Uncategorized Archives - Bob Feist Invitational

BFI Top Head and Heel Horses

Horses of the 2023 BFI

Clint Summers’ 11-year-old bay Joe and Logan Medlin’s 7-year-old bay Cantina were named Head and Heel Horse of the BFI, respectively. Powered by Dixon Flowers Rope Horses, the Horse of the BFI winners’ sculptures were created by Steve Miller of Lost Prairie Art & Bronze. The winners also received Dixon Flowers horse blankets, Best Ever Pads and $500.

“Joe always scores and runs super hard, and he worked outstanding today,” said Wrangler National Finals Rodeo switch-ender Summers. “He’s very easy to handle cattle on, and I’m planning to ride him outside this summer. Ever since I started heading, I looked up to Trevor (Brazile). I knew when I started heading that I needed the best head horses. To win this award is a pretty special deal to me.” 

Medlin has a pair of bay aces with stars on their foreheads and snips on their noses. There’s his 2020-21 Heel Horse of the Year, Drago, and then there’s his 2022 Heel Horse of the BFI, Cantina. Medlin bought Cantina, who’s 7 now, from the Tongue River Ranch the end of his 4-year-old year. Cantina looks just enough like Drago that even some of the Top 15 didn’t notice when he subbed him in during last December’s NFR from Round 4 on, when Drago needed to take a break. 

“Cantina’s still a little green, but he’s really stepped up,” Medlin said. “It’s hard to get off of a horse you know so well to get on a green one, but I actually like to jackpot on Cantina better than Drago. Cantina’s answered the call. 

“Cantina winning this award gives me some peace of mind that I’m not crazy. It choked me up a little bit when they called his name. I didn’t expect to win it. I was very proud of Cantina today. It’s kind of cool to know that other people thought he did as good as I did.”

YearRoper NameHorse Name
2012RILEY MINORKETCHUP
BRAD CULPEPPERPREACHER
2013BRANDON BEERSLACEY’S FAST JEWEL
CODY COWDENRATTLER
2014ADAM ROSE
RYAN MOTESCD STARBUCKS
2015ERICH ROGERSBUGS NIGHT ROBBER
CLAY COOPERLB
2016RILEY MINORRK TUFF TRINKET
ZANE BRUCEVALHALLA FOXY SHINER
2017COLEMAN PROCTORLIKE A CAT
BILLIE JACK SAEBENSDOMINO LENA
2018JD YATESBRONZE DUDE
BILLIE JACK SAEBENSJACKS PROBABLY BACK
2019RILEY MINORRK TUFF TRINKET
Lane SigginsAmigos Sonita Last
2020Chris FrancisIma Monty Leo
Trey YatesIn The Nic Of Shine
2021Jake Cooper ClayShining Freckles
Kory KoontzMr JB 0839
2022Jake Cooper ClayStreakin Sun Dew
Joseph HarrisonFreckles Instant Coffee
2023Clint SummersMr Joes Shadow Bar
Logan MedlinTRR Freckles Holidoc

2024 BFI Steer Roping Draw

For the first time in eleven years, a lucrative stand-alone steer roping will be held at the Lazy E Arena, which was built by Ed Gaylord in 1984 specifically to host the PRCA’s National Finals of Steer Roping. 

The best steer ropers in the world, many of whom hail from Oklahoma, will be gunning for Gist buckles, $10,000 cash added by Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, and a custom Veach trophy saddle, thanks to Clark Quarter Horses and Veach Saddlery. A calcutta will be hosted Friday night, April 5, at the Gold Buckle Cantina inside the Lazy E at 7 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased on the day of. $15 per person for kids 10 and under, free of charge.

DrawRoper Name
1NEAL WOOD
2CORD HODGE
3COLT WILLIAMS
4CHANCE KELTON
5MATT DAVIS
6MONTANA PARSONS
7BRADY GARTEN
8THOMAS SMITH
9JOHN WAYNE MCDANIEL
10BLAKE DECKARD
11JAY TEAGUE
12JOBY MOONEY
13ZAC REAM
14DANNY TAYLOR
15KETCH KELTON
16TANNER STEC
17JARETT HOLLIDAY
18TY WILLIAMS
19MIKE WHITE
20MIKE CHASE
21BRYCE DAVIS
22CHAD MATHIS
23LUKE BLANTON
24TY HERD
25TYREL TATON
26MARTIN POINDEXTER
27SETH SCHAFER
28KYLE CAUTHORN
29BOBBY JACKSON
30DEE KYLER
31CONNOR MCNEIL
32CHET HERRIN
33EVAN ALLARD
34GARRETT HALE
35KEO WEAVER
36QUAY HOWARD
37CLAY LONG
38DALTON WALKER
39LOGAN CURRIE
40JESS TIERNEY
41COLE PATTERSON
42DUSTIN BASSETT
43RYAN MILLER
44JACK KINSEY
45SCOTT SNEDECOR
46VIN FISHER
47SID MEYERS
48COY THOMPSON
49ROWDY BOND
50BILLY BUCHANAN
51BILLY GOOD
52COLT BRUEGMAN
53COLEMAN PROCTOR
54ORA TATON
55DAN FISHER
56KIM ZIEGELGRUBER
57STRATTON LOPEZ
58JASON BURSON
59DOUG PHARR
60J TOM FISHER
61JOHN BLAND
62CODY LEE
63TANNER DUWE
64DANE NOYCE
65TREY WALLACE
66TONY REINA
67RYAN LEFEVERE
68SLADE WOOD
69MARK MILNER
70JAKE CLAY
71RYAN WILLBERG
72DAVID WITCHER
73COREY ROSS
74BRANDON REINHART
75JOHN CLARK
76ZAC PARRINGTON
77TYLER HARGRAVE
78KELTON MC MILLEN

BFI Documentary to Air on Cowboy Channel

A brand-new film documenting nearly a half-century of footage and interviews from the Bob Feist Invitational will premiere March 23 and 24 on The Cowboy Channel at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Eastern, respectively.

The documentary, brought to you by Resistol and Ullman Peterson Events, features sit-down interviews with several former BFI champs like Trevor Brazile, Tee Woolman, Dee Pickett and Rich Skelton, along with recent slow-motion footage juxtaposed with vintage audio play-by-play.

“You had to be horseback and you had to handle cattle,” the film captures from Dick Yates, who once entered with Hollywood actor Wilford Brimley’s son. “It put the ‘cowboy’ in roping.”

Many, including Rube Woolsey, credit Rodeo Video for kicking off today’s giant wave of team roping advancement because of the sale of its wildly popular run-by-run “BFI tapes.” Every serious team roper for the past 30 years grew up watching BFI tapes, first on VHS and then DVD and finally downloaded.

“We all wanted to do good there since we were little boys,” said Woolsey, who banked $50,094 in 1995. “And that adds quite a bit of pressure.”

The film was produced by Wildhorse Motion, co-owned by Texas native Tim Endsley, over the past year. Endsley pointed out that, well before cell phones or internet, America knew who won the BFI within a day, somehow.

“I love the segments with Bob [Feist],” said Endsley. “And Dee [Pickett] talked about the fact that team ropers had fewer places to rope as they got better. There were only rodeos, and many rodeos still didn’t have team roping. I was a calf roper and Dee was one of my heroes – in fact, my dad announced the 1984 NFR when he won the world.”

For years, the BFI paid more than a team roper could make at the NFR. And a BFI buckle remains right next to a gold buckle as the holy grail for team ropers. This film nods to the fact that each steer’s tail has to clear the end of the gate – and each roper has to decide whether to go for first or survive another round.

“I loved hearing Brian Burrows talk about winning the third-ever BFI with 17-year-old Allen Bach, and then he quit roping,” said Endsley. “We had to cut so much out, but there are so many great stories. We’re already figuring out what we’ll do in a few years for the 50th anniversary.”

The film will also be shown for viewing in Edmond, Oklahoma, at 5 p.m. on March 29 preceding the BFI Dinner and Calcutta at the Hilton Garden Inn, on the eve of the 47th Annual BFI in Guthrie.

Fresh Corrientes Ready for 47th BFI

Some handy high-numbered snowbirds spent part of February breaking in steers for the 47th Bob Feist Invitational on March 30.

With a cash purse of more than $650,000 and 125 teams accepted this year in Guthrie, Oklahoma, the BFI will again demand strong, even cattle. While it’s usually not the first rodeo for cattle used at other big Open ropings, BFI steers are crossed over the Mexican border and broke in specifically for the BFI.

“As long as steers haven’t had many runs, they’re fairly similar,” said Scott Gage of 3 Point Productions, who with Jeff Smith will bring hundreds of cattle to Wrangler BFI Week for the fourth year in a row. “We pride ourselves on honest steers, and we want great cattle at the BFI.”

Partly because of below-zero temperatures at Gage’s place in Kansas this winter, the steers were trucked to his Phoenix-area home to be broke in during some sunshine. Their protocol is to trail the M branded steers to the stripping chute several times, then lead them around with a rope on their neck once, then on their horns once. Finally, the steers are live-roped three to six times, depending on how they perform.

“We run them however they need, to get them going good,” said Gage. “These sets we broke in this year have been really good. It’ll be a great set for the BFI.”

The duo will sort through and choose the 135 strongest out of 250.  They’ll do that, also, with the hundreds of veteran steers they also bring to Guthrie for the lower-numbered ropings that week. That attention to detail helps make gals pull into Guthrie to try for another thirty-thousand-dollar payday like Lari Dee Guy had in 2021, or teenagers show up to gun for $50,000 cash like what the Hooey Jr. 10.5 champs won last year.  

“All throughout the week, we have guys sitting at the back end watching, and if a steer doesn’t fit, he’s out of there,” said Smith. “Steers cost a lot of money and it’s a lot of work sorting, but If you want them to be good, that’s the way you have to do it.”

2024 Wrangler Bob Feist Invitational presented by Yeti Unofficial Draw

Check out the ’24 BFI day sheet

Bob Feist set this roping up so the fundamentals alone are challenging. That means teams who can outscore and outride the others can win. And THAT means anybody from teenagers to world champs to weekenders with day jobs have a chance. And they’re all entered this year! 

Plenty of former BFI champs are in the mix, like 2018 winners Chris Francis and Cade Passig, and some are teamed with youngsters. Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill are bringing teenagers Nicky Northcott and Tyler Tryan. Then there’s Rich Skelton, who’s got Denton Parish, and Walt Woodard will come tight with Devon McDaniel.

Some fun new teams are on the roster, like Colby Lovell with Dakota Kirchenschlager, or Garrett Tonozzi with Cory Petska. Talented horse trainers Andy Holcomb and Kirby Blankenship have partnered up. And some guys are specially made for this roping, like Andrew Ward who is spinning for world champ Kollin Von Ahn.

We have two females in the mix this year; one is a header this time. Wyoming native Willow Wilson and her husband, Todd, are the 30th team out. Headers Jr Dees and Brock Hanson have switched ends to heel for Braden Pirrung and Thomas Braman, respectively. And the second-to-last header to nod his head was named for this roping. Ketch Kelton will try his luck with Denton Dunning.

DRAWHEADERHEADER SPONSORHEELERHEELER SPONSOR
1ALogan GrahamHope Livestock
T-G Cattle
Douglas HenryHenry Performance Horses
1BCole MorganJustin De La Garza
1Trent CorneliusJC Williams4S Equine Legends of Team Roping
2Jarett FreemanJD HollandRicochet Fuel Distribution
3Mason AppletonD-F Rope HorsesCooper Freeman
4Blake DeckardWestern Solutions Insurance Kd TruckingSawyer BarhamWestern Solutions Insurance KD Trucking
5Dalton TitsworthOutlaw ConstructionDane ReedOutlaw Construction
6Brooks DahozyWrangler
Cactus Ropes
Porter BryantClassic Rope
Zesterra
7Peyton HollidayLandmark GsiTanner BradenLandmark GSI
8Kade SherwoodOrlando JaureguiMJ Rope Horses
9Roan OldfieldSpecialty Components & FastenersJohn HiselGI Ranches
10Wyatt ImusTyler Mcknight
11Ben JordanAction PlumbingScott LuakiJordan River Cattle
12Korbin RiceCustom WeldingLogan Moore
13Brit EllermanTexas Saddlery
Keeter Trucking
Jake South
14Brent MibbMibb ConstructionLane ReevesD-F Rope Horses
15Tee Mc LeodSid Sporer
16Payden EmmettOke Performance HorsesJace DavisCross Dirt Work
17Cole EigurenWash Rack 95 Car WashTyler EigurenWash Rack 95 Car Wash
18Jon PetersonJett Hillman
19Ty ArnoldRyan Motes100X Equine
Seven X Custom Jewelry
20Austin BarstowTop Hand Ropes
JLH Hay Ranch
Jorge Pina Lopez
21Bodie MattsonCody Lansing
22Kreece ThompsonRance Doyal
23Cody ReedLarry & Amy NixonJace Mc DanielTeam Equine Saddle Pads Southern States Metal Supply
24Dawson GrahamDillon Graham
25Peyton WaltersJustin Discount Boots Cactus RopesBrandon GonzalesFlying G Properties LLC Battle Axe Ranch
26Matt GriswellButler Transport & Fuel Rawhide FeedsKory KoontzButler Transport & Fuel Rawhide Feeds
27Jace BlandTyson Thompson
28Brayden SchmidtMichael E Calmelat
29Paul David TierneyLJ YeahquoBlack Wold Performance Horses Stillwater Equine
30Willow WilsonLost Soldier Oil & GasTodd WilsonLost Soldier Oil And Gas
31Zach WoodsGavin Foster
32Ky KrederWrangler
Fast Back Ropes
Tyler ManionLegacy Broker Group
33Wheston JonesMore Gas LLCBlake Barnes4B Construction
34Rhett AndersonJared FillmoreJaney Lous Bakery
35Brandon FarrisFirestone Trucking
BS Cattle
Braden HarmonJohnson & Biscone Firestone Trucking
36Tyler WatersHebert’s Town & County RamBlaine Vick
37Tanner TomlinsonRoper Apparel
Lone Star Ropes
Patrick Smith
38Cyle DenisonDustin DavisRegister Brothers Cattle
39Marcus TheriotCole Curry
40Cole DavisDavis 20 BeefCatcher GaspersonNorth Texas Compression
41Andy Holcomb101 Livestock Supply CoKirby BlankenshipAg Trust Farm Credit
42Dalton TurnerColton JohnsonR.L. Walker Transportation C.E. Barker Ltd
43Bode BaizeCorriente Saddle & Buckle CompanyYork Gill
44Josh TorresCaleb HendrixPeek Brothers Construction
45Jeff FlennikenFay RanchesJake MinorCentral Washington Equine Hospital
46Jake OrmanCorey HendrickWorldwide Employee Housing
47Logan OlsonCody Hintz
48Zane ThompsonBar S Services
Riatta Rentals
Blake WalkerE.S. Walker Construction
49Curry KirchnerJake EdwardsG. Stone Motors
50Jake PancostJunior Zambrano
51Brye CritesPremier Real Estate Group Flying Cow GeneticsTyler WorleyMoore Home & Ranch Realty
52Chet WeitzSergio Gonzales
53Kellan Johnson2D Performance HorsesCarson Johnson2D Performance Horses
54Zach KilgusBlack Star PipeCaleb AndersonDue East Cattle Co Black Star Pipe
55Brenten HallPanola Pipe & SalvageKaden ProfiliPanola Pipe & Salvage
56Casey HicksBubble Springs RanchSteve Orth
57Aaron TsinigineJaylen Eldridge
58Chris FrancisMathews Land & CattleCade PassigMathews Land & Cattle
59Nelson WyattLane Mitchell
60Bobby Joe HillChad Mathes
61Braden PirrungJr DeesPrecision Hydrovac Dees Performance Horses
62Shay CarrollHowards Mechanical IncJace Helton
63Miles BakerTrey JohnsonTrey Johnson Leadership Trey Johnson Ministries
64Lightning AguileraPrimos Feed & Supply Stretch Roping DummyJonathon TorresPrimos Feed & Supply
65Wyatt BrayClassic Ropes Ranch Hand Solar LightingPaden BrayClassic Ropes Ranch Hand Solar Lighting
66Clayton Van AkenCullen TellerBlack Label Services Wrangler
67Kevin WilliamsJake Pianalto
68Kolton SchmidtCVS ControlsLandon GlennE Kelly Cattle Company
69Clint PeverlyLevi Pettigrew
70Justin PruittJS Cattle Co
Cactus Ropes
Luke AtchisonRising Sun Quarter Horses
71Coy BrittainTexas B ExcavationColton BrittainTexas B Excavation
72Joe MacoubrieJeff Bryan Chevrolet Walkers Western StoreKingston ChanKC Cattle Co
73Trevor NowlinJacob Auza
74Justin DavisJust N Case BuildersZane Bruce
75Pedro EgurrolaCasino MorongoJC FlakeCactus Ropes Kimes Ranch
76Bobby MoteReliance RanchesTJ MercerReliance Ranches
77Coleman ProctorLone Star RopesLogan MedlinDepot Farm & Ranch Insurance
78Bubba BuckalooDaniel Braman IV
79Luke BrownTravis GravesCinch Jeans
80Cody SnowBest Ever PadsHunter KochBest Ever Pads
81Cash DutyCactus RopesRoss AshfordAshford Performance Horses
82Jake SmithDouglas Rich
83Ryne HuttonH4 Land & CattleTommy ZunigaH4 Land And Cattle
84Thomas BramanBrock Hanson
85Kevin PoteeteWhitney DeSalvo
86Quinton ParchmanTree Pro Vegetation Mgt Jenkins Perf HorsesGarrett SmithL&P Carpet Franklin Theatre
87Coy RahlmannBillie Jack SaebensD-F Rope Horses
88Jake ClayTrey YatesRolling V Performance Horses
89Dustin EgusquizaLone Star RopesLevi LordCactus Ropes
90Tj WattsStampede ServicesJosh FillmoreRt Performance Horses
91Max KuttlerHowe PrecastCashton WeidenbenerHowe Precast
92Devon McDanielRe Pax LLCWalt WoodardPermian International Auctions Rocker T Cattle Co
93Camden HoeltingJohn Deere
Schaefer Equipment
Dawson McMasterThe Ranch Bar & Grill Praire Land Partners
94Clint SummersJake Long
95Slade WoodGage WilliamsWilliams Cattle Co
RTR Enviromental
96Tanner JamesJS Cattle CoTruman Magnus
97Adam Rose3K9 RanchGralyn ElkinsWalking E Performance Horses
98Kaleb DriggersJunior Nogueira
99Manny EgusquizaEvan ArnoldRumor Has It
100Billy Bob BrownCentramaticJosh PattonWild West Trailers
101Chad MastersWyatt CoxJS Cattle Co
102Corben CulleyPrice Storage Wedgewood RoofingAustin RogersCommercial Construction
103Tyler TryanJade Corkill
104James ArvisoJr GonzalesGamblers Row
105Clay SmithPremier Rope HorsesColeby PayneSteros Services
106Cutter CainHayden Powell
107Garrett TonozziConquer Equine WranglerCory PetskaCinch
108Tyler WadePower Performance Horses EquinetyWesley Thorp
109Derrick BegayYetiColter ToddDynamite Horseman Supply
110Jake CooperChase Graves
111David WalkerDiamond D TruckingAustin Rains
112Michael BellArco Bell HorseshoeingJake CrippsArco Enviromental Cripps Land And Cattle
113Clay TryanNicky Northcott
114Shane PhilippClassic Rope
Philipp Ranch
Joseph HarrisonSmarty Community Coffee
115Riley KittleWill Woodfin
116JC YeahquoGold Buckle ConstructionBuddy HawkinsStretch Roping Dummy’s
Big Bite Dally Wrap
117Andrew WardGreat Plains Construction 3S ServicesKollin Vonahn3S Services
118Jaxon HillCrossroads Cattle Cactus SaddleryJessen JamesCrossroads Cattle Cactus Saddles
119Denton ParishRich SkeltonReliance Ranches
Heel-O-Matic
120Blake HughesLone Star RopesBrady Norman
121Spencer MitchellCasino MorongoTrigger HargroveFirestone Trucking
122Colby LovellDakota Kirchenschlager
123Logan WestcottCasino MorongoWhip PetersonCasino Morongo
124Ketch KeltonKelly’s Reload K2 Cattle And HorsesDenton DunningCasino Morongo
125Erich RogersCasino MorongoPaul Eaves

BFI Producers to Host First Lazy E Steer Roping Since 2013

For the first time in eleven years, a lucrative stand-alone steer roping will be held at the Lazy E Arena, which was built by Ed Gaylord in 1984 specifically to host the PRCA’s National Finals of Steer Roping. 

The sport’s premier Finals was held there for sixteen years, then returned to Guthrie for five more years until support from Boyd Gaming meant it moved it to their property in Kansas in 2014. On the heels of 2024 Wrangler BFI Week presented by Yeti, Ullman Peterson Events will produce a new four-head steer roping on April 6 at 10 a.m.

“Our BFI Week has the Lazy E busting at the seams, it’s grown so much,” said Daren Peterson, who with co-owner Corky Ullman moved the prestigious Bob Feist Invitational and its accompanying team ropings from Reno, Nevada, to Guthrie during the pandemic. “We love the demand, and it made sense to add a weekend to allow for growth and create shorter days during BFI Week. It’s a great opportunity to fill that, now, with the event that is truly showcased in that arena.”

The best steer ropers in the world, many of whom hail from Oklahoma, will be gunning for Gist buckles, $10,000 cash added by Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, and a custom Veach trophy saddle, thanks to Clark Quarter Horses and Veach Saddlery. A calcutta will be hosted Friday night, April 5, at the Gold Buckle Cantina inside the Lazy E at 7 p.m.

The steer roping will follow a new two-day barrel race produced by Wild West Promotions. They are two of several new events recently added inside the world’s largest indoor equestrian arena, which still hosts the Timed Event Championship of the World and now includes the Barrel Futurities of America (BFA) World Championships, the World Championship Junior Rodeo, the Platinum Medal Roping Futurity, and the WCRA’s Stampede at the E.

“We have a number of improvements taking place over the next 12-18 months,” said Lazy E General Manager Dan Wall. “We’re adding some new permanent stalls and a 30,000-square-foot multipurpose building to house trade shows and horse sales, plus we’ll add a new office building for event producers, and a new shower and restroom facility.”

To download entry forms for the steer roping (due March 1) or for more details, visit www.bfiweek.com

High-Stakes Barrel Race on Tap for Wrangler BFI Week

The huge climate-controlled arena with great ground at the Lazy E Ranch will host a brand-new 2D barrel race this spring that’s expected to pay $16,650 to win the average and $7,326 to win a round.

On the heels of 2024 Wrangler BFI Week presented by Yeti, Wild West Promotions will produce the open barrel race on April 4-5, with no memberships required to enter. Ricky Hibbeler is in charge of ground conditions, including a rake after every three runners with a big drag after every 30.

“Our BFI Week has the Lazy E busting at the seams, it’s grown so much,” said Daren Peterson, who with co-owner Corky Ullman moved the prestigious Bob Feist Invitational and its accompanying team ropings from Reno, Nevada, to Guthrie during the pandemic. “We love the demand, and it made sense to add a weekend to allow for growth and create shorter days during BFI Week. It’s a great opportunity to fill that, now, with an event that is truly showcased in that arena.”

Exhibitions will be offered both days from 8 – 11:30 a.m., with the race starting at noon each day (reverse draw the second day). Entry fees are $2,000 with a 92.5 percent payout (40 percent in the rounds and 60 percent in the average of both divisions). Also offered are sidepots for futurity and derby horses, ESA members, and adult, senior and youth riders. Plus, you can enter the Women’s Rodeo World Championships sidepot, which includes nomination.

Pre-entries close on March 29, entering via the NextGen Rodeo app. Late entries are accepted with a $50 late fee, and you can break the fees into weekly or monthly payment plans. To download the free NextGen Rodeo app and get entered, visit EqineSportsAlliance.com.

That Friday night after the barrel race, at 7 p.m. in the Lazy E’s Gold Buckle Cantina, Ullman Peterson Events will host a calcutta for the following day’s $10,000-added open steer roping – the first stand-alone steer roping held there in 11 years.

The barrel race and steer roping are two of several new events recently added inside the world’s largest indoor equestrian arena, which still hosts the Timed Event Championship of the World and now includes the Barrel Futurities of America (BFA) World Championships, the World Championship Junior Rodeo, the Platinum Medal Roping Futurity, and the WCRA’s Stampede at the E.

“We have a number of improvements taking place over the next 12-18 months,” said Lazy E General Manager Dan Wall. “We’re adding some new permanent stalls and a 30,000-square-foot multipurpose building to house trade shows and horse sales, plus we’ll add a new office building for event producers, and a new shower and restroom facility.”

OIL CAPITAL CLASSIC TEAM ROPING SET TO TAKE PLACE DURING BFI WEEK

Produced by Jeff Smith & 3 Point Productions and Ullman-Peterson Events, the inaugural Oil Capital Classic will bring top-tier team roping action to Oklahoma City, while simultaneously bringing the prestigious BFI Week of roping to Guthrie. The Sooner State will welcome roping competitors and fans to a week full of first-class competition. 

Kicking off March 27, 2024, at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds and concluding April 2, the event will feature a wide range of open, numbered, junior, and all-girl ropings. Kicking the week off with a day full of junior ropings, the week will progress into numbered and open ropings, while concluding with an all-girl team roping and breakaway roping. 

Co-producer Scott Gage of 3 Point Productions expressed the group’s anticipation for the upcoming week of roping. 

“We’re excited to be part of the Oil Capital Classic with the awesome folks at Ullman-Peterson Events during the biggest week of team roping. We’ve been supplying cattle for the BFI for years, establishing a solid partnership. This additional joint event is all about stepping up the roping game, giving participants more chances to shine during BFI Week. 3 Point Productions looks forward to another great year with Ullman-Peterson Events.”

The winners of each Oil Capital Classic roping (except the open) will be allowed to enter the 2024 BFI Week ropings in Guthrie with the late entry fee waived. Daren Peterson of Ullman-Peterson Events explained these ropings will provide copious opportunities for ropers and fans alike. 

“We wanted to give the ropers coming to Guthrie for the BFI Week a chance to rope and prepare for a week of legendary payouts and prestigious roping at the Lazy E Arena.” 

– Ullman-Peterson Events–

ABOUT ULLMAN-PETERSON EVENTS:

Home to prestigious events like the Bob Feist Invitational roping week, Ullman-Peterson Events is known for its first-class roping production. Providing high-stakes payout and roping conditions, Ullman-Peterson Events is proud to produce the BFI Week and Oil Capital Classic March 27- April 2, 2024, in Oklahoma. 

47th BFI Set for Easter Weekend in Guthrie

Wrangler BFI Week, which last year paid out a record $3.88 million, is scheduled for March 28 through April 3, 2024, in Guthrie, Oklahoma. It’s anchored by the 47th annual Bob Feist Invitational (BFI) on Saturday, March 30, which alone boasts a $650,000 purse. And this year, producers are adding lucrative barrel racing and steer roping jackpots inside the Lazy E just after BFI Week.

The Hooey Junior 10.5 (capped at 6 heelers) and Hooey Junior Open ropings each get their own day to kick things off March 28-29. Last year, Levi James and Garrett Hughes out-roped nearly 400 teams in the Jr. 10.5 to split a cool $50,000 cash plus huge array of prizes. And on Friday morning, the toughest teenaged ropers in the country – future BFI contestants – will rope under similar conditions to the Open ropers. The Junior Open is followed by the annual four-head 15.5, which last year saw a pair of college boys edge gold-buckle greats like Trevor Brazile and Matt Sherwood to split $60,000 cash and the legendary BFI prizeline.

On Friday night, March 29, Edmond’s Hilton Garden Inn will host the annual BFI Dinner and Calcutta at 6 p.m. Then the 47th BFI kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday morning with its customary long head start and six go-rounds for roughly 125 of the best teams in the world. In 2023, Curry Kirchner and Tyson Thompson bested the NFR crowd from fourth callback to split $160,000 cash. 

The following morning, Easter Sunday, starts with a church service pastored by Trey Johnson complete with a cowboy breakfast and Easter egg hunt. The 12.5 roping starts at 9 a.m. with $10,000 added. It paid out nearly a million dollars last year, including a whopping $200,000 cash to Texans Treyton Peterson and Lance Sippy, who won it from seventh callback.

On April 1, the long-established 11.5 Businessman’s roping offers a 10.5 Incentive that guarantees $7,500 to champs, plus a three-steer consolation round. It will be followed by the 10.5 Over 40 (capped at 6 heelers), with $10,000 added. Last year, Tooter Silver and Cole Mott of Kansas, Oklahoma came tight on that win to split $108,000. The 9.5-Over-40 (capped at 5 heelers) is scheduled for April 2 (it paid the champs $100,000 cash last year), followed by the 8, which offers a 7 Incentive and is pick-or-draw and capped at 4.5 heelers (the Incentive is capped at 4 heelers). 

The All-Girl ropings wrap things up on Wednesday, April 3 (last year, Whitney DeSalvo went home with $14,000 cash and Sarah Angelone with $16,000). The pick-and-draw, enter twice team roping is progressive after two steers with a 9.5 Incentive on three head that pays at least $7,500 to win. Finally, the All-Girl Breakaway contains an 18-and-Under Incentive and starts at 1 p.m. 

Producers of BFI Week (Ullman Peterson Events) planned at press time to also host a big barrel race on April 4-5, and on April 6 they’ll put on the first stand-alone steer roping in over a decade at the Lazy E – with $10,000 added.

Pre-entries for BFI Week need to be postmarked by March 1, 2024, but all ropings except The Feist can also be entered on-site with a $100 late fee per team. To download entries and find more details, visit BFI (bfiweek.com).

Wrangler BFI Week Breaks Records, Pays Out Nearly $4 Million

Wrangler BFI Week, anchored by the 46th annual Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping on April 1, paid out a record $3.88 million to ropers and drew more than 2,000 teams. The event, running March 29 through April 4, was comprised of 13 separate ropings over seven days in Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Lazy E Arena. Aired live on the Wrangler Network, 112,000 viewers at home watched more than 3.3 million minutes of team roping.

On April 2, Treyton Peterson of Plainview, Texas, and Lance Sippy of Canyon, Texas, roped four steers in 30.79 seconds to split a whopping $200,000 cash in the largest-ever 12.5 roping during BFI Week. The pair bested the field of more than 350 teams from seventh callback, including reserve champs Zac Watson and Milton Aguilera by about a tenth of a second over all four steers. The second-place team still earned $160,000 cash, plus Watson also placed sixth with Ben Winters for another $30,000 a man. He took $110,000 back to Burleson, Texas.

“These cattle were great, I thought,” said Sippy, who got back into team roping after a few years away. “I kind of needed to stay out to see that corner and Treyton made it easy. It’s easy for us to rope together.”

The pair practice and work together for Sippy’s business. The heeler gave a special shout-out to horse trainer Jason Thomas, who helped both men improve their roping and horsemanship recently.

On April 3, longtime team ropers and good friends Samuel Livingston of El Paso, Texas and Danny Zuniga of German, Texas, combined to finally win the 11.5 Businessman’s roping and cash checks worth $75,000 apiece.

The pair, who finished two-tenths of a second behind the champs just a year ago for third, had each entered the lucrative 11.5 for about a dozen years in Reno, Nevada. Livingston has previously heeled in the 11.5, but was heading for Zuniga this time – and knew to urge his horse across the pen to keep the steer out in front of Zuniga.

“Danny’s pretty trusty back there,” said Livingston. “There’s some pressure. You don’t want to drop the ball for a guy who catches all the time.”

 
Zuniga, who hat-flogged his horse and did a spin during the victory lap, works cattle and trains rope horses when he’s not roping. Livingston’s career has been in real-estate construction.

“Win or lose, it’s so great to have this opportunity,” said Zuniga. “It’s been fun to watch the event evolve over the years. We are so grateful to finally take home this big win; it’s been a bucket-list thing for us.”

Also on April 3, former top professional steer wrestler-turned construction foreman Tooter Silver of Quitman, Arkansas, hit pay dirt in the 10.5-Over-40 event with electrician Cole Mott of Kansas, Oklahoma, to split $108,000. The pair edged reserve champs Tammy Ellerman and Jim Matlack of Colorado by a whopping five seconds over four rounds to get the win.

On the final day of BFI Week in the 9.5-Over-40, longtime friends Steven Hinson and Tom Bridges of Arkansas said they drew good cattle and, from second callback, made a clean run to edge 165 other teams for the win – and a split of $100,000 cash.

“You don’t get to rope for that kind of money very often,” said Hinson of Jonesboro. “We had to take it one steer at a time and it just worked out for us today. It’s always fun to turn around and see your heeler smiling. This win feels great!”

Also on April 4, Nick McClelland of Roswell, New Mexico and Cody Hill of Tahoka, Texas, out-roped the field in the brand-new 8.5 event to split $45,000 for their time of 43.07 seconds on four steers.  Roping from sixth callback, the crop adjuster and oilfield worker met in a prior Texas roping where they drew each other. McClelland told Hill if he ever wanted to rope somewhere, to call him. Hill called and said, “Let’s go to the BFI.” And their first-ever trip to the Lazy E Arena was worth $24,500 apiece.

In the final roping of the week, neighbors Dustin Shelton and Shawn McCalister of Henrietta, Texas, split $16,000 for winning the average of the first-ever 7 roping. Shelton, who manages wheat-pasture cattle, and McCalister, a former bull rider from Louisiana who made the PBR Finals, only needed to be 17-some seconds to win the roping. They came tight in 7 and change on a great steer to stomp the field by more than 11 seconds on four.

“I always wanted to go to BFI Week when it was in Reno, but the schedule never worked out,” said McCalister. “When it came here, I figured we had to give it a shot.”

McCalister, who always headed until a couple of years ago, heeled on a cow-bred mare that cost him $2,500. With this check, she’s earned $38,000 for him thus far.

“You always dream of coming and doing this, so when you have success here, it kind of makes you tongue-tied,” admitted Shelton, a husband and father of four.