Here it is already June and BFI time is upon us with a full week of roping in the Reno, Nevada area. If you are a team roper, you should be making your plans now to attend this year’s Bob Feist Invitational on Monday June 19th at the Reno Livestock Events Center. It is a day when you can come and see some of the best in the team roping world compete under tough conditions (fresh cattle and a long score) for the coveted Bob Feist Invitational title. This is the 40th anniversary of this event and the producers have gone above and beyond to make this year’s roping memorable to the ropers as well as the fans. The BFI lets one go watch the skills of the best over a long score with bigger hard running cattle. This year, the Wrangler BFI Week will feature many other ropings over a four-day period in the Reno Livestock Events Center all in conjunction with the Reno Rodeo which is one of the richest rodeos in the PRCA.
Prior to the BFI, there are many other roping activities to attend in the Reno area. A roper can load up his or her favorite horses and head to Nevada for a full week of roping and watching some of the best competition going. This year seems to offer more ropings than ever in the Fallon to Reno area with a roping to fit all ropers skills.
I personally feel that on Monday a roper or fan of roping should be at the Reno Livestock Center watching the best of the best compete and admire the ropers and horses in this prestigious event. The event was created to display not only roping skills but horsemanship over the longer score on big, strong cattle. In the early years the roping had a 35 foot score in larger than normal arenas. There is much to learn and admire watching a full day of roping from the best. I compare it to watching the pros play golf or any sport where the best are going head to head under the same conditions. I feel a lot of skill associated with team roping has left the competition, but the BFI continues to use the old established rules of team roping where scoring is a big part of the competition. Some of the new rules eliminate the scoring and I understand the reasoning behind this from a safety and producer’s side.
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Check out the ads in this issue that have a wide variety of ropings to attend while in the Reno area. If you rope, there is a roping that fits your skill level offering great payoffs and a great prize line. Make your plans now to be in Nevada during mid June. Make your hotel reservations now by calling the Silver Legacy, Eldorado, or Circus Circus and use the code BFI17 for special rates.
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Now for the world of pro rodeo. Team roping on the headers side is being lead by Luke Brown with a lead of over $5,000 ahead of Erich Rogers as of this writing. The heeling is being lead by Cory Petska by some $5,000 over Jake Long. Of course it is early in the year and the big changes will come after Reno and the Fourth of July run. It is too bad that the ropers can’t count their winnings at the big jackpotss towards the world standings. Many of the ropers have had a great year on the jackpot trail but it doesn’t show in their earnings at the PRCA rodeos. Getting in the top 15 is the key factor in any event these days for a chance to compete at the Wrangler National Finals where big leaderboard changes take place during the 10 days with all of the big money being offered.
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Many fans have been asking about Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith as far as their standing positions. At this time they are sitting in the 28th position. Trevor has more money won in the steer roping than he has in the team roping and also has more in the tie down roping but is 33rd in that event. This team is staying home more and enjoying their families and other things in life. They are both veterans in the industry and some people would already be retired from a full time job counting all the years they have put in on the rodeo and roping scene. Look out for these two after the next month, as I am sure we will be seeing their name towards the top of the standings.
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Many events to attend in the coming months from barrel racing to team roping, as well as breakaway roping. Check out all the ads in this issue and make your plans. Make sure your horses are in shape as well as your vehicles. Have those trucks serviced and don’t forget your trailer. Great time to have those wheel bearings and tires checked. Sometimes setting for an extended time is the worst thing for trailer tires and wheel bearings. If you haven’t changed your trailer ball in some time you may want to do that as well. They do get worn and fatigued. A new receiver sleeve or pin is a good idea too, for the tongue pull rigs. Safety chains, brakes, and lights need attention too. Call your service person today and make an appointment before it is to late.
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Have a good summer and I hope to see many of you while in Fallon or Reno for all of the events going on. Good luck to all and travel safe.