wild west productions Archives - Bob Feist Invitational

Wyoming native Julie Mankin has roped for three decades, and in her 25-year career as a former newspaper editor, PRCA publicist and freelance writer, her work has been published in Western Horseman, American Cowboy, AQHA Journal, True West, Cowboys & Indians and more.

High-Stakes Barrel Race on Tap for Wrangler BFI Week

Posted on by Julie Mankin

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.”