story by Lily Weinacht
Bullfighter and rodeo clown Jason “BuckShot” Bergey stepped foot in the arena for the first time two-and-a-half years ago. Not one to do things by halves, the 35-year-old from Green Lane, Pennsylvania, spent his first days in an arena in April of 2017 learning to fight bulls, and two months later, he landed his first bullfighting job for Dave Martin.
“Me and my dad used to joke around about trying bullfighting all the time. I signed up for a bullfighting school, and two weeks before the school, he passed away, so I made it a dream and a passion for both of us,” says Jason. “That was a brand new world. Other than going to the rodeo with my family, that bullfighting school was the first time I stepped in front of a bull. I raced motocross for 12 years, so I got the adrenaline rush. I traveled to their nationals and then I worked a full-time job driving tractor trailers and dump trucks. Rodeo is like the racing culture,” he adds. “Everyone treats everyone like family, and Shawn Zrowka is my boss and I look to him as a brother. We all look out for each other in and out of the arena.”
Jason met Shawn Zrowka, owner of Rafter Z Rodeo Company, two years ago when he learned the rodeo company was hosting a bull riding school. “I asked to come out and step in front of a few of his bulls, and it went from there. I also fought for Shawn Graham of Painted Pony, but Rafter Z is my main company,” says Jason, who also transports and cares for Rafter Z’s livestock. “I’ll probably do about 50 shows this year. This year we went to the APRA, and we do IBR and IPRA.”
Along with being an all-around hand behind the scenes, Jason found his niche in the limelight when Shawn encouraged him to try rodeo clowning. “I’m a new-school guy, but I also like to bring the old-school stuff back to the new era. The new-school stuff might be about a new challenge on Facebook, and some of the old-school stuff might be about Roman riding. I like to dance so that’s also what I bring in. A guy I’ve looked up to and watched for years is Keith Isley—he’s one of the best in the business I think—and I watched Flint Rasmussen at the PBR.”
Jason has learned to blend his roles, from reading the crowd as a clown to reading the bulls as a bullfighter. And while he says the job has its stressful moments, he’s usually calm but ready to spring into action. “Shawn Zrowka says he’s never seen a guy who can outrun a bull flat-footed, and I’ve done it multiple times,” Jason says with a laugh. “My thing is putting on a good show. It’s about reading your bulls and reading your riders, and working with other bullfighters. Clowning wise, you’re keeping up with what’s good and new and funny. I talk to a lot of different clowns and we swap ideas back and forth. One idea might not work for one guy but it works for another. We try to stick together.”
While Jason is his own traveling partner down the road, his family is very supportive, coming to watch all the local shows he’s working. “When I’m not working, I try to go home and spend time with family and friends, and I’ll take my side-by-side (ATV) out and go trail riding,” says Jason. “I want to thank my family and friends and the people in the rodeo world that help me. Shawn Zrowka is a big part of this. He’s pushed me a lot and makes me strive for more and more,” he finishes. “I’d like to work the APRA Finals and do a couple of PBRs, and basically get to the big shows—that’s what I want to strive for.”
