Kendra Santos
BFI Week 2022 is officially underway here at the Fabulous Lazy E in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and Texas teens Blaine Burleson and Colton Clayton got the party started as the first champions to take center stage. The talented 15-year-old high school sophomores stopped the clock four times in 31.27 seconds to top the 191-team field at the Hooey Jr BFI #10.5 Roping, and edge reserve titlists and fellow Texans Aaron Raulston and Kelon Andrews, who were a close 31.39.
The team of Burleson and Clayton won a whopping $22,000, and also hauled off Cactus Saddlery Saddles, Heel-O-Matic Sliders, Gist Buckles, Hooey Backpacks, Resistol Hats, YETI Roadies, Justin Boots and Cactus Ropes. Raulston and Andrews earned $16,000, and were awarded Best Ever Pads and Cactus Ropes in addition to the loot.
With the help of horses Frosty and Duck, Burleson and Clayton won the 2022 Hooey Jr BFI #10.5 and $22,000. Andersen CbarC Photo
“This is a big roping to win,” said Blaine, who’s the son of Scott and Heather Burleson, and calls Waller, Texas home. “The payout and steers are great, and I have a lot of family and friends here.”
He’s right about the payoff. The Hooey Jr BFI #10.5 featured an 80-percent payback and $350 entry fees.
Burleson headed on an 18-year-old gray horse he calls Frosty that’s a rodeo-trail veteran and three years his senior. He and Frosty have turned a lot of steers for Clayton, who lives about an hour away in Needville, Texas.
“Colton’s easy to rope with, because he just catches every time,” smiled Blaine, who last December displayed his versatility by topping the team roping at the Junior World Finals heeling for Florida’s Owen Clemons.
Burleson heads, heels and ropes calves, and hopes to one day, “Win a few world titles—heading or heeling.” He headed straight from the #10.5 winner’s circle back to the arena to rope with Belden Cox and Buck Garza in the Hooey Jr BFI Open.
Blaine Burleson and Colton Clayton took the Hooey Jr BFI #10.5 with 31.27 on four steers. Andersen CbarC Photo
Clayton’s a switch-ender, too.
“I actually headed for a long time,” said Colton, who’s the son of Wade and Kim Emmons, and rode a 10-year-old sorrel horse named Duck. “Then they raised my number, so I started heeling some about a year ago.”
Clayton hopes to one day rope at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. In the meantime, he’ll stay tuned to the Cowboy Channel and watch the best in the business work.
“My dad’s my hero, but I really like to watch guys like Jake Long, Jade Corkill, Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira rope,” said Colton, who’s heeling for Carson Emmons in the Hooey Jr BFI Open here this afternoon. “The Lazy E is a nice place, and I hope to rope in the BFI here one day.”
Click here to view the full results.
By BFI