Dustin White
Editor

Chad Berger has become a household name; at least in the realm of bull riding. In Mandan and the surrounding area, he is a man who is known as being gracious, and willing to help wherever he can. However, he is quick to admit that without family, he wouldn’t be where he is today. 

Born at the Mandan Hospital, Berger formed a deep bond with the area early on. 

“We lived in Mandan, but had a ranch and feedlot that we went to everyday,” Berger said. 

It would be out on that ranch that Berger began learning the skills that would propel him onto a national stage. His teacher in all of this; his father, Joe Berger.

“My dad was a cattle buyer,” Berger said. “He taught me and my brother (Fred) everything he knew.”



While learning about the family business, Berger also began developing a passion that would last a lifetime. 

Bucking bulls
Engrossed in ranching, Berger and his brother soon got involved with the rodeo. 

“Dad did a bit of everything, from bull riding and bronc riding to roping,” John Berger, Chad’s son, said. 

Supporting his sons, Joe began buying bulls for them to practice on. By the mid 1960s, he would have enough to begin to supply small events. From there, the business took off. 

Joe didn’t stop at just purchasing bulls though. Breeding and raising some of his own, Joe would eventually have some of the best bulls in the world, including the legendary Little Yellow Jacket. 

Amassing decades of knowledge, which he would pass on to his children, Joe was able enjoy a successful run in the arena.

“When bull riding really became popular, he already had thirty some years into it,” Berger said. 

By the late 1980s though, Berger was beginning to finish his career as a rodeo athlete. In 1987, he retired from being in the ring. While he was still young, having a family, and knowing that if he got injured, it would be hard to support them, caused him to choose a different path.

“It’s a young man’s game,” Berger said. “By their early 30s, their career begins going the other way.”

Bred into it
While Berger would step out of the ring, he didn’t go far. First starting out as a hobby, his bucking bulls would soon expand to reach across the country. 

However, with Chad Berger Bucking Bulls, officially established in 2003, taking off, Berger’s career focused more on the beef cattle business. 

Running beef cattle all over the United States, Berger says that he spends much of his time as a buyer. It is through this work that Berger is able to support his passion. 

“It takes a lot of money to raise and care for these bulls,” Berger said. “I’d probably starve if that was all I had. But this is my passion, and my get away.”



The two areas of his life often meld though, with Berger using his knowledge of cattle to complement the bucking-bull business. Using what he has learned, much of which he credits to his father, Berger has been able to also breed some of the top animal athletes in the world.

“My father was a great teacher,” Berger said. 

With the bucking-bull business taking off, it appeared as if it was inevitable that Berger would go along that path. Much like the bulls that his father first raised, and that he continued, it was in his blood. 

“It’s kind of like these bulls, it’s bred into me,” Berger said. “It’s something I’ve always loved.”

Using the study of genetics to help breed superb athletes, many of the bulls that Berger has are the product of generations of bucking bulls, with many being sons and grandson of Little Yellow Jacket. But there is more to a good bucking bull than just the father.

“You have to have a good female,” Berger said. “I believe that the female is often more important than the bull in breeding.”

With that understanding, as well as always looking to acquire new top bulls, Berger has been able to become a leading stock contractor. 

Standing out
Berger’s passion for the sport has not gone unnoticed. While he provides some of the greatest bulls in the world, his work goes beyond that. 

Part of what has made Berger stand out is the relationships he has formed. One bond that stands out is with Cooper Tires. 

What first began as a friendship, turned into a long lasting sponsorship. While Cooper Tires has sponsored a number of athletes, Berger would be the first stock contractor to gain that unique honor.

“No other contractor has a sponsor that big,” Berger said. “I’ve been with them longer than anyone else.”

Berger has also formed a friendship with many of the bull riders, often going out of the way to build up those relations. 

Those relationships have led many to be ecstatic with seeing Berger rack up numerous awards, including six Stock Contractor of the Year awards. For 2016, Berger once again was honored with the award, for the third year in a row.

“Winning has been a highlight of my career,” Berger said. “What’s most exciting is sharing it with family and friends. It has taken the whole family, and hired hands, to get this far.”

Knowing that he has to continue to go up against the top guys, Berger is always looking to have a better, stronger bull than the average Joe. 

That drive has provided Berger with some unique opportunities. With around 200 bulls in his care, Berger is able to put on events few else could manage. One is the annual PBR Bull Riding Challenge, which is hosted in Bismarck.

“For an event that level, most would have to bring in several contractors,” Berger said.

Berger’s Bulls
While Berger has received some much deserved recognition for his work, he has remained quite humble in light of the fame. He is quick to give credit to his bulls. 

Spending a bit of time at the Berger ranch, it becomes very clear that his bulls are truly cared about. At home, they take on a whole new light. 



“They are very docile,” John said. “They are calm when they are in their element.”

The bulls are so calm that one can move freely in many of the pens with little worry. With one bull in particular, Beaver Creek Beau, a son of Bodacious, who was often referred to as the “world’s most dangerous bull,” Berger said it was possible to go and actually sit on him. 

As with any athlete, Berger’s bulls do get a good deal of rest and relaxation after a performance. Intent on keeping his bulls in excellent health, Berger spends a good deal of resources providing for his athletes. 

“They have the best of life out here,” Berger said.

Having the possibility of living up to 20 years, Berger’s bulls also get the chance to retire.

“We will retire a bull to pasture at around nine or 10 years of age,” John said. “It used to be that some would buck their bulls until they were in their teens, but we value them too much to push them for that long.”

Mandan Rodeo
With all of the accolades that Berger and his bulls have acquired, one of his crowning achievements has been being the stock contractor of the Mandan Rodeo. 

“It was my dream to have the Mandan Rodeo,” Berger said.

Part of the reason it has meant so much to Berger is that the Mandan Rodeo has been part of his life since he was little. Two important figures in his life have also had it in the past.

J.C. Stevenson, Joe’s partner, and the man who helped get Berger into rodeo, was the stock contractor in the 1960s and 70s. Joe would also serve as the stock contractor during those years. 

“This means as much to me as being the stock contractor of the year,” Berger said. 

Continuing a long tradition in Mandan, Berger has given the city some positive light, something the community can be proud of.