Time again for the Bob Feist Invitational, held June 24th in Reno, Nev. The team list for this year’s roping includes veterans as well as some talented rookies. This is a roping that is set up for an elite few that have the proper roping talent, horsemanship, and horse power. It is not just another roping that someone may enter and think they are going to maybe have a good day and beat the best ropers in the world. You have to be mentally and physically prepared for this grueling day of competition.
The Silver Legacy is once again the host hotel and is where the majority of the top guns will stay, not only BFI contestants, but also Reno Rodeo contestants.
Gist buckles are again the prize to be proud of as a BFI winner. This year’s winners will also take home a bevy of awards from the very special sponsors. The Best Head and Heel Horse will be awarded bronzes provided by Montana Silversmith. The awards list is so special at this roping and many thanks goes out to those who have contributed over the years and to the new donors as well.
The Reno Rodeo Week has much to offer from rodeo performances to parades, kids ropings, horse sales, all ladies roping and the famed Reno Rodeo Invitational produced by Perry DiLoreto. Many unique side trips also make this a great week, such as taking a trip up to Lake Tahoe and having lunch on one of the tour boats on the lake. A trip to Virginia City is also very entertaining, learning about the great silver boom back in the early days. Much to do in the Reno area so make your plans now to attend this year’s BFI. Call the Silver Legacy today at 1-800-687-7733 and ask for the BFI special.
See you all in Reno on Sunday, June 23 at the BFI Reception held at the Silver Legacy. It's a great time to see all of your old friends and to meet some new ones.
– – – – – – –
The spring rodeos are in full swing and all of the traveling rodeo contestants are ready for the summer that gets underway during the month of June. Then it seems like in no time at all the 4th of July run is here and many new partnerships appear in the team roping world. There are some that may only last through the BFI and the Reno Rodeo. It is all part of team roping and has been for many years.
As of this writing, Kaleb Driggers and Travis Graves are leading the heading and heeling and each have different amounts of money won which means that they have been with different partners during the season. Landon McClaugherty and Tommy Zuniga are holding onto the number two position and have roped together all year as have the third place, Drew Horner and Buddy Hawkins II. It will be interesting after the next month and a half to see who is still together and who is in the lead.
It is nice to see Sterling Smith doing so well in the Tie Down Roping in the PRCA. He is the son of World Champion team ropers Brad and Barrie Smith. He has all of the right genes to be a champion like his mom and dad.
– – – – – – –
Redding, Calif. hosted the first Wrangler Champions Challenge Rodeo this past month and it seemed to be a big hit and will air on the GAC Network June 2. Spencer Mitchell and Dugan Kelly won first place in the team roping and took home $4,000 each for their 4.9 second run. You can check out all of the results in this issue on page 51.
– – – – – – –
As I write this, I am headed to Bishop, Calif. for the World Championship Mule Days Celebration. I will be announcing along with Bob Tallman and Steve Kenyon. This is one of our favorite events to announce as it is so different than rodeo. Some very gifted mules from all over the world come together in a mix of events from roping to sweepstakes jumping. It is a sight to see!!
– – – – – – –
June will go by fast and then it’s off to Salinas and the California Rodeo and all of their extra fun events from PBR bull riding to one of the best rodeos in the PRCA. They also host quite a golf tournament each year. The Steamboat Springs, Colo. summer series is in full swing by the 4th of July and is a neat summer stop if you’re roping around the country. They have jackpot ropings within the rodeo as well as one separate day of roping over the weekends.
Travel safe throughout the summer and make sure your trailer is ready for the hot roads of summer. Take it in for a once over to make sure that everything is working the way it is supposed to.
– – – – – – –
I am very honored to be nominated for induction into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s 2013 Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, Okla. Thanks to all of you for your support. See related story in this issue on page 10.