi.edu. If you have any questions please call Steve at 208-421-0853 or Kelly at 208-309-0916. For more information be sure to visit online at https://foundation.csi.edu/foundation-events/.

**Pictured: Chad Denton – Photo Credit: Andy Watson**

Host Hotels

Below are the two host hotels for the CSI Champions Rodeo School. Make sure to ask for the special, CSI Rodeo Team Rate when making your reservations.

Best Western Twin Falls Hotel
- 1377 Blue Lakes Blvd. N, Twin Falls, ID 83301
- 208-736-8000

Fairfield Inn/Townplace Suites
- 1788 Washington St. N, Twin Falls, ID 83301
- 208-293-4003

Pictured on left: Chad Denton – Photo Credit: Andy Watson – Pictured on right: Justin Andrade – Photo Credit: Copeman

CSI Champions Bull Fighting School

Location: CSI Eldon Evans Expo Center – N College Rd, Twin Falls, ID 83301

Date: February 17-19, 2023

Arrival Time: 8:00 am all three days

Tuition: $500.00

Deposit: $200.00 non-refundable

Photo Credit: CSI Rodeo Team

Instructors: Joe Baumgartner and Kelly Jennings

Joe Baumgartner

Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductee
14 X NFR Bull Fighter
4 X PRCA Bull Fighter of the Year
18 X PBR Finals Bull Fighter

Kelly Jennings

2 X NFR Bull Fighter
14 X Circuit Finals Bull Fighter
3 X Ram Circuit Finals Bull Fighter
3 X Wrangler Tour Finale Bull Fighter

CSI Champions Rodeo School – Bull Riding

Location: CSI Eldon Evans Expo Center – N College Rd, Twin Falls, ID 83301

Date: February 17-19, 2023

Arrival Time: 8:00 am all three days

Tuition: $425.00 unless paid in full upfront, then $400.

Deposit: $200.00 non-refundable

Instructors: Justin Andrade and Chad Denton

Justin Andrade

Bull Riders Only World Champion
Dodge National Circuit Champion
NFR Qualifier

Chad Denton

3 X PBR World Finalist
NFR Qualifier

Aside from the annual CSI Champions Rodeo School, the College of Southern Idaho is a great school that offers an outstanding rodeo program. They offer a beautiful indoor and outdoor arena. There are two top-of-the-line horse boarding facilities and two phenomenal coaches, Kelly Wardell and Steve Birnie. Kelly is the rough stock coach at CSI. He won the National Finals Rodeo in bareback riding, he’s qualified for the NFR several times, and is an excellent athlete in MMA fighting. Steve Birnie is also a coach at CSI and has a background as a renowned cowboy, calf roper, team roper, and bulldogger (steer wrestler). Both instructors do an excellent job and over the years they’ve had many world champions and NFR qualifiers come out of the College of Southern Idaho Rodeo program.

CSI Champions Rodeo School

**Pictured: Left to right, Chad Denton, Justin Andrade, & CSI Rodeo Coach, Kelly Wardell – Photo Credit: CSI Rodeo Team**

Megan deFabry

Howdy, I'm Megan deFabry. I grew up in Reno, Nevada, but since 2017 my heart has called Texas home. I now reside in Austin, Texas since 2020. I'm driven by my faith, cherished relationships with family and friends, and my professional ambitions. I'm passionate about digital marketing and journalism, especially the wide-open spaces of America's Western lifestyle, the grit of agriculture, the excitement of rodeo, and the heart of country music. For nearly a decade, I've been sharing this way of life through storytelling. And like any good cowboy tale, there's a loyal sidekick, my little Dachshund, Frank, who I adopted from a shelter in New Braunfels, Texas, back in 2018. He keeps me grounded, reminding me to chase horizons and savor life's simple joys. I graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Affairs and a minor in Mass Communication. My major taught me to decode consumer behavior, which is crucial for marketing, while my minor sharpened my storytelling skills. Since then, I've spent years mastering SEO and content strategy, staying ahead in a fast-moving field. My work even caught the eye of Cowboy Lifestyle Network's CTO, Irish Padmore, who recognized me for contributing to his research on Consumer Behavior in the Age of AI. Since 2018, I've been honored to work at Cowboy Lifestyle Network. Now as Editor-in-Chief writing, editing, and publishing articles that capture the cowboy spirit, crafting strategies rooted in Western values, and building real client connections. Guided by ethical journalism, I aim to tell stories that resonate and reflect the unsung heroes of the Western spirit.