After attending the Bothwell bullfighting school in 2023, where he was again the only participant, Schweigert is gaining confidence and starting to work bigger rodeos. He regularly deals with 2,000-pound animals full of snarl and rage and amidst that ferocity Schweigert says he tries to remain calm. 

“Bullfighting is kinda my safe place even though it's not safe at all,” he said. “All I know is my buddy isn’t going to get hit although I might. There is this feeling when you see that rider coming off and you step in and touch the bull and make him look you in the eye. That’s a whole different feeling and it’s peaceful and there really are no words to describe that moment.” 

Schweigert’s rodeo career and now bullfighting career have been filled with some bumps in the road. Those that follow the bullfighter know about the grease paint on his face and he refers to himself as the ‘Crying Clown’. 

The grease paint on his face that Schweigert refers to as the crying clown helps this young man talk about the feelings of losing his uncle to suicide - Courtesy Photo

“Four years ago in July my uncle Brian committed suicide,” Schweigert said. “He was a really big influence in my life and taught me a lot of life skills like always working hard.”

The loss of his uncle hit the young man like a ton of bricks and Schweigert said he turned to alcohol and drugs to deal with feelings he couldn’t share with anyone. 

“When Brian passed away I could not talk about it,” he said. “I’d always been taught to take it like a man. The whole thing was degrading me and that’s when I started with the grease paint.” 

Schweigert talks about the yellow feather that is passed around the rodeo community to denote suicide prevention and now lives by the motto that ‘It’s ok not to be ok’. 

As Schweigert travels the upper midwest where he’s worked in Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming he’s open to sharing his experience and talking with others about those feelings he could not talk about.

Along the way he’s honing his craft and looking for ways to get better. 

“I know the bull riders and they are friends,” he said. “You get a feel for them. You can kinda look for stuff and react a certain way if a kid is going to make a move that I’m aware of.” 

Occasionally Schweigert says he still feels the wrath of the bull but he says he wouldn’t trade his bullfighting career for any other. 

“Bullfighters and pick-up men are the same,” he said. “We enjoy keeping people safe and these are the two best jobs you could ever have.” 

In only his second year as a bullfighter Schweigert is getting better and loving his job - Courtesy Photo