In The Arena

In The Arena

Bob Feist

During this next year I will be reminiscing about what happened 49 years ago in the Ropers Sports News.

I hope everyone had a great holiday season and is ready for a full year of team roping and barrel racing, plus any other events you may be involved in. My holiday pre-season found me in Las Vegas for more than two weeks, which included the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the PRCA Convention, plus some outstanding roping events.

This issue is special in that it starts our 50th year as a publication dedicated to team roping, barrel racing and rodeo. It has been an interesting 49 years leading up to this issue and I hope you readers enjoy some of our reminiscing of days gone by.

I can’t begin to thank all of the people who have made all of this happen over the years, but will try to start by thanking my late mom for loaning me $300 to pursue my wild dream of a team roping publication.

I recently visited Santa Rosa, where many of the California wildfires hit hard this past month. I was born and raised in that area and was shocked to see the devastation that this firestorm had inflicted. Many of my friends were wiped out by this tragedy, losing homes, barns, animals, and personal items. There was such short notice to evacuate, that many were blessed just to make it out safely. The first wave of this firestorm hit in the middle of the night and at some point it was traveling at close to 100 miles per hour. The wind was blowing embers long distances, spreading the fire at a very fast pace.