Few other professional sports have as many two-generation superstars as rodeo does, particularly team roping. The BFI win column boasts champs from two sets of two-generation families.
David Motes was already a world champion header (he won the 1977 gold buckle with his brother Dennis Motes) and was working on an eventual 22 NFR appearances and four NFR average titles when he won the BFI in 1981 with Denny Watkins. Then, 28 years later, his son Ryan Motes came tight on the BFI victory with Caleb Mitchell in Reno.
“For us both to have been able to win the most prestigious team roping there is, that’s a pretty cool deal,” said Ryan, who was born the year before his dad won the BFI. “I grew up in Reno up on that concourse, getting to hang out and watch the BFI. So, it was sweet to be able to follow in my dad’s footsteps and win it on a day he was also there.”
Both David and Ryan had lucrative BFI careers, considering Ryan has also placed twice two times there.
“It’s grown from its California roots and moved around several times, but the BFI is definitely the most prestigious accolade for us,” continued Ryan. “Only a couple of guys have been able to do it like their dads. It’s so flipping hard to do.”
The Woodards switched things up – Travis won the BFI first in 2003 with Mikey Fletcher. Then his dad, Hall-of-Fame heeler and two-time world champ Walt Woodard, finally won “The Feist” after 30 years of trying (he and Clay Tryan clinched the win in 2008).
“Travis was only 19,” said Walt. “I knew what was at stake, and I was very nervous for him. What a run. He ate that steer alive. That will always be one of life’s defining moments for him.”
Walt admits that his own BFI victory became one of the most emotional moments of his entire career, because it was even more noteworthy to fans than when he won the NFR.
Finally, although they aren’t father-and-son, Monty Joe Petska’s 2004 BFI victory with Turtle Powell came more than a decade before his nephew, Cory Petska, won his own with Erich Rogers in 2015. Because Cody’s dad, Paul, was entered so many times in the BFI, Cory also grew up watching.
“You always dream of winning that roping,” said Cory. “When I was a kid, I used to sit on those bucking chutes when the BFI used to be outside in Reno and watch it all day long. So, my win was huge that way.”
Who will become the next second-generation champ to claim the impressive title? Will it be Trey Yates, joining his father JD Yates, who won the BFI in 2010? Tyler Tryan, whose dad Clay is the all-time winningest BFI roper with three victories? Brandon Beers could still join the history books with his dad Mike, who won in 1987, or Gabe Williams join his dad Speed, a three-time champ.
But good money is also on 18-year-old Nicky Northcott. His dad, Steve Northcott, won the 1991 and 1993 BFIs behind two guys riding a pair of the best head horses in history – Charles Pogue and Matt Tyler.
“I told Nicky, ‘Just catch two feet; don’t get in no hurry!” said Steve. “It’s a mental strain to stay focused for that many hours, and it’s a big stage. I told him not to let that get in his way.”
His other advice to his son? That no matter who’s entered, young Northcott shouldn’t feel like he’s roping against any other team.
“You’re here to beat the steer,” Steve told him. “You and the steer have a battle going on – you’ve got no battle with anybody else. When you look at it that way, it takes a lot of pressure off you. If you beat the steer, everything else will fall into place.”