Professional bull riders and underground utility contractors — it’s basically the same job. Both occupations demand nerves of steel (figuratively, well, then literally). Both pros ride powerful, potentially dangerous equipment. One involves a bull, and the other maybe a horizontal directional drill. And both require serious preparation, training, and muscle memory to perform under pressure in front of crowds. So, it only makes sense that Ditch Witch and the Oklahoma Wildcatters, a Professional Bull Riders Teams franchise based in Oklahoma City, would team up to ride bulls and install utilities. A recent agreement links these two Sooner State organizations. From this press release:

“Ditch Witch represents many of the same qualities our team and fans value,” said Brandon Bates, CEO, Oklahoma Wildcatters. “This partnership brings together two organizations connected by resilience, earned trust, and the ability to deliver in demanding situations. There is a natural authenticity between the people who support this sport and the people who keep critical infrastructure projects moving every day.”

Built in Oklahoma

Ditch Witch has operated from Perry, Oklahoma, for more than 75 years, while the Wildcatters represent Oklahoma City in PBR’s team-based competition. Ditch Witch branding will appear throughout the Wildcatters season, supported by fan engagement activities and promotional initiatives during the year, including Wildcatter Days, held July 31 through August 2 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Tickets can be purchased at pbr.com or thewildcatters.com. Ditch Witch remains one of the most recognizable names in underground construction. The company essentially created the underground utility equipment category. I mean, they invented the pedestrian trencher. Today, Ditch Witch offers a broad underground portfolio that includes:

Horizontal directional drills

HDD tooling and drill pipe

Vacuum excavators

Trenchers

Vibratory plows

Underground locating equipment

Fluid recycling systems

Stand-on skid steers

Underground electronics and monitoring solutions

Cool telematics systems (see below)

The manufacturer supports those products through a dealer network that spans more than 175 locations worldwide.

Where Ditch Witch technology is headed next

Since we’re here, fleet managers interested in the future of underground construction should check out our recent video focused on Ditch Witch’s Orange Intel platform. We caught up with Cory Maker at Conexpo 2026 to see how Orange Intel connects drills, locating equipment, fluid systems, mapping tools, and jobsite reporting into a single digital ecosystem. The platform goes well beyond traditional telematics. It combines machine monitoring, regulatory reporting, historical bore, and more data into one interface. Orange Intel highlights a bigger trend happening across construction. Data is becoming just as valuable as equipment. Watch the video above. Then subscribe to our YouTube channel.