Bob Feist Invitational
You Think It’s Just A One-Day Team Roping?
By Taryn Krantz
Special To Ropers Sports News
A silence looms over the Reno Livestock Event Center, the smell of freshly raked dirt fills the building. The concourse, normally filled with spectator traffic, is empty. All eyes are on the arena, then suddenly a very distinctive and energetic voice booms over the loudspeaker, the voice none other than Bob Tallman. Just the sound of his energetic voice announcing the top 15 teams makes the hair on your arms stand on end. You grip your program and scoot to the edge of your seat, along with nearly 4,000 other spectators. The anticipation is equivalent to the final quarter of a Superbowl, but instead of the top football teams competing it’s the top 15 of the best 100 teams entered in the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping Classic.
The Bob Feist Invitational, better known as the BFI will be celebrating it’s 34th annual in June 2011. It has been dubbed the world’s riches one-day Open team roping, but to many, it is one of the top social events of the year.
Being involved with the BFI for the past eight years and each year while in Reno, running around as fast as a head horse catching up to a steer over the 18 foot score, one popular question asked by spectators has been “How are you so busy? It’s just a one day team roping!” Well, this one-day team roping has 4,000 spectators, pays nearly $700,000 in cash and prizes, and is the top selling team roping video. Yeah right, it’s no different than your average 3 for $15 jackpot. The work for next year’s BFI begins long before the new champions are crowned. So, to answer those questions, here is an insight as to what it takes to produce the BFI — our “one day event.”
Bob Feist began the BFI in 1977. Feist started the roping for the contestants and years later, the BFI’s main concern is still the contestants. An enormous amount of the time, effort, and brain power is spent working to make the event better for the contestants each year. Competing in team roping myself, it helps in relating to the contestant’s concerns and needs. Each time something is changed, the largest concern kept in mind is, how will it effect the team ropers. (Not to mention how much heck they will give me, as I personally know a majority of them.)
Before there can be contestants, there must be entries. In the past, the entry process for the BFI began in February and ended in March. This entry deadline helped keep the “paperwork” remidual. This early deadline aided in keeping paperwork simply because if there were team changes it gave more time to fix the paperwork involved. The problem for contestants and office staff came with the team changes. There are a lot of team ropers who begin the season roping with one partner, and come the spring season and after the California run if their partnership had not been successful, they change partners. This partner swap would require a change in our contestant list, a $50 a man fee for changing partners and in some cases, someone was left out of the roping because of the 100 team limit. This was noticed as a larger concern to contestants, it was almost a good thing for the roping. One year there were so many team changes that a saddle was nearly paid for from the fees collected. In order to eliminate, or at least alleviate some of the problems, Feist and the BFI staff decided to move the entries to April. This change allowed a majority of ropers to enter after a partner switch, saving them a fee and allowing everyone the chance to rope. This is one small compensation the BFI made for the ropers, one that many are not aware of or why it was done.
Each year the BFI office mails hundreds of entries. Entries are sent to contestants of the past two years, and to those ropers who have called the office and requested an entry form. Since a majority of ropers who enter the BFI are on the road rodeoing, the BFI also has entry forms available on their website. Once entries are received, they are kept in alphabetical order in a contestant binder. This binder is used throughout the event for storing roper information, sending confirmation letters, and to create the draw.
Besides having the opportunity to rope in the prestigious BFI, each contestant (when checking in) receives a contestant packet. The packet includes a program, spouse ticket, special contestant ball cap from Resistol, coupons, a feed certificate complimentary of Purina, and in past years a polo shirt from Wrangler. These packets are an extra gift donated by Feist and the BFI sponsors to thank the ropers for being a part of the roping. (In my opinion, I think they just like to torture me with more boxes to pack and load into the cargo trailer.) As you can image, 200 of these packets take up a large amount of room in the trailer. Each year the goal is to condense the number of boxes to pack these packets, while still increasing the contents inside each contestant bag (now is the time I wish I had super powers). The problem this past year almost took care of itself — the day before making the packets, we only had enough bags for half of the contestants. Now some people thought it would be a good idea to just hand the contestants their items, with no thought given as to how they could carry everything. Luckily for all concerned, on the way to the airport to pick up BFI staff member, Mallory Brown, a Boot Barn was on our route. Boot Barn was generous enough to donate enough bags to complete the contestant packets, and for BFI merchandise that was sold during the event. Thank you Boot Barn for saving the day.
Sponsors are the “backbone” of the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping Classic. Without a league of generous sponsors, producing a historical roping such as the BFI would not be possible. Besides being generous, our BFI sponsors are extremely patient. Two months prior to heading to Reno, sponsors are called, emailed and faxed once or twice each week. Thankfully, many sponsors return year-after-year. But BFI staff members work diligently on contacting new businesses with sponsorship proposals for the upcoming roping each year.
Before the final steer is even ran, the drive for finding next year’s BFI sponsors has begun. Every time a magazine is opened or a new western commercial is aired, a possible sponsor is targeted — that’s right, no business is safe! Each year the main goal is to make the BFI bigger and more lucrative than the year before, and this is only possible through the donations of sponsors. After a list is created of potential sponsors, packets are assembled and mailed — sponsors receive a BFI folder which includes a welcome letter, current information on the BFI, marketing levels, and the program from the previous year. On average, 100-200 of these packets are produced with no lack of paper cuts or comic relief. It is a running joke in the Ropers Sports News and BFI office during this time, our staff learns mail skills equivalent to any veteran postal worker.
Once these sponsor packets are mailed, the confirmation letters, phone calls, and emails come pouring into the office. Communicating begins on issues from what they will receive for being a sponsor, what they will be donating, when the awards are due, program ads, and anything else that comes up pertaining to each individual sponsor. For their donations sponsors receive a packet containing event badges, tickets, folders, programs and personalized BFI stationery. The major sponsors also receive a certain number of banners hung in the arena during the roping. Banners are very important advertising, because they showcase the sponsors to all ropers and spectators who attend the event. They are also viewed in the background of the official BFI video, pictures and television shows.
Long before the banners are hung in the arena, how the banners will make their way to the walls of the Reno Livestock event Center must be coordinated. Those sponsors with new banners are sent to the office and those who wish to use their banners from the previous year provide hours of fun and wrinkled fingers. Each banner must be sorted and washed individually. That’s right, banners are unrolled, and the “lucky” staff member takes a crawl position on an individual banner and starts scrubbing. Come May, the BFI office will be receiving an enormous amount of calls asking for these banner washing pictures to appear on Facebook. There sure are a lot of people who would pay good money to see me on my hands and knees scrubbing dirt and who knows what else off these banners — at least Bob lets me use a sponge instead of a toothbrush.
Before working for the BFI, the sound of UPS wheels grinding on gravel and the loud diesel engine coming down the driveway would spark excitement. Imaginative ideas of what “goodies” that brown truck could be carrying filled my mind. How things have changed since working for the BFI. Nowadays, I attempt to sneak out of the office before the UPS truck makes it’s daily stop at the Ropers Sports News/BFI office. That’s right, at age 24, I have absolutely no shame sneaking out of the office and leaving the lifting of, sometimes 20 boxes, to the older women on the BFI staff.
The UPS truck delivers boxes of merchandise, awards, and even the Wrangler box pads for the roping. Each time a box comes into the office, it mush be opened and checked. The contents of the box are noted, separated into it’s respective location until packaging begins, and, of course, ogled at by the office staff. One example of a large order that must be very closely checked is the horse blanket order from Kensington. Kensington provides blankets to go-round winners, fast time and all average places. Each blanket is embroidered with a major sponsor on it. It is very critical that each blanket is appropriately labeled, as this is how they will appear in the program. It is ironic that each year our UPS truck driver, Andy, takes his vacation time in early June (the same time of year our office receives the majority of it’s packages).
They catch the eyes of spectators like a big shiny diamond and it’s not the shimmering of Gist champion buckles. These eye catching items are the BFI badges you see hanging from sponsor and staff member necks. These badges allow access in and out of the Reno Livestock Event Center, and are the equivalent to a backstage pass at a concert. Once the badge style is selected, they must individually be created with titles and names. Once the badge is printed, all 300 badges created are run through a laminating machine, punched with holes and clipped on lanyards. The laminating process is one prime example of the amount of time involved in the pre-work of producing the BFI. Something as small as a badge can take hours to create.
May and June (the beginning of summer) are the most strenuous months when it comes to gearing up the BFI. Being a roper and barrel racer it’s hard to stay in an office from nine to five each day working on a roping, it’s hard to concentrate as a competitor. In order to stay focused and still fit practicing each day, going to work at six in the morning and leaving at three is the only solution. The only problem with this too-good-to-be-true scenario, is the only way for this schedule to be successful is filling the backseat of the truck with BFI homework. After working from six to three, getting home, practicing multiple events on a number of horses and then sitting down and spending the remainder of the evening working on more BFI projects, it becomes a strenuous and exhausting work week. These exhausting weeks become even longer when work is carried through to the weekend.
When packing the BFI trailer for Reno it is easiest done on a weekend, as this allows for packing without distractions. The trailer packing process takes roughly eight hours of heaving lifting, sorting, and finding that perfect spot for items to ride. After many years of packing the BFI trailer, the easiest way to load is to start by taking all the items out of the cargo trailer. This becomes interesting with young girls in shorts (we have to get a tan sometime) surrounded by boxes and awards. It becomes comical if taking into consideration of a road that runs in front of the office — there are cars that slow down and peek down the driveway, no doubt check out the next day’s yard sale treasures!
Hopefully this small insight of what goes on long before heading to Reno provided a greater understanding on the thought, passion, commitment, and effort which goes into producing this “one day roping.”
Part 2:
With a prize package of $600,000, the coveted title, and more than 4,000 spectators watching with anticipation, the pressure on the final 15 teams is nothing compared to that on the hands of the staff!
While in Reno, the main goal is to make sure all aspects of the Bob Feist Invitational run smoothly and successfully. With a successful day, at least to this point, the final 15 steers are the most crucial.
Many people think that while in Reno I have the best job ever: Seven days in the “Biggest Little City In The World,” access into closed areas, special parking, and a free room. The truth is, each one of these luxuries comes with an even bigger workload. So, if the first insight into the BFI did not convince you of all the work involved with this one day team roping, maybe this one will show you that I really do keep busy!
Thursday
The BFI experience begins with the three-hour drive to Reno, Nevada. One last trip to the office for double-checking and hooking up the trailer. Last year’s challenge was finding a ball that could easily make the BFI bumper-pull trailer ride smoothly on my Dodge pickup – luckily the B&W Hitch fit perfectly. Once hooked up and after double-checking each section of the office, I hop in the truck and hold my breath while pulling out, hoping I can make it to the main road without a phone call asking “Did you remember this?”
Trailer in tow, I head back to my house to pick up Mallory Brown and Erica Krantz. This is when the entertainment begins. Along with a full trailer of BFI items, we fill the bed of my truck with suitcases. Next it’s off to Reno, with one more stop to pick up staff member Rayanne Engel Currin. She is a brave lady for riding with us three girls – we all sing at the top of our lungs, even though Mallory’s the only one who can carry a tune. The ride is less than peaceful. Constantly running checklist, schedules, and asking someone to write down a note, and a constantly ringing phones; thank goodness for no-service areas!
The “Welcome to Reno” sign greets us with a feeling that we have arrived – and, when can we go home?
Weaving through cones placed around the Reno Livestock Events Center and fighting our way to the Reno Rodeo office in an attempt to gather parking passes, is less than successful. This is a bigger challenge than imagined, with it being the first night of the Reno Rodeo. Those people who have the parking passes in hand are out and about or in meetings handling problems of their own. So with no parking passes in hand, and the first rodeo performance about to begin, it takes every bit of sweet talking and a mouthful of explanations to get that BFI trailer through the chain link fence and parked in its “usual spot” outside the arena.
Once getting inside those fences, moving any cars in our parking spots, and weaving through the cone obstacle course, there is one more stop before heading to the Silver Legacy. Wrangler generously donates long sleeve shirts for all staff members of the BFI. Because Bob likes his staff looking sharp and professional, we drop them off at the cleaners where each shirt is starched and pressed. They next day they are delivered to the Silver Legacy, were they will be tagged for each staff member to pick up, along with their personalized packet.
The last stop of the night is the valet parking lot of the Silver Legacy. We make quite a scene unloading 10 suitcases, laminators, boxes of merchandise, and enough supplies to stock an office. It’s funny if you think about the 10 suitcases, that’s pretty good for three girls and six days in Reno. (If you do the math, the outfit-to-day ratio is about three-to-one. After unloading our “supplies,” it’s off to check into our room for the week. Along with our room keys, we are gifted a pile of boxes that have been waiting to be picked up. In most cases it takes three of us to carry the items waiting at the hotel to the room. If only these boxes had some presents in them for me, rather than more work!
The light blinks green on the lock pad to the door and we make our way into the room. Silver Legacy sponsors BFI staff with beautiful rooms and this gorgeous suite will be my “home sweet home.” I know what you’re thinking, lucky me, a nice big room free for six days. It is no understatement that the room provided by Silver Legacy is astonishing, the only problem is, I’m hardly in there! The hot tub in my room becomes a desk, which quickly becomes draped with items laid out for each day. It doubles as a daily checklist of items to bring. The coffee table in front of the couch is covered in those five-pound binders ranging from sponsors, contestant info, contacts, and my special organization binder. The dresser becomes a home laminating area with badges, lanyards, scissors, and an entire array of other office supplies. When in my room I am doing one of four things: getting ready for the day, eating in silence while I have some time, working on some task, or sleeping.
Friday
Friday morning begins at 5:30 am, at least for me. While in Reno, each morning begins with a quick run-through of the day’s schedule, packing the briefcase with items needed for the day, and dragging my two faithful musketeers, Erica and Mallory, out of bed! Once making our way down to the Silver Legacy’s main lobby, we begin setting up the hospitality table. This table is located near hotel registration for the convenience of our spectators. It has information for the roping, tickets, merchandise, a complimentary BFI video playing at all times, and awards displayed for viewing. Once rolling in nearly 10 carts full of items to be set up and arranged, Bob Feist, Jon Johnson, Rayanne Currin, and I quickly make our way to one of the Silver Legacy conference rooms to have a “pre-con” meeting with Silver Legacy managers and staff.
This meeting is very important because it is a time to run through all aspects of Silver Legacy and the BFI’s partnership for the event. Rooms, reception, menus, shuttle service, parking, and so many more issues are discussed.
Following the meeting I am handed banners to be hung in the arena at the Reno Livestock Event Center. You’re probably thinking, “So what, you got some banners handed to you.” It’s not just the banners, though. Random items are constantly handed to me – notes and constantly changing schedules. The challenge is keeping all items organized and completing each through all the chaos that arises with producing an event like the BFI.
Following the meeting I make my way back to the main lobby where hospitality table set-up is in full swing. There are clothes being folded, backdrops being set up, television stands created, and awards are arranged for display. Once it seems as if the hospitality table set up is under control and everything is going smoothly. I grab Mallory and zip over to the D-M Western Store with a few boxes of awards to be displayed. Along with selling tickets for the event, D-M also displays an arrangement of awards to be viewed in the store. While arranging awards at D-M, eight wooden saddle stands, sponsored by the store and Ropers Sports News, are picked up and distributed to their designated locations for display.
Following D-M and Silver Legacy hospitality set-up, a couple of staff members stay at the hotel to keep the hospitality table open for anyone to stop by. A group of about six make our way to the Reno Livestock Event Center to begin setting up the BFI booth. Now the biggest challenge of the day, McDonalds or Subway? After driving the obstacle course, everyone notices those cement handicap ramps located at the end of the indoor arena. What most are not aware of is during the week of the BFI, my truck and the bumper-pull trailer is backed up to this ramp about 10 times. The first time I ever did this I was so nervous, rodeo slack is going on and contestants are constantly walking by. I was so worried that I would run into those cement bumpers or jack knife the trailer. These days both Rayanne and myself could probably complete this with our eyes closed.
Boxes are unloaded, grids are tied together and the actual booth set up is a smooth process. The biggest challenge is bringing our boxes through those big doors in between drill team performances, dodging dirty looks and shouts of “Close the doors!” In between setting up, I make my way around the arena concourse and visit vendors, sponsors, and spectators. Along this journey any other awards, which sponsors have brought with them, are picked up. While making the pass around the concourse, sponsor packets are also distributed to save our sponsors the hassle of picking them up. Along with visiting these sponsors and vendors, the BFI office is unpacked and arranged for its opening on Sunday.
Once the booth set-up is complete, the office is unloaded, and public relations work complete, it’s back to the Silver Legacy. Once arriving staff members scatter and go about their evening activities, except Erica, Mallory, and me. The three of us get to make our way to the bell desk secret room where carts of long sleeve staff shirts are waiting. These shirts are sorted in size and tagged for each staff member. Luckily, we three girls have a pretty good system built up for completing any task, and can make even the most boring jobs interesting.
Finally, it’s time for a real meal and some relaxation, and going through checklist and schedules for the next day. After leaving the girls downstairs, I turn in early, a very important thing I have learned about my time in Reno. It’s funny because when first working on the BFI at 18, I could stay up all night and start working at 6 in the morning with no problem. Well, these days I enjoy turning in about 10:30 and watching the other girls sneaking in late at night. I enjoy even more dragging them out of bed at 6 o’clock each morning, and seeing the looks on their faces… hilarious!
Saturday
Saturday begins at 7 a.m. with the opening of the hospitality and arena booths. These booths are open from 8 in the morning until 7 p.m. My Saturday is filled with a scoreboard meeting, sponsor meetings, double checking arrangements, and arena coordination. While going about my daily activities in Reno, I lap the concourse an average of 15 to 20 times a day, each lap is about a quarter of a mile. Combine all this walking with little time for snacking and the BFI is the best diet you could imagine!
Sunday
Saturday is a pretty laid back day, compared to others in Reno, and Sunday is pretty similar until about three in the afternoon. After 3 o’clock, a quick trip is made to the D-M Western Store to pick up the awards which had been on display. While many people are at the BFI reception enjoying a nice dinner, bidding on top ropers and socializing; some of us trade in our cute shoes and outfits for a pair of jeans and dirty boots.
The first task in preparing the arena is to cover the arena walls with sponsor banners. Banner hanging is much more than everyone grabbing a banner and sticking them wherever they can find a spot. Each banner has a certain spot for recognition and a certain number based on various sponsorship levels. Luckily for me, “the boys” have banner hanging down to a science; these guys can hang banners faster and more accurately than any group of people I have ever seen.
After hanging banners, the arena manager realized the arena had been set up five feet too far to the left. This is when the fun began, or at least the tractor work. I know, five whole feet. These five foot would make a large difference for the BFI ropers, you can figure five feet is one less hop to rope a steer before getting into the fence. Once the boxes and chutes were moved over – a grueling three-hour process, thank goodness for Reno Livestock Event Center staff, it was time to run the steers through.
This year the steers were brought with a special treat, a pile of horn wraps not on their heads. Over a hundred steers, only two veteran wrappers and two others who received a crash course, and the alarm clock set for four in the morning the stress level was high. So, once wrapping all steers, hanging banners, and changing the entire chute set-up, we make a sweep of Reno attempting to find a fast food place open at one in the morning. Finally a McDonald’s is found, a drive through trip is made, and everyone involved in arena set-up is in their beds around 1:30 or 2 a.m.
Monday
The alarm screams at 4 o’clock – yes, that’s a.m! Three girls stumble around the hotel room like zombies and attempt to make themselves look presentable.
Once composed, we begin gathering any items from the room which we may have even the slightest chance of needing for the day. We make our way to the truck a little before 5 o’clock and we “three musketeers” are off to the Reno Livestock Events Center.
The truck and trailer is backed up the cement ramp, an assembly line of boxes and awards from the night before are unloaded and displayed for viewing during the day’s event. The women in the office prepare themselves for the onslaught of contestants, and once aiding in each task, I am off to double check and tie up any loose ends before the doors are opened.
Monday provides a day full of tasks, fast walking, and even quicker thinking. To talk about each task completed on Monday would require a few more issues, but I think this is probably about long enough. Let’s just say daily activities range from gathering up the time sheets after each round, ticket takers, sponsor interaction, and even contestant refreshments. Instead of describing each task in detail – let’s look at my least favorite!
The one task I most dread is separating and preparing awards. Since awards are displayed Monday morning for spectators’ and contestants’ viewing, preparing awards for the ceremony is very important. Around the third round of the roping, awards are gathered and taken outside where they are sorted into places and arranged for the awards ceremony. Mallory and I run through each award and place them in order of handing them out. To have these coordinated is key to a fast and accurate award ceremony, since many ropers have places to be and don’t have time to stick around.
It’s ironic that the third round seems to be the hottest part of the day. While we five-foot tall girls are lifting saddles and boxes, and getting the awards in order, attempting to stay clean in our white BFI shirts and keep our hair and makeup looking pretty – we see many strong-looking men walk by. Instead of hearing “Can I help you?” we hear comments of “That must suck,” and “Wow, looks like you’re having fun!”
Once award arranging is complete, there is normally just enough time left in the roping to make a quick sweep of all areas and handle any issues which may have arisen while outside separating awards. The short round sheets for the Wrangler Round are printed. Bob Tallman announces the short round, and Bob Feist and I take our spot on the arena floor to watch the top 15 teams rope for the coveted title. After each run I write down what happens, who places where, and use this sheet for reference during the awards ceremony.
Immediately following the final steer, the award trailers are pulled in, back drops are set up, and the awards are pulled out. Rayanne takes the champions and handles their awards. Myself – second through seventh in the average, all round winners, best head and heel horse, and fast time. The actual handing out of awards is a very simple process; it is finding the right team for each place and getting it done as quickly as possible that takes some time.
Each team’s awards must be set up so a picture can be taken for sponsor recognition and advertising. Each year the patience of the teams is greatly appreciated, they have other places to be. Once the final round is handed out and the last photo taken, I look into the awards trailer hoping to see it empty.
The emptiness does not stick around long – during the awards ceremony “the boys” are taking down banners. As soon as the ceremony is complete, the banners are thrown into the trailer for reorganization tomorrow. But it’s still not time to go home.
The office at the arena is broken down, loose ends tied up, and the merchandise booth closed for the day. Monday at 6 p.m. is similar to retiring, at least for me. With a successful day behind me, I can look back and smile thinking that with each staff member’s hard work, once again, a successful Bob Feist Invitational was held.
Tuesday & Wednesday
By Tuesday, most BFI staff members are packed and leaving “The Biggest Little City In The World” behind them – except for Erica, Mallory, and me. The three of us are responsible for opening the BFI Merchandise booth at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. The booth is kept open until the Reno Rodeo Invitational is complete. During the day we are also given the luxury of sorting and counting every single ticket from the day before, by hand! I also have the privilege of cleaning and reorganizing the trailer, after everything was thrown into it at the conclusion of the BFI. We three girls are able to talk two staff members, Austin Laramore and Dan Stewart, into watching the booth while we watch slack for an hour. Man, is it nice to soak up some sun – but then it’s back to work!
Come Wednesday, the BFI merchandise booth is left in the hands of Mallory, as Erica and I are both roping in the Reno Rodeo Ladies Only Invitational. Once the roping is complete, the three of us and Boss Bob Feist tear down and load the entire booth. After each grid is tied to the trailer, each box loaded, and the cash register packed, we lift the big white door at the back of the trailer, take the key and lock it up! Then it’s a sprint to get in the truck – seven days working in Reno working is plenty.
As we pull through the chain link fence for the last time and merge onto I-80 West, a silence comes over the truck (a rare occasion for this truckful). A smile comes across each face in a domino effect, proving that it was once again a successful event, and now the gossiping can begin.
By now you’re probably thinking I am either a control freak or a superhero – Mighty Mouse would be a fitting title. The truth is, along with Mr. Feist, I am the only staff member who oversees and works on all issues and tasks. Since Bob is so busy dealing with his own important work, many staff members turn to me to ask questions or locate something they may need. The BFI has some of the greatest staff members, I am simply there to aid them and lend a hand wherever needed. The most important thing each year is to produce a quality event for both contestants and spectators.
And when you find yourself scooting to the edge of your seat at this year’s BFI, holding your program with anticipation as Bob Tallman’s resounding voice announces the short round, take a moment and remind yourself, “Wow, this is much more than a one-day team roping!”
