Calling All Kiddos!

Announcing Venom's Eight-Second Dream: A Bull's Journey to Victory

We’ve got a very exciting announcement for the youngest members of Rattler Nation. After months of planning, writing, and perfecting the story, your Ariat Texas Rattlers’ very own self-published, first-of-its-kind children’s book is all wrapped up and ready to go! Venom’s Eight-Second Dream: A Bull’s Journey to Victory launches everywhere today, October 14th, and is available for purchase on our website.

Featuring a fictional version of the Ariat Texas Rattlers’ most recently-adopted live mascot, Venom’s Eight-Second Dream tells the story of a little bucking bull named Venom, who has big dreams of bucking at the PBR Teams Series Championship. With the help of his loving owners and the riders on the Texas Rattlers team, Venom’s dream might just come true! Keep reading for more on the real-life inspiration behind this special story, and what makes it a must-read for Professional Bull Riding fans of all ages.

The idea for Venom’s Eight-Second Dream came about when the team noticed a lack of age-appropriate resources for younger fans of Professional Bull Riding. The PBR is a family-oriented organization to its core, and with many of our riders being fathers themselves, we’ve witnessed first-hand the level of excitement and fun the PBR can bring to kids of all ages. We’ve also witnessed first-hand the large amounts of work, love, and care that go into bull riding behind-the-scenes, outside of the arena dirt. We know that we wouldn’t have a sport without our animal athlete partners, and keeping them healthy and happy well beyond the eight-seconds is of the utmost importance. 

Our hope is that Venom’s Eight-Second Dream can serve as both an entertainment and educational resource to help bring that behind-the-scenes story to life in an accessible and entertaining way. To help bring Venom’s story to even more children, the Ariat Texas Rattlers will be donating 100 copies of Venom’s-Eight-Second-Dream to locations across North Texas throughout the month of October – including over 30 libraries in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

This book was written primarily with the goal of teaching children animal welfare in mind, as well as helping all readers grow in their knowledge and understanding of other aspects of Professional Bull Riding. The book opens with a dedication to all the PBR bucking bulls that help make our sport possible, and even features a glossary of terms in the back to clear up any confusing concepts to unfamiliar audiences. Venom’s Eight-Second Dream is written by Lindsay Keller, and illustrated by Michael Crutchfield. Lindsay Keller is an author who specializes in Western/Agricultural themed children’s literature. Her talent has helped bring Venom’s story to the page in an entertaining fashion that still honors the “agricultural integrity” of the animal he is based upon. 

The Venom in Keller’s story does not talk, but he still has plenty of personality. This is true of real-life Venom as well, who the Rattlers have chosen as our bull mascot for his unique coloring and loving demeanor. The real Venom is owned by Prophet Bucking Bulls out of Irving, Texas. He is six years old, and his father is the legendary bull ‘Showtime.’ Venom does buck in real-life PBR events, but has only paired up with the Rattlers in competition (so far!) on the page.

While the real-life Venom may not be in attendance at the finals this year, the real-life Ariat Texas Rattlers sure will be. The battle for back-to-back world titles kicks off for the Rattlers in Las Vegas this Friday. If you’re planning to join us there, make sure to get your tickets in our fan section. Stop by our booth, too, where Venom’s Eight-Second Dream will be available for purchase. You might even get the chance to meet our other mascot, Fang! 

If a visit to Vegas isn’t in the cards for your family this year, that’s just fine. You and the kiddos can still keep up with the excitement from home, supporting your Ariat Texas Rattlers and the future of Professional Bull Riding by curling up with a copy of Venom’s Eight-Second Dream: A Bull’s Journey to Victory and tuning into Merit+ as the Rattlers ride to victory, all weekend long.

PBR
Ariat Texas Rattlers
Las Vegas
Professional Bull Riding
Venom
Texas Cup
PBR Teams
Children's Book
Animal Welfare
Bucking Bulls
Ready for more?
Join the Snake Pit and become the ultimate Texas bull riding fan! Stay up to date with news, updates, and special promotions only available to fan club members.
Stay In Touch
© 2024 - Ariat Texas Rattlers. All Rights Reserved.