Nevada rodeo event moves to Lazy E Arena

GUTHRIE — One of the world' s most lucrative rodeo events has moved from Reno, Nevada, to Guthrie for the summer due to the coronavirus, and some Oklahoma rodeo athletes are climbing into the saddle to compete for more than $700,000 in prizes.

More than 100 roping teams will compete in the Bob Feist Invitational ( BFI), a five-day event for amateur and profess ion al team-rope rs, from Saturday through Wednesday at Lazy E Arena in Guthrie.

The event is typically held in Reno in conjunction with the Reno Rodeo, but the rodeo' s organizers canceled the event this year because they were concerned about the potential spread of the coronavirus.

That meant BF I organizers had to find a new venue, and the Lazy E happened to have an opening in June. For rodeo-loving Oklahomans, it's a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to watch some of the best team ropers in the nation compete close to home, event spokeswoman Julie Mankin said.

“Say Wimbledon moved from London to New York, people that never get to go are going to want to go,” she said.

Professional rope rs from across the nation are expected to compete this weekend, including Texas native Trevor Brazile. Brazile has won 25 gold buckles during his rodeo career and earned roughly $7 million from competitions.

Several Oklahoma athletes also will compete at the BFI. Charles Pogue, a renowned rodeo athlete and Goldsby resident, has won the BFI three times. He's been retired from professional rodeo for about 10 years, but he's ready to ride in Guthrie.

“The main thing was it coming to the Lazy E,” he said. “If it was in Reno, I wouldn't have gone out there for it because I just don't travel like that anymore. The guy I'm roping with called me about it, and I thought about it a little bit. I thought, `You know, I've got a couple pretty good horses and stuff,' and I thought, 'It's right here. I might go to it one more time.'”

Pogue said the BF I draws in some of the most talented team-ropers in the world.

Other Oklahomans competing in the event are Gage Williams, a Foster resident whoi steaming up with Brazilef or the event; Clay Smith, a Broken Bow resident and two- ti me world champion header; and Coleman Proctor, a Pryor resident and National Finals Rodeo header.

The Lazy E has 7,200 seats for patrons, though officials are limiting the number of seats available to enforce social distancing guidelines, according to David Wall, general manager of the arena. A total of 3,600 seats will be available for the BFI. So far, about 1,700 have been pre-sold.

Wall said patrons have been excited to purchase tickets for the event. He also said he' s honored that the event's organizer chose to host the event at the Lazy E.

“The Lazy E and rodeo are synonymous ,” he said. “This is the lifestyle we lead. Any time you can bring a world-class event like the BFI to your home venue—to your home state — it's a huge `get.'”

BFI organizers plan to move the competition back to Reno next year.

The Reno Rodeo ha s been a good host for the event in years past, and most of the BFI's professional rodeo athletes are already there, Man kin said.