Perennial BFI money-winners Riley and Brady Minor aren’t entered this year, which will give someone else a chance to win Horse of the BFI. But eight other pairs of brothers will rope together, including two sets of twins.
Jake and Jim Cooper, now 40, were the first twins to make the NFR together in 2007, with Jake racking up two more qualifications and Jim getting five total. The New Mexico natives – sons of world champion Jimmy Cooper – will get back together in Guthrie. They’ll have to contend with another set of 34-year-old twins in Oklahoma’s Cole and Jess Morgan.
Paden Bray is one of the few older brothers that heels, rather than vice versa. The 26-year-old 2020 NFR average champ from Texas has already earned more than $800,000 with his heel rope and is trying for a fourth NFR but the first teamed with his brother Wyatt Bray, 24. They finished 22nd in the world last year.
Of course, Canadian champions Dawson and Dillon Graham, 25 and 23, are entered and won enough this winter to rank in the top 10 in the PRCA world standings. They came of age wintering in Arizona. Arizona also raised Aaron and Alex Velazquez, who won an Open in Wickenburg last month for going 25.6 seconds on four.
Finally, Wyoming boys Kellan and Carson Johnson, 26 and 24, will try on the BFI again. The former national collegiate champions are the sons of world champion heeler Jhett Johnson. But wait, there’s more. A couple of pairs of Texas brothers have been tearing up the CPRA and World Series ranks – Walker and Will Smith, plus teenagers Casper and Cross Ringelstein. The latter team has been been clocking 4-second runs since they were kids, and last December earned $22,500 for going 18.5 on three in the 14.5 Finale.
Finally, Wyoming boys Kellan and Carson Johnson, 26 and 24, will try on the BFI again. The former national collegiate champions are the sons of world champion heeler Jhett Johnson. But wait, there’s more. A couple of pairs of Texas brothers have been tearing up the CPRA and World Series ranks – Walker and Will Smith, plus teenagers Casper and Cross Ringelstein. The latter team has been been clocking 4-second runs since they were kids, and last December earned $22,500 for going 18.5 on three in the 14.5 Finale.