Myakka City's Dakin Dairy Farms is best known for its milk-producing cows, but on April 19, bucking bulls were the main draw.
The dairy farm hosted an Elite Bullriders Association rodeo event — the Dakin Bull Bash — that included mutton busting, bull riding and barrel racing competitions.
Mutton busting kicked off the evening's events. One by one, kids ages 4-7 entered the arena hanging onto the back of a sheep.
Some of the kids were bucked off the minute the gate opened; others hung on so tight they had to be peeled off the sheep by an adult.
When the bulls entered the arena, the audience was asked to step two feet back in case one rammed the fence or kicked a hoof through the bars.
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One bull was so riled up, he tried to jump out of the stall into the arena before the rider could mount him, and several others bucked their riders off well before the eight second mark.
The action-packed event attracted hundreds of people. The rodeo didn't start until 7 p.m., but the gates opened at 4 p.m.
Easter eggs were shot out of the pumpkin shooter. A kids' zone was set up with slides and bounce houses. Food trucks and vendors had their own area outside of the arena.
"This is great," Myakka City resident Jolene Darbonne said. "I love supporting local (businesses), and Dakin Dairy is Myakka."
Arcadia's Whitley Stewart earns a high score for staying on the bull so long during the Dakin Bull Bash April 19 in Myakka City.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Bradenton's Mickey Wilson-Skarr and Northern Ireland's Dee Carr, Maureen McEvoy and Lacey-Lou McEvoy attend the Dakin Bull Bash. Carr has a second home in Bradenton. The hats are from Wilson-Skarr's wardrobe.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Lakewood Ranch's 7-year-old Olivia Johnson tears down a turf hill on a tricycle in games that were part of the Dakin Bull Bash.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Bales of hay stop 7-year-old Olivia Johnson at the bottom of the hill.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Venice's 4-year-old Alexander Langer exits the slide smiling, despite his hesitancy to enter the dark tunnel at the top of the hill.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The kids play like hamsters running in wheels.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The little cowboys have plenty of partners to play with before the bull riding begins.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Food trucks and vendors set up outside of the arena.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Hundreds attend the Dakin Bull Bash April 19 in Myakka City.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Myakka City's Jolene Darbonne and 11-year-old Jayne Pecora have never been to a rodeo before and are happy to attend one so close to home.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Commissioner George Kruse and his wife Jessica Kruse attend the Bull Dash April 19 at Dakin Dairy.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Wayne Dakin does the family name proud as he hangs on to a sheep during the mutton busting competition of the Dakin Bull Bash.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The American flag flies on horseback during the National Anthem at the Dakin Bull Bash.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
A bull has to be roped because he doesn't want to leave the arena.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Nicky Dyer gets thrown off a bull during the Dakin Bull Bash.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Eli Mosley jumps up on the fence to get away from the bucking bull in the arena during the Dakin Bull Bash.
Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.
