Rodeo entertainer and his bull booked for Colorama Rodeo

The Colorama Rodeo this year will include a show put on by Jason Dent, also known as Whistle-Nut, and his pet bull that he can ride around like a horse. 

Whistle-Nut is an entertainer, barrel man, clown, and stuntman "all rolled into one," he told The Star over the phone on Monday.

"We're the real deal. ... They can expect to really be wowed," he said about his show that includes comedy, stunts, and personal interaction with the crowd. 

Ole (pronounced OH-lee), now 15 years old, was trained as a 3-year-old, and by the time he was 6 was able to interact with the public across the United States and into Canada, with kids able to feed him and sit on top of him and get their picture taken, Dent says.

Ole is "calm, well mannered," a website for the duo reads.  

"He looks great and acts great," Whistle-Nut said. "It's 100% unbelievable. You really have to experience him for yourself to get the full effect." Dent said there has not once been a negative experience of Ole being around people.

Depending on the circumstances, Whistle-Nut would like to ride Ole in a parade.

The rodeo is gonna be awesome," he said. "I think it's gonna be real good." 

Coming from Humiston, Iowa, near the border of Iowa and Missouri, Whistle-Nut said he has never been to Grand Coulee.

"We have a pretty good hike ahead of us," he said about the coming journey by truck and trailer. 

Ole doesn't mind travelling in it at all, he said, adding that the bull seemed upset not travelling so much last year during the pandemic slowdown.

The Colorama Festival and Rodeo is scheduled for May 7-9.