Billed as “the most anticipated Monday of the year,” the Wrangler Bob Feist Invitational is ready for its 44th anniversary. The $700,000 Wrangler BFI, held for 35 years in Reno, has partnered with the other titan of the roping industry – the $200,000 Cinch Timed Event Championships (CTEC) – as they converge the same week in Oklahoma’s Lazy E Arena. With no expectation of last-minute changes, Wrangler BFI Week will happen March 14-18, immediately following the CTEC on March 11-13.
Even though western events have been through the ringer this year, BFI plans to knock it out of the park with their 44th Anniversary Roping Event. Sponsored by Wrangler, the Bob Feist Invitational is the most respected event among team ropers who appreciate smooth roping as an art and a great spectator sport. Starting Thursday, March 11, will be the official kick-off where some of the best and most elite open and amateur teams will start the competition. They will be in a competition of over six rounds of roping for a total of $700,000 in cash and prizes as well as coveted BFI buckles. In addition to the standard schedule, there are several side events such as the Jr. Ironman, concerts, All-Girls Team Roping and Breakaway plus much more!
Thursday, March 11
Friday, March 12
Saturday, March 13
Sunday, March 14
Monday, March 15
Tuesday, March 16
Wednesday, March 17
Thursday, March 18
As if this man doesn’t hold enough records – which include the 2010 PRCA gold heading buckle, the 2013 BFI championship, and seven Timed Event Championships of the World – check out the fact that no team has ever roped six BFI steers faster than he and Patrick Smith eight years ago. But that was on the heading end of things.
This March, Brazile will heel at the BFI for the first time since his rookie years in rodeo. He’s teaming with fellow horse trainer Miles Baker, with whom he partners on several young rope horses. It’ll be the first big event for the pair, although they’ve jackpotted a bit together around Decatur.
For Baker, 28, the BFI’s move to Guthrie was great because it’s just a hundred miles from his house. And he only lives a couple of hours from Brazile’s home, so the King of the Cowboys was a fan of the move, too.
“I didn’t know how many times I was going to go back out to Reno, because when you’re not rodeoing, that’s a long way to go for a jackpot, even one of this stature,” Brazile said. “The Lazy E is set up perfectly for the BFI.”
This year’s BFI roster is filled with interesting matchups, including veterans bringing young partners. Two-time world champ Walt Woodard – with at least 40 BFIs under his belt and one victory – will heel for International Finals Rodeo heading champ Zack Kilgus. And Hall-of-Famer Rich Skelton will try to extend his record as BFI all-time high-money winner with 22-year-old Tanner Green (grandson of legendary cowboy Phil Lyne). Also, eight-time NFR header Derrick Begay is packing 18-year-old Jaylen Eldridge, while two-time world champ Matt Sherwood will head for 23-year-old Kycen Winn. Arizona is sending even more talent, too, in brothers Dawson and Dillon Graham, 21 and 19 (snowbirds from Alberta), and in recent Rodeo Rapid City champs John Gaona, 21, and Trevor Nowlin, 22.
Former BFI champions Chris Francis and Cade Passig are in the mix, plus last year’s champion heeler, Reagan Ward, is teamed with former world champion header Nick Sartain. Good bets in 2021 will include 2016 BFI champ Wesley Thorp teamed with NFR average champion Cody Snow, as well as reigning NFR average champs Erich Rogers with Paden Bray, fresh off a six-figure win at RFD-TV’s The American. Former reserve BFI champ Lane Ivy is heading for former BFI champ Ryan Motes, while you can never count out the gold-buckle team of Smith and Corkill or past BFI winners Tryan and Long. Great money would be on fast-time king Tyler Wade with NFR average champ Trey Yates. Also, don’t count out world champ Chad Masters, who has won everything except a BFI title in his 20-year career, with Joseph Harrison, or the freshly reunited Kaleb Driggers with Junior Nogueira.
These world-class teams are featured in the BFI’s annual cowboy auction on March 13 in Edmond, which is open to the public, free of charge, and sells roping training aids in addition to the BFI’s entered teams. The event raises tens of thousands of dollars for charities like Wounded Warriors Project.
The BFI itself begins Sunday morning and is streamed live on www.WranglerNetwork.com. It’s followed on Monday by the 12.5 Oil Field Showdown and 11.5 Businessman’s Roping; Tuesday by the 10.5 Over 40 and 9.5 Over 40 ropings, and Wednesday by the Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl Challenge – again expected to be the highest-paying women’s roping in America. Wrangler BFI Week will wrap up Thursday with the Hooey Jr. Championships.
Every event except the BFI is free of charge. BFI tickets are available in person at the Lazy E box office, by phone at 405-282-RIDE, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.BFIWeek.com for more information. Reservations with special roper rates are available at Edmond’s Hilton Garden Inn.
Credit to BFIweek.com
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