A Memorable Day at The Bob Feist Invitational

I have always wanted to win a major. Not just place, not just make the short round, or win some round money, but to actually became a major champion. I’ve entered every major roping over the past 5 years now and haven’t had much luck at any of them. Yesterday was my day. Here’s how it went.

First, let me explain a little bit about what I mean when I say major. In golf, they have 4 major tournaments. Much like golf, roping has 4 major jackpots. In this order, we have the Wildfire Open to the World held in February in Salado, Texas. The next one, which is held in March, is the George Strait Team Roping Classic. From there, we go to the Bob Feist Invitational in June in Reno, Nevada, and in October, we have the USTRC Open Shootout in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Those are our four major ropings. They are the most prestigious events we have. Those are the jackpots you must do well at in order to make a living as a professional team roper.

Yesterday was a dream come true for me. Buddy and I’s year has been ok so far. We have done well at the rodeos and we actually have done better at the jackpots, but not that good. This past winter, after the NFR, I set a goal to make my jackpotting game better. I have had more success with it, but not enough. I bought a new horse, Rango, and have pretty much dedicated him to the jackpots. I went to practicing more on my mental game and developed way more focus and discipline for the all day jackpots and the longer formats we face. I was able to see some results of my practice yesterday at the BFI. Buddy Hawkins and I won the Bob Feist Invitational! It was a good day of roping for us. A summary of our roping right quick; the first steer ran a bit and we knocked him down with an 8.6. We made up some time on a good steer in the second round and were 6.6 and managed to place 3rd in the second round. The third round steer was normal and we were 7.0 on him. The 4th steer was gooood and I got a great start on him. He was tough to heel though and Buddy had to wait him out a bit but we got him with a 7.0 also. The 5th steer was normal as well. I missed my slack a little bit and I hit the steer a little hard in the corner. He drug a bit but Buddy cleaned him up pretty well. We were 7.7 on him. This put us at 37 flat on 5 head going into the short round. At that point, we had a second and a half on the next two teams behind us. There were 3 teams going into the 5th round, other than us, that had just as good, if not better, chances than Buddy and I had to be high call. Trevor Brazille and Travis Graves, Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill, and Daniel Green and Nate Preuit. I know all of these guys, except for Nate, very well and I look up to them. They have all taught me something at some point in my roping. I respect them very much. They are some of the greatest Ropers we have in our sport. To see what happened in order for us to be high call was almost unbelievable. Trevor roped a front leg to on a tough steer, in the fifth round, which caused them to go out. Daniel and Nate made a clean run and ended up being around 39 seconds on 5. The most surprising one of all to me was seeing Jade miss to be high call. Buddy and I have buddied with Clay and Jade for the past year. This means we go to almost every rodeo together and ride in the same rigs together all the time. I have been friends with Clay and jade for a little while now and they both have taught me more about winning than anyone else. They both rope amazing and I have always looked up to both of these guys as the best team in our sport. They are best day in and day out. To see Jade miss was tough for me. I sat for a minute with a heavy heart when I saw what had happened. I had to move on for a little while though, because I knew at that point, I was high call. I went to get on my horse. I felt nervous for a little bit, but I managed to slow myself down and realize that I had a second and a half gap on the next two teams behind me. I watched a few teams go in the short round to get the start down, as I normally do before I back in the box. The teams ahead of us had all caught, and we were about to walk in. Keven Daniel told me about this steer and Buddy had recognized him also. The steer was a runner and he was sloppy to heel. No team had put a clean run on him all day. Kind of a shocker to see him in the short round, but that happens. We had to be a 9.2 to win the roping. I backed in the box telling myself to take a safe start but to not let my aggression that I had had all day, go away. I nodded my head, got my start and rode hard. Roped sharp, and Buddy heeled him down. We were 8.2, I think, on the last steer and right then and there, I instantly got excited! I had just won the BFI! I mean, this is the roping that the legends I had looked up to have won. This is like our Master’s, or the Player’s Championship! I had won it! I had won it with my friend, Buddy! That makes it even sweeter!

I was excited. When I got texts from Clay and Jade, both, saying good job, my heart filled with joy. I was sad for those guys… They have helped me get to where I am at and it meant a lot for them to do that for me. I’ll see them shortly in Pecos, Texas, and I can’t wait for that. Despite the big win for me, the road goes on. The excitement will die down and now we have to go win at the next event. My friends are still with me and nothing really changes. We won a lot of money, which is good, but life still goes on. We need to stay focused on what we really want now. Not just making the NFR again, but make sure we maintain our priorities. My faith in Jesus Christ and my family and friends. Winning big is great, but we can’t let it be what our lives are about. Life is so much more than Team Roping.