Bernis Johnson

Born in Cleburne, Bernis Johnson’s life has revolved around rodeo, joining the RCA in 1947 and developing into a three-event contestant. During the 1960’s, Johnson qualified for the National Finals Rodeo six times and ranked as high as third in the PRCA All Around. He left the arena as a contestant in the late 1960’s and formed B-J Bucking Stock, working with Steve Murrin and P.K. Thomas in bringing rodeo back to the Fort Worth Stockyards. After purchasing Hoss Inman’s Flying I bucking stock in 1977, Johnson produced rodeos in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming, For twenty years, outstanding B.J. bucking stock were recognized at the Texas Circuit and the National Finals, with Skoal “Sippin Velvet” a 5-time champion Bareback Horse of the Year and 6-time top Bareback Horse of the National Finals and Texas Circuit Finals. Johnson’s Skoal “Sippin Velvet” was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2000. Johnson was also instrumental in bringing the All Girls Rodeo and the WPRA Finals to the Cowtown Coliseum. In January 2002 Johnson sold B.J. stock to Double J Rodeo of Webster, MN, ending a rodeo career that spanned fifty years.