Nothin’ But Try Ranch Rides High in Western Oklahoma
Tucked away on the rugged edge of Erick, Oklahoma, just past the pastures and red-dirt crossroads of Beckham County, you’ll find a ranch that’s raising more than just cattle— it’s raising the bar for what it means to live with purpose, grit, and heart.
Welcome to Nothin’ But Try Ranch, where elite bucking bulls are born, bred, and built into champions, and where the legacy of one man’s little brother lives on in every snort of dust, clang of the chute, and roar of a Wednesday night crowd.
BUILT ON BROTHERHOOD Chad Drury didn’t come to Erick looking for attention. In fact, he came for church.
After a successful business career and a rodeo past that stretched from South Dakota to the pro bull riding circuit, Chad moved to western Oklahoma to attend Trinity Fellowship Church in Sayre. He didn’t know exactly what was next. He just knew he wanted to live a life that felt grounded and real.
“I’d bought a place in Southeast Oklahoma originally, more or less for the tax write-off,” Chad said. “But when my little brother Shane passed, everything shifted.”
Shane Drury was a professional bull rider who made it to the National Finals Rodeo in 2000. But when a back injury led to a cancer diagnosis, his life—and Chad’s—changed forever. Shane passed away in 2006, but his grit and perseverance live on.
“He held on as long as he possibly could,” Chad said. “Everybody that knew him said the same thing: he had nothin’ but try.”
That motto now graces arena gates, stickers, social media pages, and the hearts of a family determined to do things the right way.
ELITE BULLS, FAMILY RUN Nothin’ But Try Ranch isn’t a big-money bull operation with endless employees. It’s Chad, his wife Jenny (the Beckham County Treasurer), and their daughter Addie— who flanked her first bucking bull at the PBR World Finals when she was just 12.
Hard Labor, a bottle calf Addie raised by hand, changed everything. What started as a cuddly calf named after a Johnny Cash song turned into a 1,600-pound wrecking ball with feelings— and a fan club.
Not only did he become a top-five performer in futurity competitions, but he also earned a spot at the PBR Finals. When the spotlight hit Fort Worth, it was Addie who stepped into the arena to flank him.
“That’s a memory I’ll never forget,” Chad said. “She had tears in her eyes. It was pure joy.”
Since then, Addie has been all in—homeschooling to stay on the road with her family and traveling coast to coast hauling bulls to major events. “She’s got more knowledge about bucking bulls than most grown men I know,” Chad added.
NOTABLE BULLS OF NOTHIN’ BUT TRY The Drurys raise every bull they haul, a rarity in an industry where stock contractors often buy their way into the finals. And their bulls don’t just show up—they compete with the best of the best.
• Hard Labor – Raised by Addie, this bottle calf-turnedbeast became a fan favorite. He was flanked by Addie at age 12 at the PBR World Finals in Fort Worth.
• Blown Away – A top-tier performer with three consecutive PBR World Finals appearances (2021–2023).
• House Mouse – Competed at the 2021 PBR Finals in Las Vegas; known for his toughness and athleticism.
• Mercy – Selected for the 2024 PBR Finals in Fort Worth; a short-round caliber bull.
• Triple Aught – Made multiple Finals appearances; a testament to the ranch’s consistency.
• Watch Out and Haymaker – Both earned spots at the 2024 World Finals, showing the depth of NBT’s bull pen.
• In My Blood – Another promising young bull who earned his place among the sport’s elite.
BULL RIDES AND BLESSINGS
NBT’s summer Wednesday night jackpots are legendary. Held in an 80-by-60-foot arena with a church service beforehand, these free-to-thepublic events feature national- level stock and some of the sport’s brightest rising stars.
“There’s no entry fee for the riders,” Chad said. “And we’re still adding ten thousand dollars to the pot.” Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday night— unless you’re the guy getting launched out of his jeans in front of your high school crush.
The bulls compete too— through ABBI-sanctioned events with entry fees and scoring systems based on athletic performance. Some of the same bulls who’ve performed at the PBR World Finals buck under the Oklahoma stars while their riders pray, then ride.
Top-tier bullfighters, announcers, and even PBR coaches make the trek to Erick, sometimes bringing world-class riders with them. “One of the guys who bucked here was PBR World Champion the very next year,” Chad said.
THE SOUL OF THE SPORT
Despite the national stage, there’s nothing glitzy about hauling bulls in 40-foot trailers through snowstorms and California traffic. The Drurys sleep in trucks, prep their own feed blends, and load and unload the bulls themselves.
“It’s exhausting,” Chad admitted. “But when you look up at that massive screen in Cowboys Stadium and see your bull bucking on it—it makes it all worth it.”
There are no employees. Just the three of them—and a whole lot of purpose.
WHAT’S NEXT
NBT Ranch is headed back to the PBR World Finals in Fort Worth this May. They’ve got multiple bulls in tow, a reputation for quality, and a small-town arena that trains champions.
“Every year, we try to get more bulls to the finals than the year before,” Chad said. “And we don’t haul bulls we didn’t raise.”
Addie’s eye for genetics and training continues to push their program forward. And while Chad admits he still wishes Shane were by his side, he says the faith and love of his family keep him grounded.
For event updates and photos of bulls, bottle calves, and arena moments, visit @ NothingButTryRanch on Instagram or Nothing But Try Ranch and Event Center on Facebook.
Because in Erick, Oklahoma, this isn’t just about bulls.
It’s about trying. About holding on. And about never letting go.
