By Kendra Santos
 
GUTHRIE, OKLA. – The BFI 11.5 Businessman’s Roping is only open to ropers over 30, but Rusty Goforth and Andy Anaya have 100 years between them. For roping four steers in 34.19, the happy champs stormed the Lazy E Arena for $140,000 and the thrill of their roping lives.
Goforth, who’s 40, is a 4+ header. He lives in Mineola, Texas, with his wife, Elizabeth, and kids, Bella, Luke, Levi and Grant.  
“This is great,” Rusty said. “I grew up watching the BFI all these years, but this is the first one I’ve gotten to come to since it moved to the Lazy E. This is a great honor.”
Anaya’s played on roping’s biggest stages. But as he gets set to turn 60, it’s been a minute since he’s stepped onto center stage.
“This is really big for me,” said 1989 Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year Anaya, who grew up in Arizona and now lives in Canton, Texas. “I’ve never won anything this big. I’ve put in a lot of work, so this means a lot to me.”
It being a Businessman’s Roping and all, both of these guys do have day jobs. Goforth owns a feed store and fertilizer business in Mineola—Big Country Farm Center.
“I started roping pretty young—when I was 10 or 12,” Rusty said. “But I took on my business at 22, back when I was a broke kid. So I didn’t rope for 10 or 12 years. I just started back up roping two years ago. I can take a little more time to rope now that my business is established.”
Anaya actually roped at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo over 30 years ago. That was half a life ago, and he heeled for Robert Scoggins. The BFI 11.5 Businessman’s Roping is capped at a 7 heeler, and Anaya is just that now.
“What’s shocking to me is that I caught four in a row for this guy,” Andy grinned. “We’ve only roped together a few times. We’ve placed before, but I’ve also missed some steers for him.”
Anaya works for fellow team roper Brad Lands at Larrett Inc., which is a drilling company. Andy takes care of the horses and cattle as the ranch manager, and says Brad is surely in the running for the best boss award.
“My boss wants to rope more than I do,” Anaya said. “Brad and I rope every day, and sometimes Tyler Wade and Tyler Kirchenschlager come rope with us. Brad is totally devoted to roping. He wears me out. He’s in it to win it.”
Goforth and Anaya came from third high callback behind Joe Beaver and David Markham, and Mark Calagna and Justin Saulters. And yes—that’s THE Joe Beaver, the ProRodeo Hall of Famer. Both of those teams finished in the top 10.
Second to Goforth and Anaya in the average were Jeff Schieber and Nathan Golay. They were 34.47 to Rusty and Andy’s 34.19, and went home with $90,000, Cactus Saddlery Pads and Cactus Ropes. Three-Steer Consolation Average winners Mel Smith and Larry Cox won $7,500 and Cactus Saddlery Pads.
But in the end, this was Rusty Goforth and Andy Anaya Day.

11.5 Businessman’s Results
Aggregate (on 4): 1. Rusty Goforth and Andy Anaya, 34.19, $140,000; 2. Jeff Schieber and Nathan Golay, 34.47, $90,000; 3. Samuel Livingston and Danny Zuniga, 34.76, $58,000; 4. LaRaye Stipes and David Walker, 36.75, $30,000; 5. Barry Berg and Dustin Noblitt, 36.76, $20,000; 6. Ernie Cordova and Chance Kiehne, 38.1, $15,000; 7. Joe Beaver and David Markham, 38.88, $12,000; 8. Ricky Schultz and Jesse DeBord, 38.39, $10,000; 9. Mike Row and Steve Harrison, 38.41, $9,000; 10. Mark Calagna and Justin Saulters, 38.63, $8,500; 11. Chick Wilfong and Billy Simmons, 39.07, $8,500; 12. Justin Turner and Seth Schafer, 39.79, $8,000; 13. Anna Gregory and John Gregory, 40.14, $8,000.

Consolation Average (on 3): 1. Mel Smith and Larry Cox, 21.64, $7,500; 2. Ricky Bolin and Brock Middleton, 23.47, $6,000; 3. Beverly Robbins and Guy W. Graden, 23.59, $4,000; 4. Tish Luke and Harrison Teixeira, 23.82, $3,000; 5. Xavier H. Villarreal and Jesse Beam, 24.99, $2,000.

First Round: 1. Kyndall K Bates and Dustin Darling, 6.18, $5,000; 2. Cody Stutenkemper and Chris Pomeroy, 7.02, $3,500; 3. Shane Dockrey and Daniel Chartney, 7.32, $1,500
Second Round: 1. Rusty Carter and Ryan Victory, 6.12, $5,000; 2. Matt Raulston and Bradley Ball, 6.29, $3,500; 3. Gaylon Robinson and Scott Morlan, 6.48, $1,500
Third Round: 1. Joe Rios and Bobby Simmons, 6.35, $5,000; 2. Ryan T. Benton and Shaun Berry, 6.41, $3,500; 3. Mike Woolven and Dennis Moore, 6.43, $1,500.
Short Round: 1.Herman Wheaton and David Miller, 8.14, $5,000; 2. Cameron Southard and Tooter Silver, 11.57, $3,500; 3. Brandon Foster and Gary Hughes, 13.71, $1,500