Richest-ever 12.5 at BFI Week pays the winners $220,000

Dubbed Million-Dollar Monday, the richest roping of Wrangler BFI Week presented by Yeti on March 30 was the 12.5. It drew just over 400 teams from all over America, and the good steers inside the made-for-steer-roping Lazy E Arena meant the short round so tight that fewer than five seconds separated all 35 teams coming back.

Ricky Mellman and Preston Peay were second callback and needed a 7.9 to go to the lead.

“I wasn’t thinking about winning first; I was just trying not to pressure myself into taking a bad shot,” said Peay, who was riding his cutting-bred mare that John Philipp started for him. “I told himself to think of it like the first round and just make a solid run. When Ricky got such an aggressive start, it gave me a little extra time to kick over the steer.”

They came tight in 7.2 seconds, after which the high team took a no-time. That meant the retiree and the college senior, both from Hempstead, Texas, realized the biggest win of their lives – a pair of whopping paychecks totaling $220,000 plus Cactus saddles, Gist Buckles, Yeti backpacks, Justin boots and Resistol hats.

“This is something special,” said Peay, who had already answered calls from three buddies and his dad on his ride back from the stripping chute. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with all this money! I guess hide it away and save it for something important. But being a college kid with this much money sounds like a bad plan.”

It was sweet redemption for the 22-year-old senior at Sam Houston State University, because he missed for Mellman in last year’s 12.5 short round at BFI Week.

“Last year, I kind of took it away from him,” said Peay, a 7 heeler. “Ricky ropes so solid, and steals the barrier at most of the ropings he goes to. I think he stole the barrier on three of our four steers today.”

The two practice on occasion at Mellman’s place when Peay’s not in Huntsville attending classes.

“The steers were awesome; pretty even all day long,” said Mellman, who borrowed his son’s horse Shef for the big win. “They did a great job putting the steers together and the score was friendly.”

There weren’t many stubbed toes in the finals, which allowed former NFR header Chris Lawson to double-dip and take $37,750 back to Hempstead, as well. And former NFR header Jason Stewart swapped ends to place fourth for a cool $50,000 per man.

After the big win, Peay, an engineering technology major with a minor in agriculture science, had a bit of schoolwork to finish before heading south for a long weekend of jackpotting and rodeoing, plus a college rodeo. He hadn’t even known that his partner was reeling from the death last week of a loved one.

“I had a friend pass away who was like family,” said Mellman. “Her late husband was my best friend in life. I felt like she was watching over me today.”

March 28, 2026 by Julie Mankin