Roping and rodeo is definitely a family affair for the Yates-Wadhams gang. J.D.’s dad, Dick, taught J.D. and Jay—who act more like brothers than cousins—about everything they know about roping. Jay’s dad, John Wadhams (who is married to Dick’s sister Raeana), also ropes. Dick and Jan’s daughter and J.D.’s sister, Kelly, is a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo barrel racer and highly successful barrel horse trainer. In fact, when J.D. heeled for Dick and Kelly ran barrels at the 1984 NFR, they became the only father-son-daughter trio in history to compete at the NFR the same year.“My dad’s the backbone of our entire operation,” J.D. said. “He taught me everything I know about roping and winning.
“Jay drove the horses out here, and my dad and I flew in late last night. My dad reminded me last night about something he’s always preached to us, and that’s to let the steers dictate what we do. He’s told me all my life to just rope the steer I’ve drawn, because that’s the best you can do. That’s what we did today.”
Yates, who’ll be 50 on August 15, and Wadhams, 42, stopped the clock six times in 45.92 seconds to top the 2010 BFI and leave the Reno Livestock Events Center with both the BFI big bucks and a truckload of prizes. In addition to the cash, the champs rode away with Running P saddles and breast collars, Gist Buckles, Schneider three-piece buckles sponsored by Coors Original, Dodge Rodeo and Classic Ropes, and Justin full-quill ostrich boots. Cactus Ropes awarded the winning team a $1,500 cash bonus.
“Bob’s done a great job building and promoting this roping,” Wadhams said. “This is the one to win. The best move he ever made was moving this roping to Reno. This is a great week for team roping.”
“It’s an outstanding feeling to be 50 years old and get this done,” said J.D., who later this week will celebrate son Trey’s 15th birthday on June 24. “All the hard work and dedication guys our age put in paid off today. Winning a roping like this doesn’t come easy. I feel darn lucky to be a BFI champion. It’s been a long time coming. This proves that if you set your goals high and work hard, you’ve always got a chance.”
With 34 American Quarter Horse Association world championships, Yates is the undisputed king of the professional horse show ropers. Wadhams has been his “helper” in most of those titles, which means he heads for Yates in the heeling event and heels for Yates when he shows head horses.
“The rodeo arena was very good to me,” Yates said. “But it was time to move on, so I made a career of horse showing. I love to rope, and I love to compete against the best ropers in the world. Winning this roping is pretty special to me.”
Wadhams, who lives with wife Lindsay and sons Bryer, 12, and Reece, 9, in Pueblo, is a renowned showman in his own right, with 10 AQHA world titles. “We’ve grown up roping together, and both know exactly what the other’s going to do,” said Wadhams, whose entry fees were sponsored by O’Donnell Quarter Horses. “Dick and J.D., and my dad, taught me to rope. It’s always been a family thing with us.
“At this point in my career, I only go to 10 or 15 rodeos a year. I get to see all my old buddies and have fun. But the horse shows are our living now. I’m going back to roping for ribbons next week, at an AQHA show in Oklahoma. To win this roping at this point in my career is amazing. All the kids around here roping the dummy are dreaming about winning this roping. The money is great, but it’s not as much about the money as the prestige of winning this thing.”
Yates and Wadhams topped the 100-team field that this year represented 21 states and Canada with runs of 7.7, 7.97, 8.57, 7.36, 7.77 and 6.55 seconds on their respective steers to beat out BFI reservists Luke Brown and Martin Lucero, who roped six steers in 46.97, by a little over a second. Brown and Lucero earned $95,060 in addition to the reserve champs’ prize package that included Coats Saddles, and Skyline Silversmiths buckles donated by Boot Barn, Purina Mills Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank.
The third-place team of Turtle Powell and Jhett Johnson bagged $61,110 for their total time of 47.07 seconds, and were followed in fourth place by Justin Davis and Cole Davison, who roped six steers in 48.01 for $30,555. Wrangler Jeans and Shirts pumped $6,500 in bonus bucks into the Wrangler Round in addition to BFI short-round money. Brown and Lucero, who were the fifth high team back, were 5.95 on their last steer to drag down an additional $9,500, including the Wrangler bonus.
The owners of the Best BFI Head and Heel Horses received Lazy “L” Saddles and CSI Pads. BFI officials awarded 2010 Best BFI Head Horse honors to Davis’ 18-year-old palomino Starbert J Man, whose nickname is Hammer. Davis bought the horse as a 4-year-old. His dad, Tommy, got the horse going, and Hammer’s been Justin’s No. 1 the last 10 years. It was Davis and Hammer’s first BFI appearance.
“This is the best horse I’ve ever sat on,” Davis said. “He scored perfect on every steer here today. He always runs hard and gives me a good chance. Words can’t describe how much he helped me today. I heeled until 10 years ago. This is the first head horse I ever competed on. He’s part of the family.”
The Best BFI Heel Horse in 2010 was Colonel Cal Dee, a 14-year-old sorrel horse who answers to “A” out at the barn. Wadhams heeled on him, though Yates actually owns him.
“I keep him for the major rodeos and ropings, and Jay helps me on him at the horse shows,” Yates explained. “Jay has confidence on this horse, so all he has to think about is roping. We get paid to win. Money couldn’t buy this horse, because the horse show world is our business.”
“We call him A, because he has a huge A brand on his left hip,” Wadhams said. “He doesn’t get quick and never gets short. He just fits me. I like a horse with a little longer stride, and that’s him.”
Yates rode the Best BFI Head Horse of the 2005 BFI, Cathys Dividend, to the 2010 title. Yates bought “Buster,” an 18-year-old bay horse, as a 3-year-old Father’s Day present for Daddy Dick 15 years ago.
“I hadn’t roped a steer on him when I asked my dad to bring me a head horse here nine years ago,” J.D. said. “Bobby Harris and I won the first round here in 2001 on the first steer I ever ran on him (Yates and Harris also placed third in the average that year). At a roping like this, a horse that scores good and can run gives someone like me a heck of an advantage. I compete a lot, but I’m horse showing these days and not rodeoing. A week before this roping we put everything else aside to get in the BFI frame of mind.”
Yates dedicated the win to his young friend and fellow Coloradan Cody Buffalo, 26, who is battling cancer. “Cody got to come rope here last year for the first time,” J.D. said. “He’s going through radiation and chemo now, and I wish him and his family all the best. Winning this roping is great, but we miss having him here, wish him luck and hope to see him back here next year.”
Classic Ropes and Boot Barn awarded young guns Quinn Kesler and T.J. McCauley a $2,000 bonus for being the team that finished just out of the average money in seventh place. Kelsey Parchman and Caleb Twisselman roped the fourth fastest time in BFI history to win round four in 4.9 seconds and cash the $2,000 Fast Time bonus sponsored by Justin Boots, Priefert, Silver Legacy and Coors Original. This year’s Fast Time team also received Cactus Saddlery saddles. Parchman and Twisselman also won the third round in 5.06 seconds. The 4.46-second BFI Fast Time record was set in 2008 by Coleman Proctor and Jake Long. Champion’s Choice buckles were again awarded in every round.
The “BFI 33 Club” stands strong. Team roping legends who haven’t missed the BFI books in 33 years include Allen Bach, who won the 1979 BFI with Brian Burrows; Denny Watkins, who won it with David Motes in 1981; Mike Beers, who won the 1987 BFI with Dee Pickett; and Walt Woodard, who topped the 2008 BFI with Clay Tryan.
The BFI is “Open to the World,” and held in conjunction with the “Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West,” the million-dollar Reno Rodeo, which this year runs June 17-26 Announcers Bob Tallman, Reed Flake and Ross Wagner called the BFI action, and Harry Rose and Philip Murrah flagged the roping. Steve Branco and Danny Martinez served as the line judges. Flying T Cattle Company of Carrisa Plains, Calif., provided the cattle, which were run over an 18-foot score and out of a 19-foot box.
The Silver Legacy Resort Casino is the official headquarters of the BFI. Other major sponsors of the 2010 BFI included Wrangler, Justin Boots, Boot Barn, Dodge Rodeo, Priefert Ranch Equipment, Cactus Ropes, Champion’s Choice Buckles, Coors Original, Purina Mills, Running P Ropes and Saddles, Classic Ropes, Coats Saddlery, B&W Trailer Hitches, Cactus Saddlery, Lazy “L” Saddles and Ropers Sports News.
Complete BFI ’10 results are posted online at bobfeistinvitational.com. In-depth coverage of this year’s BFI will appear in the July issue of Ropers Sports News. BFI fans also were able to listen to this year’s action live via ProRodeoLive.com, and can this fall catch BFI coverage on Fox Sports Network. BFI 2010 DVDs can be ordered through Rodeo Video by calling 800-331-1269. BFI photos can be ordered from Kirt Steinke at 208-739-2416.
Results are as follows (place, team #, header, sponors, heeler, sponsors, time and team payoff):
1st. go: 1st. #68, Kaden Richard (A&C Racing/Brookstone Bay • Western Petroleum) and Rhen Richard (JEH StallionStation • Western Petroleum), 6.00, $10,800. 2nd. #74, Spencer Mitchell and Broc Cresta (Westec Tank & Equipment), 6.76, $8,100. 3rd. #40, Justin Davis (T.J. Davis Ranch • The Loan Depot) and Cole Davison (T.J. Davis Ranch • The Loan Depot), 6.87, $5,400. 4th. (tie) #70, Derrick Begay and Cesar DeLaCruz (Allred Metals), 7.17, $1,350; and #87, Luke Brown (Cooper’s Country Store • Purina Mills) and Martin Lucero, 7.17, $1,350.
2nd. go: 1st. #78, Trevor Brazile (Relentless) and Patrick Smith (Fast Back Ropes • Pro Equine Products), 5.41, $10,800. 2nd. #55, Caleb Mitchell (OCO Pressure Control • Cactus Ropes) and Casey Chamberlain (Pro Equine Products • Cars & Trucks Outwest), 5.68, $8,100. 3rd. #12, Keven Daniels (Fast Back Ropes • Heel-O-Matic) and Paul Eaves, 5.69, $5,400. 4th. #64, Thomas Richards and Tyler Getzwiller, 6.29, $2,700.
3rd. go: 1st. #4, Kelsey Parchment (Parchman Construction Co., Inc.) and Caleb Twisselman (Flying T Cattle Co. • Madonna Inn Quarter Horses), 5.00, $10,800. 2nd. #81, Jake Cooper (Cactus Saddlery • Tony Lama Boots) and Jimmie Cooper (Cactus Ropes • Tony Lama Boots), 5.40, $8,100. 3rd. #96, Charly Crawford (Cactus Saddlery • Lubrisyn) and Russell Cardoza Jr. (Cinch Jeans & Shirts), 6.10, $5,400. 4th. #84, Tee Woolman (Heel-O-Matic) and Walt Woodard (Toyota of Glendora, CA), 6.70, $2,700.
4th. go: 1st. #4, Kelsey Parchman (Parchman Construction Co., Inc.) and Caleb Twisselman (Flying T Cattle Co. • Madonna Inn Quarter Horses), 4.90, $10,800. 2nd. #81, Jake Cooper (Cactus Saddlery • Tony Lama Boots) and Jimmie Cooper (Cactus Ropes • Tony Lama Boots), 5.32, $8,100. 3rd. #79, Justin Yost and Kyle Crick (Maverick Oilfield Services), 5.68, $5,400. 4th. #50, Doyle Gellerman (John M. Hayes) and Justin Viles (R&B Leather Corral), 5.84, $2,700.
5th. go: 1st. #82, Matt Sherwood (Catus Ropes) and Allen Bach (Lonestar Rope Company), 5.26, $10,800. 2nd. #45, Coleman Proctor (Wyldewood Cellars Winery • Pro Equine Products) and Steve Northcott (Lonestar Rope Company), 5.35, $8,100. 3rd. #9, Brooks Dahozy and Preston Williams, 5.43, $5,400. 4th. #23, Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper (Cactus Saddlery), 5.83, $2,700.
Short go (Wrangler Round): 1st. #87, Luke Brown (Cooper’s Country Store • Purina Mills) and Martin Lucero, 5.95, $9,500. 2nd. #40, Justin Davis (T.J. Davis Ranch • The Loan Depot) and Cole Davison (T.J. Davis Ranch • The Loan Depot), 6.42, $6,000. 3rd. #92, J.D. Yates and Jay Wadhams (O’Donnell Quarter Horses), 6.55, $1,000. 4th. #94, Turtle Powell (Prairie Waterfowl Hunts) and Jhett Johnson (Bar G Freedyard), 7.32, $500.
Fastest time: 1st. #4, Kelsey Parchman (Parchman Construction Co., Inc.) and Caleb Twisselman (Flying T Cattle Co. • Madonna Inn Quarter Horses), 4.90, $2,000.
Average: 1st. #92, J.D. Yates and Jay Wadhams (O’Donnell Quarter Horses), 45.92, $130,510. 2nd. #87, Luke Brown (Cooper’s Country Store • Purina Mills) and Martin Lucero, 46.97, $95,060. 3rd. #94, Turtle Powell (Prairie Watefowl Hunts) and Jhett Johnson (Bar G Feedyard), 47.07, $61,110. 4th. #40, Justin Davis (T.J. Davis Ranch • The Loan Depot) and Cole Davison (T.J. Davis Ranch • The Loan Depot), 48.01, $30,555. 5th. #84, Tee Woolman (Heel-O-Matic) and Walt Woodard (Toyota of Glendora, CA), 50.10, $16,975. 6th. #19, Joel Bach (Lonestar Rope Co.) and Rich Skelton (Bloomer Trailers • Schwalbe Trucks), 50.21, $6,790. 7th. #46, Quinn Kesler (Double Dollar Livestock) and T.J. McCauley (T.A.V., LLC • Ray Forbes Prosthetic Specialties), 50.23, $2,000.
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