Junior BFI to offer byes into Jr. World Finals

For the second straight year in Reno, Nevada, on June 22, team ropers under 18 years old will compete during Wrangler BFI Week presented by Yeti, in the same arena as the pros. The kids’ version of the Bob Feist Invitational (BFI) happens just two days prior to the world’s richest professional team roping. But at this year’s Hooey Jr. BFI Championships, a top-five finish guarantees a berth at the 2019 Jr. World Finals Rodeo (formerly Jr. NFR) in Las Vegas in December. Instead of hauling around the country chasing points toward qualifications to Las Vegas, youth ropers can now ...Read More

Wrangler BFI Week announces 2019 changes

Organizers revamp #11 with lower fees, add #9 Over-40 and change All-Girl format. When Perry Di Loretto founded the world’s first million-dollar #11 roping in Reno, Nevada, in 1996, it kicked off a legacy of giving back to the host community. Corky Ullman and Daren Peterson, who bought the roping in 2015, are keeping to tradition. Over the past few years, organizers have auctioned valuable items to raise more than $30,000 for Warriors and Rodeo and $15,000 for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. A local charity will benefit in 2019 – Pinocchio’s Moms on the Run. The Reno non-profit provides ...Read More

Unfamiliar sight in Reno

“I figured, I’ve watched the best guys in the world throw it in the dirt here, so if I go throw it in the dirt I won’t be much different,” chuckled Daniel Green, recalling how nervous he was to heel for the first time at the BFI, which he considers “the daddy of ’em all” in terms of team roping. The guy is only 46 but earned a million dollars with his head rope and turned steers at 10 straight NFRs before hanging it up 14 years ago. Still, he has always known how to heel. “I come from a ...Read More

Guy wins $25,500 at Charlie 1 Horse Roping

  RENO, Nev. (June 21, 2018) – Lari Dee Guy left no doubt about why she’s the winningest female roper of all time on Thursday during BFI Week in Reno. The horse trainer and roping clinician from Abilene, Texas, won first and second in the Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl Challenge Team Roping. She took home a total of $25,500, along with multiple saddles, buckles, spurs and the custom Montana Silversmiths bronze awarding her mare, Sabrina, as the best head horse of the roping. “This is the one all-girl team roping I have never won,” said the seven-time WPRA world champion. “I’ve won the ...Read More

Smith and Johnson win $16K, first-ever Hooey Junior BFI

Smith and Johnson win $16K, first-ever Hooey Junior BFI Stewart and Schmidt take #10 championship, $15K RENO, Nev. (June 22, 2018) – The youngest brother of world No. 1 header Clay Smith joined forces with the middle son of world champion heeler Jhett Johnson on June 20 to win the first-ever Open Hooey Junior BFI Championships in Reno by three full seconds. The inaugural youth event was patterned after the 41st Bob Feist Invitational, held just two days earlier in conjunction with the $500,000 Reno Rodeo, and was formatted to also be a Junior NFR Qualifier with extra points. To ...Read More

Northwest ropers win $60K in High Desert Showdown

RENO, Nev. (June 20, 2018) – A high school history teacher and truck driver came tight on the biggest win of their long competitive careers Wednesday during the second annual #12 High Desert Showdown. With a purse of almost a quarter-million dollars, the high-stakes amateur roping is part of Wrangler BFI Week in Reno, held in conjunction with the $500,000 Reno Rodeo. Oregon native Molly Hepper, classified as a #5, and Nevada native Marlow Eldridge, a 7-Elite, have been friends since their high-school rodeo days. The third-high team back in the finals of the roping, they posted a smooth 9.42-second run and ...Read More

Former Super Bowl champ, partner win $95,000 roping

Former Super Bowl champ, partner win $95,000 roping Bear Pascoe and Steve Simons win the Reno Million during Wrangler BFI Week.   RENO, Nev. (June 19, 2018) – A retired NFL tight end and a cattle contractor – both recreational team ropers – raked in $95,220 with their ropes on Tuesday at the 22nd edition of the #11 Reno (Nevada) Million. Californians Bear Pascoe of Morro Bay and Steve Simons of Sanger roped four steers in 34.21 seconds to win the event and $47,610 total per man. They needed only a 10-second run to clinch the win, but finished in 8.8 seconds. “I was just ...Read More

Francis and Passig win BFI, $122K in Reno

RENO, Nev. (June 18, 2018) – After the fourth steer of a heated battle during one of the toughest BFI ropings in history, Kaleb Driggers rode up to Chris Francis and told him, “Finish what you started.” Francis, 40, and his 24-year-old heeler Cade Passig had just moved to the lead in a roping so competitive that a time of 25 seconds on three wasn’t even among the top 15 fastest. And the round had just been won by Max Kutler and Brandon Bates’ time of 4.27 seconds – just six-hundredths off the five-year-old fast-time record. The Bob Feist Invitational ...Read More

Wrangler Network Live Streams Bob Feist InvitationalWeek

WHO: WranglerNetwork.com, the preeminent mobile and online destination for fans interested in free content relevant to the western, rodeo and country music lifestyle, will live stream exclusive video coverage of the Bob Feist Invitational (BFI) Week.   WHAT: The BFI is celebrating 41 years of team roping excellence on June 18th, 2018 during the Wildest, Richest, Rodeo in the West in Reno, Nevada. The BFI, commonly known as “The Feist,” is the largest one day open roping in the country. One hundred of the best teams in the country battle it out over five full go-round rounds for their chance ...Read More

BFI Week 2018 Schedule of Events

Saturday June 16 Silver Legacy Hotel 8:00 am - 5:00 pm bfi booths open in the lobby bfi tickets $25.00 ea. bfi merchandise available Sunday June 17 Silver Legacy Hotel 8:00 am - 5:00 pm bfi booths open in the lobby bfi tickets $25.00 ea. bfi merchandise available 5:00 pm cowboy auction and dinner (SILVER BARON ROOM) doors open at 5:00 pm auction starts at 6:00 pm free admission Monday June 18 RENO LIVESTOCK EVENT CENTER DOORS OPEN TO BFI 7:00 AM BUY TICKETS AT THE DOOR START TIME 8:00 AM AWARDS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING silver legacy hotel Silver Baron Room ...Read More