Letter from Bob
By Bob Feist
Here we are at the end of another Pro Rodeo season for those who traveled down the road hoping to make the top 15 and earn their way to Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals. What a year it has been in all events, but especially in the team roping race, with many record-breaking runs. As contestants end their rodeo run, many other team ropers are gearing up for their associations’ year-end finals to be held within the next couple of months. Still others are tending to their fall chores around ranches and farms, getting ready to head south to Arizona for the winter—a place with more team ropings than one can enter. Good luck to all of you, and safe travels.
This issue features one of my longtime friends, Gary Gist. Gary and I started our businesses around the same time and were around for all the early days of team roping before it was even a standard event in rodeo. I remember so many things about those days, especially Gary and his father, Byron, who had made the NFR and roped together at all the major ropings. They were a team to reckon with—both were always mounted well and knew how to win. They also had a number-one supporter in Gary’s mom, who was always there in elegant fashion, rooting for her favorite team.
When I founded Ropers Sports News in 1968, Gary was always a big supporter from the start, even when some didn’t feel the industry needed to be made public. Some ropers didn’t want their winnings recorded in any fashion. Gary was always for making the sport bigger and better.
Gary’s father was an artist with metal who could turn raw material into art through gates, windows, door ornamental coverings, and fences throughout the southern California area. I’m sure a lot of Gary’s talents came from his dad’s creative vision.
When Gary started making buckles and other pieces of jewelry, it was evident that his work was one of a kind and could be recognized by his craftsmanship. He would rope a steer and head right back to their motorhome to continue working on a project without ever leaving the roping. His talent became known, and soon he had many orders for different pieces of art. His buckles became famous in a short period, and it was a plus for any event to advertise that they were awarding Gist Buckles or other pieces showcasing his talent. Some ropings and events awarded money clips or necklaces from the many Gist originals.
It wasn’t a surprise when he was asked to create award designs for many major events, which added to their prestige. One was always proud to win a Gist award and would wear or display it with pride. World finals in many events boasted awards from the Gist line.
Gary soon outgrew the arena-side work table and moved to set up shop in the East Bay Area of Northern California. Thus, the brand name of Gist Engravers was born, as many other buckle companies had been in the Northern California area. After many years in the Oakland area, Gary wanted to move out of the metropolitan area into a more rural setting and made the move to the Davis area, and later to the foothills of the Sierras in his present location of Placerville, California.
I think one of my most memorable things about his award work—besides seeing it go to different winners—was when Playboy Magazine hired him to make buckles for the chosen Playmate of the Month. Now that’s outside the arena for sure.
He has made awards for many different events outside of the western world, including fishing contests and bowling tournaments.
When I founded the Bob Feist Invitational in 1977, there was no one else I wanted to create the BFI buckle other than Gary. He not only created the buckle but also roped in many of the BFIs over the years with many different partners, including his father. His buckle is still the buckle of champions at the BFI today. The BFI is soon to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
It’s very refreshing to see his legacy continue through his family, who have done a wonderful job along with Gary’s longtime staff of Wendy and Jennifer. Chad, along with brother Brandon and Gary’s grandson Cameron, are now taking over some of the reins.
I commend Dee Yates for featuring Gary in this issue and congratulate her and her staff on over a year of handling the reins of Ropers Sports News. It’s pleasing to see this publication continue after its creation in 1968. Dee has traveled extensively this past year to get a feel for the roping and rodeo business. In doing so, she has made many new friends and has gotten used to folks coming up to her with opinions about what needs to be done with this publication and in the industry. Most opening conversations start with: “You know what you need to do?”
Things have changed significantly in the last 10 years in the team roping industry—mainly the expense of participating in the event. Also notable is the lack of small jackpot arenas in the state of California. At one time, a jackpot arena could be found easily all over the state; now there are just a few in operation. The cost of operation—ranging from cattle to labor—is the biggest expense. At one time, the Central Valley of California was almost like wintertime in Arizona, with ropings every day of the week within a 50-mile radius.
Clements Buckaroos are bringing rodeo back to the Clements area with a fall rodeo happening the weekend of October 18th & 19th. Make your plans now to attend this rodeo that was a mainstay in the area every spring. The Stampede was known for their jeep roping, as Kenny Lane, a well-known cattleman in the area, displayed the use of a jeep on the ranch. A jeep in those days was what a quad or side-by-side is today to the modern rancher.
Speaking of the modern rancher, congratulations on the cattle market being so strong the past couple of years. Wow! Enjoy it, as we all know it could turn around at any time.
Congratulations to all of you headed to the ACTRA Finals in Reno again this year. Travel safe, and may all your runs be good ones.
