Fresh Corrientes Ready for 47th BFI

Posted on March 17, 2024March 17, 2024 by Julie Mankin

Some handy high-numbered snowbirds spent part of February breaking in steers for the 47^th 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

Posted on March 14, 2024March 30, 2024 by BFI

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 30^th 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.

DRAW	HEADER	HEADER SPONSOR	HEELER	HEELER SPONSOR
1A	Tee Lutrell		Ryan Mayfield
1B	Logan Graham	Hope Livestock T-G Cattle	Douglas Henry	Henry Performance Horses
1C	Cole Morgan		Justin De La Garza
1	Trent Cornelius		JC Williams	4S Equine Legends of Team Roping
2	Jarett Freeman		JD Holland	Ricochet Fuel Distribution
3	Mason Appleton	D-F Rope Horses	Cooper Freeman
4	Blake Deckard	Western Solutions Insurance Kd Trucking	Sawyer Barham	Western Solutions Insurance KD Trucking
5	Dalton Titsworth	Outlaw Construction	Dane Reed	Outlaw Construction
6	Brooks Dahozy	Wrangler Cactus Ropes	Porter Bryant	Classic Rope Zesterra
7	Peyton Holliday	Landmark Gsi	Tanner Braden	Landmark GSI
8	Kade Sherwood		Orlando Jauregui	MJ Rope Horses
9	Roan Oldfield	Specialty Components & Fasteners	John Hisel	GI Ranches
10	Wyatt Imus		Tyler Mcknight
11	Ben Jordan	Action Plumbing	Scott Luaki	Jordan River Cattle
12	Korbin Rice	Custom Welding	Logan Moore
13	Brit Ellerman	Texas Saddlery Keeter Trucking	Jake South
14	Brent Mibb	Mibb Construction	Lane Reeves	D-F Rope Horses
15	Tee Mc Leod		Sid Sporer
16	Payden Emmett	Oke Performance Horses	Jace Davis	Cross Dirt Work
17	Cole Eiguren	Wash Rack 95 Car Wash	Trea Smith	Wash Rack 95 Car Wash
18	Jon Peterson		Jett Hillman
19	Ty Arnold		Ryan Motes	100X Equine Seven X Custom Jewelry
20	Austin Barstow	Top Hand Ropes JLH Hay Ranch	Jorge Pina Lopez
21	Bodie Mattson		Cody Lansing
22	Kreece Thompson		Rance Doyal
23	Cody Reed	Larry & Amy Nixon	Jace Mc Daniel	Team Equine Saddle Pads Southern States Metal Supply
24	Dawson Graham		Dillon Graham
25	Peyton Walters	Justin Discount Boots Cactus Ropes	Brandon Gonzales	Flying G Properties LLC Battle Axe Ranch
26	Matt Griswell	Butler Transport & Fuel Rawhide Feeds	Kory Koontz	Butler Transport & Fuel Rawhide Feeds
27	Jace Bland		Tyson Thompson
28	Brayden Schmidt		Michael E Calmelat
29	Paul David Tierney		LJ Yeahquo	Black Wold Performance Horses Stillwater Equine
30	Willow Wilson	Lost Soldier Oil & Gas	Todd Wilson	Lost Soldier Oil And Gas
31	Zach Woods		Gavin Foster
32	Ky Kreder	Wrangler Fast Back Ropes	Tyler Manion	Legacy Broker Group
33	Wheston Jones	More Gas LLC	Blake Barnes	4B Construction
34	Rhett Anderson		Jared Fillmore	Janey Lous Bakery
35	Brandon Farris	Firestone Trucking BS Cattle	Braden Harmon	Johnson & Biscone Firestone Trucking
36	Tyler Waters	Hebert’s Town & County Ram	Blaine Vick
37	Tanner Tomlinson	Roper Apparel Lone Star Ropes	Patrick Smith
38	Cyle Denison		Dustin Davis	Register Brothers Cattle
39	Marcus Theriot		Cole Curry
40	Cole Davis	Davis 20 Beef	Catcher Gasperson	North Texas Compression
41	Andy Holcomb	101 Livestock Supply Co	Kirby Blankenship	Ag Trust Farm Credit
42	Dalton Turner		Colton Johnson	R.L. Walker Transportation C.E. Barker Ltd
43	Bode Baize	Corriente Saddle & Buckle Company	York Gill
44	Josh Torres		Caleb Hendrix	Peek Brothers Construction
45	Jeff Flenniken	Fay Ranches	Jake Minor	Central Washington Equine Hospital
46	Jake Orman		Corey Hendrick	Worldwide Employee Housing
47	Logan Olson		Cody Hintz
48	Zane Thompson	Bar S Services Riatta Rentals	Blake Walker	E.S. Walker Construction
49	Curry Kirchner		Jake Edwards	G. Stone Motors
50	Jake Pancost		Junior Zambrano
51	Brye Crites	Premier Real Estate Group Flying Cow Genetics	Tyler Worley	Moore Home & Ranch Realty
52	Chet Weitz		Sergio Gonzales
53	Kellan Johnson	2D Performance Horses	Carson Johnson	2D Performance Horses
54	Zach Kilgus	Black Star Pipe	Caleb Anderson	Due East Cattle Co Black Star Pipe
55	Brenten Hall	Panola Pipe & Salvage	Kaden Profili	Panola Pipe & Salvage
56	Casey Hicks	Bubble Springs Ranch	Steve Orth
57	Aaron Tsinigine		Jaylen Eldridge
58	Chris Francis	Mathews Land & Cattle	Cade Passig	Mathews Land & Cattle
59	Nelson Wyatt		Lane Mitchell
60	Bobby Joe Hill		Chad Mathes
61	Braden Pirrung		Jr Dees	Precision Hydrovac Dees Performance Horses
62	Shay Carroll	Howards Mechanical Inc	Jace Helton
63	Miles Baker		Trey Johnson	Trey Johnson Leadership Trey Johnson Ministries
64	Lightning Aguilera	Primos Feed & Supply Stretch Roping Dummy	Jonathon Torres	Primos Feed & Supply
65	Wyatt Bray	Classic Ropes Ranch Hand Solar Lighting	Paden Bray	Classic Ropes Ranch Hand Solar Lighting
66	Clayton Van Aken		Cullen Teller	Black Label Services Wrangler
67	Kevin Williams		Jake Pianalto
68	Kolton Schmidt	CVS Controls	Landon Glenn	E Kelly Cattle Company
69	Clint Peverly		Levi Pettigrew
70	Justin Pruitt	JS Cattle Co Cactus Ropes	Luke Atchison	Rising Sun Quarter Horses
71	Coy Brittain	Texas B Excavation	Colton Brittain	Texas B Excavation
72	Joe Macoubrie	Jeff Bryan Chevrolet Walkers Western Store	Kingston Chan	KC Cattle Co
73	Trevor Nowlin		Jacob Auza
74	Justin Davis	Just N Case Builders	Zane Bruce
75	Pedro Egurrola	Casino Morongo	JC Flake	Cactus Ropes Kimes Ranch
76	Bobby Mote	Reliance Ranches	TJ Mercer	Reliance Ranches
77	Coleman Proctor	Lone Star Ropes	Logan Medlin	Depot Farm & Ranch Insurance
78	Bubba Buckaloo		Daniel Braman IV
79	Luke Brown		Travis Graves	Cinch Jeans
80	Cody Snow	Best Ever Pads	Hunter Koch	Best Ever Pads
81	Cash Duty	Cactus Ropes	Ross Ashford	Ashford Performance Horses
82	Jake Smith		Douglas Rich
83	Ryne Hutton	H4 Land & Cattle	Tommy Zuniga	H4 Land And Cattle
84	Thomas Braman		Brock Hanson
85	Kevin Poteete		Whitney DeSalvo
86	Quinton Parchman	Tree Pro Vegetation Mgt Jenkins Perf Horses	Garrett Smith	L&P Carpet Franklin Theatre
87	Coy Rahlmann		Billie Jack Saebens	D-F Rope Horses
88	Jake Clay		Trey Yates	Rolling V Performance Horses
89	Dustin Egusquiza	Lone Star Ropes	Levi Lord	Cactus Ropes
90	Tj Watts	Stampede Services	Josh Fillmore	Rt Performance Horses
91	Max Kuttler	Howe Precast	Cashton Weidenbener	Howe Precast
92	Devon McDaniel	Re Pax LLC	Walt Woodard	Permian International Auctions Rocker T Cattle Co
93	Camden Hoelting	John Deere Schaefer Equipment	Dawson McMaster	The Ranch Bar & Grill Praire Land Partners
94	Clint Summers		Jake Long
95	Slade Wood		Gage Williams	Williams Cattle Co RTR Enviromental
96	Tanner James	JS Cattle Co	Truman Magnus
97	Adam Rose	3K9 Ranch	Gralyn Elkins	Walking E Performance Horses
98	Kaleb Driggers		Junior Nogueira
99	Manny Egusquiza		Evan Arnold	Rumor Has It
100	Billy Bob Brown	Centramatic	Josh Patton	Wild West Trailers
101	Chad Masters		Wyatt Cox	JS Cattle Co
102	Corben Culley	Price Storage Wedgewood Roofing	Austin Rogers	Commercial Construction
103	Tyler Tryan		Jade Corkill
104	James Arviso		Jr Gonzales	Gamblers Row
105	Clay Smith	Premier Rope Horses	Coleby Payne	Steros Services
106	Cutter Cain		Hayden Powell
107	Garrett Tonozzi	Conquer Equine Wrangler	Cory Petska	Cinch
108	Tyler Wade	Power Performance Horses Equinety	Wesley Thorp
109	Derrick Begay	Yeti	Colter Todd	Dynamite Horseman Supply
110	Jake Cooper		Chase Graves
111	David Walker	Diamond D Trucking	Austin Rains
112	Michael Bell	Arco Bell Horseshoeing	Jake Cripps	Arco Enviromental Cripps Land And Cattle
113	Clay Tryan		Nicky Northcott
114	Shane Philipp	Classic Rope Philipp Ranch	Joseph Harrison	Smarty Community Coffee
115	Riley Kittle		Will Woodfin
116	JC Yeahquo	Gold Buckle Construction	Buddy Hawkins	Stretch Roping Dummy’s Big Bite Dally Wrap
117	Andrew Ward	Great Plains Construction 3S Services	Kollin Vonahn	3S Services
118	Jaxon Hill	Crossroads Cattle Cactus Saddlery	Jessen James	Crossroads Cattle Cactus Saddles
119	Denton Parish		Rich Skelton	Reliance Ranches Heel-O-Matic
120	Blake Hughes	Lone Star Ropes	Brady Norman
121	Spencer Mitchell	Casino Morongo	Trigger Hargrove	Firestone Trucking
122	Colby Lovell		Dakota Kirchenschlager
123	Logan Westcott	Casino Morongo	Whip Peterson	Casino Morongo
124	Ketch Kelton	Kelly’s Reload K2 Cattle And Horses	Denton Dunning	Casino Morongo
125	Erich Rogers	Casino Morongo	Paul Eaves

BFI Producers to Host First Lazy E Steer Roping Since 2013

Posted on February 6, 2024February 6, 2024 by Julie Mankin

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.

47th BFI Set for Easter Weekend in Guthrie

Posted on January 16, 2024January 16, 2024 by Julie Mankin

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 47^th 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 47^th 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

Posted on April 10, 2023April 10, 2023 by Julie Mankin

Wrangler BFI Week, anchored by the 46^th 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.

2023 BFI 12.5 RESULTS

Posted on April 3, 2023 by BFI

Aggregate Results (on four head)

Treyton Peterson and Lance Sippy, 30.79 seconds, $200,000
Zac Watson and Milton Aguilera, 30.91 seconds, $160,000
Jim Bob Fritz and James Watson, 31.50 seconds, $120,000
James Lockhart and Wesley Andrews, 31.81 seconds, $100,000
Craig Moore and Hayden Powell, 32.09 seconds, $80,000
Zac Watson and Ben Winters, 32.52 seconds, $60,000
Cole Harmon and Joseph Hammett, 32.57 seconds, $45,000
Kayelen Helton and Shawn Vargas, 32.87 seconds, $30,000
Heath Hardman and Taylor Mitchell, 33.15 seconds, $20,000
Lincoln Lewis and Dylan Gordon, 33.22 seconds, $15,000
Chad Ramer and Willy Gasperson, 33.91 seconds, $10,000
Troy Herring and Trenton Tucker, 33.92 seconds, $9,000
Brian Gregg and Bill Cody Johnson, 33.95 seconds, $8,000
Samuel Livingston and Barry Gentry, 34.14 seconds, $7,000
Erica Krantz and Austyn Ford, 35.59 seconds, $6,000
Chase Bierma and John O’Conner, 36.44 seconds, $5,000
Johnny P Garcia and Adrian Martinez, 36.73 seconds, $5,000
Cody Wheeler and Miles Baker, 37.25 seconds, $5,000
Cory King and Jay Shaffer, 40.15 seconds, $5,000
Grayson Dykes and Any Anaya, 40.64 seconds, $5,000

Rotation One Fast Time

Caleb Estep and Tracy Estep, 5.49 seconds, $7,500
Jarett Rogers and Jared Gipson, 5.74 seconds, $6,000
Ryan Richardson and Speed Williams, 6.19 seconds, $4,500
Adrian Martinez and Logan Wengert, 6.25 seconds, $3,000

Rotation Two Fast Time

Casey Lambert and Dustin Noblitt, 6.01 seconds, $7,500
James Lockhart and Wesley Andrews, 6.12 seconds, $6,000
Chase Bierma and John O’Connor, 6.18 seconds, $3,750
Heath Hardman and Taylor Mitchell, 6.18 seconds, $3,750

Short Go Fast Time

Samuel Livingston and Barry Genry, 6.39 seconds, $4,000
Troy Herring and Trenton Tucker, 6.56 seconds, $3,000

Kirchner & Thompson Take $160,000 Career Win at BFI

Posted on April 2, 2023April 2, 2023 by Kendra Santos

The BFI win is in a league of its own for 2023 champs Curry Kirchner and Tyson Thompson.

BFI Photo by Andersen CbarC Photo
By Kendra Santos

Curry Kirchner and Tyson Thompson had the biggest day of their young roping careers at the 46^th annual Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping Classic, and thanks to the unprecedented 100% 2023 payback have a record $160,000 to show for it. Kirchner, 24, and Thompson, 25, roped six steers in 45.38 seconds to take center stage at the fabulous Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma at BFI’s end on April 1. After braving the BFI marathon, both were borderline speechless.

“The BFI is the biggest roping there is,” said Kirchner, 24, who works alongside his dad, Robert, at Myrl Mortenson’s cattle operation about an hour and 15 minutes northwest of Guthrie in Ames, Oklahoma. “To just be able to compete in this roping is great. To even think about winning it is crazy.

“Winning the BFI is everything. This is the first big roping I’ve ever placed at, let alone won. What’s funny is that I didn’t feel any pressure in the short round. I felt super calm, like just go out there and do my job and see what happens.”

Kirchner and Thompson—who were awarded Coats Saddles, Gist Buckles, Resistol Hats and Hat Pacs, YETI Coolers, Best Ever Pads, Justin Boots, B&W Hitches, Equinety and BFI Wine on top of that cool $160,000—were the fourth callback behind the high team of Clint Summers and Cory Petska, Coleman Proctor and Logan Medlin, and Brandon Beers and Daniel Braman.

Biggest Win by Far

“This is absolutely my biggest win by far,” said Thompson, 25, who lives in tiny Munday, Texas about an hour north of Abilene. “The biggest one before this was winning the #11 Shootout heeling for Wesley Thorp at the 2012 USTRC Finals. Wesley headed for me at the high school rodeos, too.”

Kirchner and Thompson were rock solid all day long.
BFI Photo by Andersen CbarC Photo

Kirchner and Thompson were 6.66 on their last run to take their six-steer total over the 21-foot BFI scoreline to 45.38 seconds. Beers and Braman were 7.80 on their last one, and finished the reserve champs at 46.43 on six. Proctor missed. Then Summers and Petska ran down a runner in 8.70, which with 46.63 on six landed them third in the average at roping’s end.

“I wanted to make sure I saw plenty, and to just go rope the steer for what he was,” said Kirchner, who had his lucky-charm girlfriend, Callie Hill, in the house. “I wasn’t real worried about what we won. I just wanted to do my job. We were sitting down at the back end when the last three teams roped. I didn’t even realize we’d won it when Tyson’s two brothers (Chace and Kreece) came running up and mobbed us, and told us we’d won it. I didn’t believe it.”

“About the only thing we said to each other today was ‘Good job’ after every run,” said Thompson, whose cheering section was headed up by his mom, Kelly, and girlfriend, Y’leigh Yarborough. “We didn’t talk before the short round. We just kind of did our deal. We kept our heads down, and roped what they gave us.”

The Rodeo Road

Kirchner’s rodeoed the last couple years, and had a top-30 finish in 2021 and a top-40 finish in 2022, which included fourth at RodeoHouston with Austin Rogers.

Team Kirchner and Thompson proved unstoppable from every angle.
BFI Photo by Andersen CbarC Photo

“Tyson and I have roped off and on at some jackpots since high school,” Kirchner said. “He texted me about roping here, and we’ve roped at a few rodeos, too. I don’t know how hard I’ll rodeo this year just yet. It’s been a little slow, but a win like this one definitely helps keep it rocking and rolling. I’d dang sure like to get in the top 30 to get into the winter rodeos next year. My good horse got hurt, but I hope to have him back by June.

“You have to ride that fine line here at the BFI, because you have to stay aggressive without stepping on your own toes. I’ve learned from past experience that safetying up is not the answer. I never worry about Tyson when we rope, and I wasn’t worried about him all day long here today. I know if I do my job there aren’t going to be any issues back there with Tyson.”

Thompson is entered up at the California spring rodeos with fellow Texan Jace Bland, but sure has fun roping with Kirchner.

“Curry and I have entered together a handful of times, and have had really good luck,” Thompson said. “We won second twice together at the Junior Patriot a few years ago. It seems like we just win every time we enter together. I love roping with him.”

Breaking Through

Thompson’s having a breakthrough season all the way around in 2023. He got to heel for his brother Kreece at San Antonio, and won a little money in his bracket with his other brother, Chace, in his RodeoHouston debut. And this was the year the Thompson Ranch won it all at the RodeoHouston Ranch Rodeo.

The short-round run that closed the deal for Kirchner and Thompson.
BFI Photo by Andersen CbarC Photo

“This has literally been a fairytale year,” Tyson said. “My family’s Thompson Ranch team—my brother Chace, Uncle Tyler, Chad Williams, Colton Burnett and me—finally won the ranch rodeo at Houston. Houston is the biggest ranch rodeo, and the greatest ranch rodeo by a ton. And now I get to win the BFI? Wow.”

BFI Horsepower

With his horse temporarily sidelined, Kirchner’s been gratefully bumming a ride on a 13-year-old sorrel from his friend Jeff Tebo since December.

“I call him Memphis, and he’s a big running-bred horse,” Kirchner said. “Jeff’s been kind enough to let me ride him this winter, and he was outstanding here today. He caught up so fast, and was so easy to handle steers on. These long setups fit him really good.”

Thompson rode his 7-year-old sorrel horse Shoppa.

“Shoppa’s so calm and easy to rope on,” Thompson said. “He acts like he’s an old horse. He’s never in my way. He did a great job today.”

BFI Blessings

This was not the first time the BFI has blessed the Thompson family in a big way. Tyson’s dad, Todd, won $90,000 at last year’s BFI #12.5 Oilfield Classic heeling for Chick Wilfong, who won $90,000 of his own.

“I don’t even know how to narrow down how big a deal winning the BFI is to me,” Tyson said. “When we got to the short round, that was a big deal. I thought if we could just catch one at a big roping like the BFI and finish in the top four, that would be a major accomplishment. To actually win it against guys like Cory Petska, Kory Koontz and Wesley Thorp—I can’t believe I’ve won a roping they’ve won.

“Cory Petska is a hero of mine. I give all the credit for my heeling to my dad and Wesley. I’ve gotten to spend some time with Kory the last couple years, and that guy can teach you stuff even when you golf with him. He’s just a cool person, and is always there to help you, even when you aren’t asking for it.”

Horses of the 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.

Clint Summers was proud of his horse Joe for taking Head Horse of the BFI honors.
BFI Photo by Andersen CbarC Photo

“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.

And the Heel Horse of the 2023 BFI award goes to Logan Medlin’s Cantina.
BFI Photo by Andersen CbarC Photo

“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.”

Life-Changing Money at the Lazy E

“Everything about the BFI sets it apart from all other ropings,” Kirchner said. “It’s a horse race here at the Lazy E, and this is a wonderful place that’s been good to me over the years. The BFI is the top of the top roping. There’s just something special about it. I grew up watching BFI tapes, and still watch them today.

“We won life-changing money here today, and everything about the BFI is just top class. I’m trying to build a place and get more head horses. This hasn’t really all sunk in just yet, but I have plenty of places to go with this money.”

“I still have tags on a pickup I just bought,” Thompson added. “I’m ready to put a bunch of rodeo miles on it, and now I can get it paid for, too. Between that and my horse addiction, this money will come in very handy.

“There’s so much hype and prestige at the BFI, and the way they make you feel at this roping is unlike any other. They use spotlights, and the announcers know all the stats. The radio is blaring. This roping feels like a rodeo, and you’re in it every run. They get you in the zone at the BFI, and it’s a pretty fun place to be.”

Full Results from The Feist

First-Half Wrap-Up with Full Results from Wrangler BFI Week

Posted on April 1, 2023 by Julie Mankin

Teens land big windfall; ladies, legends bank tens of thousands

GUTHRIE, Oklahoma, April 1, 2023 – Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Levi James and Murray State College’s Garrett Hughes combined to out-rope nearly 400 teams in the biggest Hooey Jr. BFI on record in Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Lazy E Arena, splitting a cool $50,000 cash plus huge array of prizes. James of Atoka, Okla., and Hughes of Sulphur, Okla., caught four steers in 29.44 seconds for the windfall on March 30.

Then, in the Hooey Jr. BFI Open for higher-ranked ropers, it was Weatherford College standouts Jett Stewart and Cashton Weidenbener who took home $42,000 plus Cactus saddles, Resistol hats, Gist buckles, Hooey backpacks and Smarty dummies, among other prizes. The pair had left their Texas home at 2:30 a.m. to make it to Guthrie for the day’s ropings, then took off to Snyder, Texas for the next evening’s college rodeo.

Weidenbener of Payson, Arizona, is the defending National High School Finals Rodeo heeling champion. It was only the second jackpot for the young horse ridden by Ione, Oregon’s Jett Stewart, who is the son of former NFR heeler Jason Stewart. The latter had called his father before that final steer for $42,000 and gotten this advice: “It’s not that hard. Just score, ride and rope.”

Earlier in the week, Arkansas heeler Whitney DeSalvo won her fifth Charlie 1 Horse team roping championship in six years, this time with Arizona’s Kenzie Kelton. The pair split $20,800 on March 29 for roping four steers in 37.50 seconds.

DeSalvo, the highest-rated female heeler in the world, also placed seventh and eighth in the roping to earn $13,900 on the day. It was only her second time to rope with Kelton, a freshman at Central Arizona College in Coolidge. Kenzie’s dad, Chance, is a former NFR header and her brother, Ketch, won the Jr Ironman Title at the Timed-Event Championships of the World in the same arena less than a month earlier.

Dana Markham and Kelly Snow combined to win the 9.5 Incentive on three steers, worth $7,500.

The Charlie 1 Horse Breakaway title went to Sarah Angelone of Lipan, Texas (the defending Women’s Professional Rodeo Association all-around champion originally hails from Virginia). For catching all three calves in 9.73 seconds, she earned $14,000 cash and several prizes – plus another $2,760 in the rounds.

“I was focusing on just roping one calf at a time and doing my job each round,” said Angelone, who also had a good callback with her other entry, but broke out.

She explained it was important to maintain a strong mental game throughout the long day of roping.

“Having a short-term memory mindset helped me clear my mind after that breakout and be able to focus on my next calf,” she said.

Arizona native Brett Woolsey won about $5,000 in the team roping and breakaway to clinch the all-around title and prizeline including two Smarty dummies.

On March 31 in Guthrie, Jaret Freeman and Scott Lauaki bested 142 teams to split $60,000 cash and the BFI prizeline for winning the 15.5 roping. The field they beat included NFR greats Trevor Brazile (heeling), Brandon Beers and Matt Sherwood.

Later that day, wildfires in the Guthrie area postponed the latter half of the BFI Legends roping, but Cory Petska and Seth Smithson hung tight for the $19,000 win. They roped five steers in 37.70 seconds. In its second year, the jackpot for former BFI contestants over 40 draws legends such as Tee Woolman and Rich Skelton. Petska was heading, but he’s a world champion heeler and former BFI champion heeler.

Wrangler BFI Week continues with the BFI itself on April 1, followed by the 12.5 on April 2, the 11.5 Businessman’s and 10.5-Over-40 on April 3 and the 9.5-Over-40, 8.5 and 7.5 on April 3.

Wrangler BFI Week Results

Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl Team Roping

Round One: 1. Kayelen Helton and Becky Cannizzaro, 6.49 seconds, $1,000; 2. Kenzie Kelton and Whitney DeSalvo, 7.49 seconds, $800; 3. Quincy Sullivan and Brett Woolsey, 7.97 seconds, $400. Round Two: 1. Danielle Lowman and Arena Ben, 6.27 seconds, $1,000; 2. Hope Thompson and Kennlee Tate, 6.97 seconds, $800; 3. Quincy Sullivan and Casey Jo Hodge, 7.23 seconds, $400. Short Round: 1. Stevens and Rylee Stokes, 8.72 seconds, $1,000; 2. Kelsey Pepion and Annette Stahl, 9.32 seconds, $800. Average: 1. Kenzie Kelton and Whitney DeSalvo, 37.50 seconds, $20,000; 2. Dana Markham and Kelly Snow, 38.19 seconds, $14,000; 3. Connie Harris and Megan Gunter, 39.49 seconds, $11,000; 4. Carsyn Tharp and Kennlee Tate, 42.59 seconds, $8,000; 5. Jessica Montgomery and Jackie Crawford, 43.13 seconds, $6,000; 6. Martha Angelone and Danielle Roper, 43.86 seconds, $5,000; 7. Kenna Francis and Whitney DeSalvo, 44.71 seconds, $4,000; 8. Decca Gagan and Whitney DeSalvo, 45.05 seconds, $3,000. 9.5 Incentive Average on Three: 1. Dana Markham and Kelly Snow, 27.76 seconds, $7,500; 2. Emma Carrell and Courtney Crites, 29.45 seconds, $4,500; 3. Connie Harriss and Megan Gunter, 31.21 seconds, $3,000; 4. Avery Goegelle and Kelly Snow, 32.62 seconds, $2,500; 5. Sydney Ball and Kennlee Tate, 33.52 seconds, $2,000; 6. Carsyn Tharp and Kennlee Tate, 33.71 seconds, $2,000

Charlie 1 Horse Breakaway

First Round: 1. Quincy Sullivan, 3.03 seconds, $1,000; 2. Sarah Angelone, 3.04, $750; 3. Baylee Barker, 3.06, $500; Second Round: 1. Sarah Angelone, 3.05, $1,000; 2. Janae Todacheenie, 3.35, $750; 3. Cheyenne Guillory, 3.36, $500; Short Round Fast Time (Not Placing in Average): 1. Sarah Angelone (other entry), 12.61, $1,000. Average: 1. Sarah Angelone, 9.73 on three, $14,000; 2. Taylor Hanchey, 10.98, $10,000; 3. Hali Williams, 11.32, $6,500; 4. Janae Todacheenie, 11.75, $5,500; 5. Brandi McDowell, 12.14, $4,500; 6. Brett Woolsey, 12.4, $3,500; 7. Jackie Crawford, 12.42, $3,000; 8. Bailey Jay, 12.68, $2,500; 9. Kennedy Buckner, 13.01, $2,000; 10. Danielle Wray, 13.21, $1,500; 11. Lexey Williams, 15.37, $1,250. 18-And-Under Incentive: 1. Brett Woolsey, 12.4, $1,000; 2. Summer Williams, 8.73 on two, $750; 3. Kamey Kennermer, 10.22, $500.

Hooey Jr. BFI 10.5

First Rotation: 1. Wesson Parker and Rowdy Payne, 6.33 seconds, $2,500; 2. Levi James and Garrett Hughes, 6.67, $2,000; 3. Mason Cross and Wyatt J Howell, 7.31, $1,500; 4. Jacob Rush and John David Daniel, 7.46, $700. Second Rotation: 1. Preston Ivey and Brayden Morris, 5.45, $2,500; 2. Landon Dasilva and Wyatt J Howell, 5.70, $2,000; 3. Trigger Hargrove and Wiley Breeze, 6.23, $1,500; 4. Aaron Raulston and Brayden A Israel, 6.24, $700. Third Rotation: 1. Colton Williamson and Layne Rogers, 5.88, $2,500; 2. Briar White and Tate Barton, 6.36, $2,000; 3. Taton Salazar and Colton Devore, 6.56, $1,100; 4. Holland Roukema and Teagan Roukema, 6.56, $1,100; Fourth Rotation: 1. Kade Gierisch and Tanner Tomlinson, 6.23, $2,500; 2. Bridger Ketcham and Cole Wilson, 6.53, $2,000; 3. Maverick Lozano and Cross Ringelstein, 6.68, $1,500; 4. Bobby Vaughn and Traven Todd, 7.03, $350; 4. Bridger Ketcham and Trey Toft, 7.03, $350. Short Round that didn’t place in the average: 1. Casper Ringelstein and Zane Starns, 13.00, $2,000; 2. Mattox Moyer and Keaton Kellum, 13.90, $1,500; 3. Tanner Evans and Lucas Willeford, 14.22, $1,000. Average: 1. Levi James and Garrett Hughes, 29.44 seconds on five, $50,000; 2. Kaitlyn Torres and Cross Ringelstein, 30.44, $30,000; 3. Jaxon Stoker and Noah Vasquez, 31.59, $18,000; 4. Jadon Bailey and Junior Jose Corpus, 32.20, $12,500; 5. Raesh Casebolt and Brodie Boyce, 32.77, $10,000; 6. Foreman Casebolt and Sid Harvey, 33.92, $9,000; 7. Joseph Villareal and Maverick Lozano, 34.17, $8,000; 8. Jaycus Hill and Garrett Hughes, 34.31, $6,000; 9. Bridger Ketcham and Trey Toft, 34.38, $5,000; 10. Colter Reed and Snook Traden Lauer, 34.80, $4,500; 11. Brody Mathiews and Ryan Davis, 35.01, $4,000; 12. Blaine Coates and Wylie Morgan, 35.91, $3,500; 13. Conner Wright and Trentyn Hurst, 36.61, $3,000; 14. Rendon Powledge and Ryan Davis, 37.20, $3,000; 15. Bill Cody Odell and Junior Jose Corpus, 38.79, $3,000; 16. Blaine Coates and Cole Denny, 39.87, $2,500; 17. Weston Lakin and Jaxon Reynolds, 40.63, $2,500; 18. Easton Lakin and Blaine Caldwell, 41.56, $2,500; $1,250; 19. Jhett Vanderhamm and Colter Reed Snook, 41.67, $2,500; 20. Rachel Kittle and Beau West, 41.95, $2,500.

Hooey Jr. BFI Open

First Round: 1. Brayden Schmidt and Logan Cullen, 6.50 seconds, $3,000; 2. Cutter Cain and Dodge Hare, 6.65, $2,000; 3. James Arviso and Nicky Northcott, 7.31, $1,000. Second Round: 1. Cole Smith and Landen Glenn, 6.0, $3,000; 2. Cole Smith and Michael Eugenio Calmelat, 6.51, $2,000; 3. Casper Ringelstein and Scout McElroy, 7.03, $1,000. Short Round: 1. Cole Smith and Michael Eugenio Calmelat, 7.09, $3,000; 2. James Arviso and John Hisel, 7.91, $2,000; 3. Jett Stewart and Cashton Weidenbener, 7.96, $1,000. Average: 1. Jett Stewart and Cashton Weidenbener, 41.09 seconds on five head, $42,000; 2. Mason Appleton and JR Gonzalez, 41.27, $25,000; 3. Damian Jr Padilla and Michael Eugenio Calmelat, 43.24, $15,000; 4. Denton Parish and Denton Dunning, 45.27, $11,000; 5. Mason McDaniel and Sammy Saunders, 45.85, $8,500; 6. James Arviso and John Hisel, 45.86, $6,000; 7. Cole Smith and Michael Eugenio Calmelat, 47.33, $5,000; 8. Ketch Kelton and Logan Cullen, 48.42, $4,500; 9. Cason Richey and Will Smith, 49.60, $4,000; 10. Eli Green and Porter Bryant, 49.61, $4,000; 11. Brayden Schmidt and Logan Cullen, 50.89, $3,500; 12. Brennen Wilson and Brayden Morris, 56.75, $3,500.

15.5

First Round: 1. Brandon Farris and Shawn Crockett, 6.82 seconds, $4,000; 2. Jimmy Harrison and Derrick Jantzen, 7.24 seconds, $3,000; 3. Jaxon Hill and Hayden Sanders, 7.53 seconds, $2,000. Short Round (Not Placing In Average): 1. Kevin Williams and Brad Newberry, 8.47 seconds, $3,000; 2. Race Meliman and Daniel Braman, 9.92 seconds, $2,000; 3. Peyton Walters and Luke Miller, 10.47 seconds, $1,000. Average: 1. Jarett Freeman and Scott Lauaki, 31.83 seconds on four head, $60,000; 2. Brandon Farris and Shawn Crockett, 32.56 seconds, $40,000; 3. Brandon Beers and Bobby Alexander, 33.75 seconds, $30,000; 4. Bobby Mote and Trevor Brazile, 34.33 seconds, $23,000; 5. Brad Freeland and Matt Sherwood, 34.61 seconds, $18,000; 6. Brandon Farris and Braden Harmon, 34.63 seconds, $16,000; 7. Miles Baker and Shawn Crockett, 35.75 seconds, $12,000; 8. Walker Smith and Brady Kyle, 35.89 seconds, $8,000; 9. Matt Sherwood and Chase Helton, 36.0 seconds, $6,000.

BFI Legends

First Round: 1. Vic Morrison and Steve Orth, 6.70 seconds, $2,000. Second Round: 1. Cory Petska and Seth Smithson, 6.09 seconds, $2,000. Short Round: 1. Chris Francis and Josh Patton, 7.34 seconds, $2,000. Average: 1. Cory Petska and Seth Smithson, 37.70 seconds on five steers, $19,000; 2. Troy Fischer and Boogie Ray, 42.65 seconds, $11,000; 3. Logan Olson and Seth Smithson, 42.99 seconds, $7,500.

Petska and Smithson Are 2023 BFI Legends Champs

Posted on March 31, 2023April 1, 2023 by Kendra Santos

BFI Week was built on a foundation of tradition. It’s packed with prestige, and the producers keep coming up with new ways to raise the already sky-high BFI bar. The concept of the BFI Legends roping is about as cool as it comes, and a chance for over-40 living legends who may have pulled up from the full-time rodeo trail to come together for a roping reunion with each other, while at the same time showing the rest of the Western world that they’ve still got it. Cory Petska and Seth Smithson won the 2023 BFI Legends roping, held today (March 31) at the world-famous Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma. And it doesn’t get much cooler than a world champion heeler heading for a guy who never rodeoed professionally.

“This is the biggest win of my heading career,” said 2017 World Champion Heeler Petska, who’s 43 now. “It’s my first major win as a header, and the Legends roping is an amazing concept. I didn’t win anything at this roping last year, and couldn’t wait to come back this year.

*Seth Smithson* and *Cory Petska roped five steers in 37.7 seconds to win the 2023 BFI Legends roping. Andersen CbarC Photo*

“We got to watch Speed (Williams) and Rich (Skelton), and Tee (Woolman) and Rich rope together today. Nick Rowland lived with my family when we were kids. I headed for Nick and heeled for my dad (Paul Petska) when we were 16-17 years old. Getting to head for Nick here today was like old times.”

Petska and Smithson—who roped five steers in 37.7 seconds to take home $21,000, including $19,000 for the average win and another $2,000 for the Round 2 win—are a first-time team, and had only seen each other around before now.

“I’ve seen Seth at the jackpots for years, but I didn’t know him,” Petska said. “Seth’s a guy I said ‘hi’ to in passing, and I knew he roped really good. Martin Lucero was supposed to be my second partner today, but when he couldn’t make it, I was excited to get to rope with Seth.”

They’d only met in passing, but even before Logan Olson played last-minute matchmaker for this year’s BFI Legends roping, Petska had made a mighty impact on Smithson’s heeling without even knowing it.

“I’d never met Cory in my life until Corpus (Christi, Texas) in 2019,” remembers Smithson, who’s 40 and lives with his wife, Leah, and three kids, Scarlett, 10, Beau, 8 and Saylor, 6, in Liberty Hill, Texas. “I was in a big rut with my roping, and asked Cory about it. He told me one super-simple thing that made a big difference for me.

“I was explaining to Cory that I was way behind in the run, and was getting my shorts jerked down a lot. He asked if I watched the head rope go on, and I said, ‘Yes.’ Cory told me to stop doing that, and to just watch the feet. It changed everything. And funny thing is, ‘Just watch the feet’ was the last thing I told myself before our short-round steer today.”

They built up a commanding lead on their first four runs to ride in high team.

“We were high call by five seconds, had 13 to win it and were 8 on our last steer,” said Petska, who lives with his four-time World Champion Barrel Racer wife, Sherry Cervi, in Marana, Arizona. “I just made sure I saw six inches to a foot further than I had the rest of the steers, and took a couple extra swings.”

Smithson has roped at The American twice—with Colby Schneeman in 2014, and Wesley Thorp in 2017.

With a go-round win on top of the average check, Corky Ullman, left, and Daren Peterson, right, awarded BFI Legends winners Petska and Smithson a grand total of $21,000.
Andersen CbarC Photo

“This is my biggest day,” said Seth, whose day job is running the 3 Spurs Ranch in Liberty Hill. “It’s the most money I’ve ever won in one sitting. I was just a jackpotter. I amateur rodeoed some, but never pro rodeoed. It was really cool just to get to rope with guys like Cory and Logan in this roping. They’re professionals. Roping with them was fun. This is a big win for me.”

Smithson won it with Petska, and also placed third with Olson behind reserve champs Troy Fischer and Boogie Ray. And Seth surely gets bonus points for having his banner day on the back of a 3-year-old. He bought the sorrel he calls Gunner at the Triangle Horse Sale in Shawnee, Oklahoma when he was 2.

Petska rode an 11-year-old, bald-faced sorrel he and Sherry raised and call Brutus.

“Sherry started him as a barrel horse, then I started heading on him,” Cory said. “He’s my pride and joy. I love Brutus as much as I love Chumley, and I won a gold buckle on Chumley. He’s a cool horse.”

He better be to take on the cowboy conditions that come with the massive Lazy E Arena, of which these guys are both big fans.

“I love this roping, especially in this arena,” Petska said. “I love the Lazy E. It’s big, and it’s legendary. I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid. I love roping here—heading and heeling. It’s a very special arena, and you better cowboy up when you come here.”

“I love it here at the Lazy E, too, and it just seems like I always do good here,” Smithson added. “This was an awesome roping, and Cory did an unbelievable job. He headed like a world champion header today.”

About that. Yes, Cory will heel for Clint Summers in tomorrow’s (April 1) 100% payback BFI. But to tip you off on how much Petska’s been heading, his horse herd currently consists of seven head horses and three heel horses.

“I head a lot more than I heel these days,” he said. “I’ve heeled my whole life. It’s a job. Heading is fun, because I’m getting to work on something new.”

Summers is an NFR switch-ender. Might Petska entertain such a challenge?

Petska and Smithson both love the wide open spaces of the Lazy E Arena.
Andersen CbarC Photo

“I would love to,” he said. “There’s no bigger dream to me than to try and make the NFR heading. But every time I think about it, it plays in my mind that it’s stupid to try something I’m not sure about when I know I can win heeling. It’s just a dream, but it is in my head that it would be cool to be the first guy to win a gold buckle heading and heeling.”

It’s fun to daydream about, but rodeo’s role in Cory and Sherry’s lives continues to evolve.

“I rope (at the rodeos) every winter, then head to Wisconsin,” he said. “Sherry and I run 1,900 head of yearlings, and the cattle deal is my priority now. We used to look at rodeo as a job. Now we pick and choose the rodeos we want to go to. I still love to rope, and still feel like I’m competitive.

“I rodeo because I love it now, not because I have to do it. Sherry, too. She’s training a bunch of colts, and still wants to make her 20^th trip to the NFR. But if her horse steps up and becomes the next big thing, she can get that done in 30 rodeos. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the heart to go to 75 rodeos again, and that’s what you have to do to make it heeling. But I still practice every day, and I do still love it.”

When a nearby grass fire and high winds caused a delay during the BFI Legends roping, it almost felt like a blessing in disguise to Petska.

“The BFI Legends roping was a full-on roping reunion,” said 15-time NFR heeler Cory. “When they had to shut the roping down for a little while for the smoke to clear, we all had so much fun visiting and telling stories. I only wish more guys would come, even if only to socialize, because it was just like old times. A great roping, and so good to see so many old cowboy friends.”

2023 BFI Legends Results

Aggregate Results (on five head) – payout per team

Cory Petska and Seth Smithson, 37.70 seconds, $19,000
Troy Fischer and Boogie Ray, 42.65 seconds, $11,000
Logan Olson and Seth Smithson, 42.99 seconds, $7,500

Round One Fast Time

Vic Morrison and Steve Orth, 6.70 seconds, $2,000

Round Two Fast Time

Cory Petska and Seth Smithson, 6.09 seconds, $2,000

Short Go Fast Time

Chris Francis and Josh Patton, 7.34 seconds, $2,000

Bid on a Bones

Posted on March 24, 2023March 24, 2023 by Julie Mankin

Our generous Wrangler BFI Week supporters have allowed us to raise $214,400 over the past six years to help local charities!

This year, our annual BFI calcutta on March 31 will feature a custom Heel-O-Matic Bones dummy – the proceeds of which will benefit the Oklahoma chapter of Flags Of Honor. And you can bid even if you’re not in Guthrie! For the first time, calcutta teams and items can be bought online. Just register to bid at www.goldbucklehorsesale.com (scroll down to BFI Online Sale).

“We love their mission of ‘meeting sacrifice with hope’ by helping the families of not only the servicemen and women protecting our freedom, but also firefighters, police, paramedics and others who respond to emergencies,” said BFI co-owner Daren Peterson.

The charity has been awarding life-changing scholarships since 2007 to the families of America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders. It ranks in the top tier of our country’s charities because 91 percent of every dollar raised goes into the scholarships themselves.

The folded American flag represents the heavy price of freedom – but is also a symbol of hope and democracy. By bidding on the Bones on March 31, you’re letting the families of our national heroes know they haven’t been forgotten. Find out more by visiting FoldsOfHonor.org.

“I’ve had a little experience partnering with the PBR, but we’ve never really done anything with team roping,” said Folds Of Honor’s Brandon Baker of Oklahoma City, who expects one of the recipient families to attend the calcutta. “It’ll be fun.”

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the calcutta begins at 6 p.m. Central time at the Chicken Shack in Arcadia, Oklahoma – or bid online for this one-of-a-kind dummy.

Check out the ’24 BFI day sheet

Aggregate Results (on four head)

Rotation One Fast Time

Rotation Two Fast Time

Short Go Fast Time

Biggest Win by Far

The Rodeo Road

Breaking Through

BFI Horsepower

BFI Blessings

Horses of the BFI

Life-Changing Money at the Lazy E

2023 BFI Legends Results

Aggregate Results (on five head) – payout per team

Round One Fast Time

Round Two Fast Time

Short Go Fast Time

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