Breaking it Down – January 2025
Thanks to the Kimes Million Dollar Breakaway event, my daughter got to experience roping for more money than her dad did in all my years at the NFR. The top ten in the WPRA Breakaway standings were seated at this event and the other spots were up for qualification. Being 12th in the world qualified Hali for the semi-finals. The semi-finals had about 150 girls competing with the top three in each of the three rounds, and the top six overall got to advance to the finals.
Our plan was to try and place in one of the three rounds because going fast is what we do best. The plan was to go at all three and see where the chips fell. The game plan was to take two swings and throw. On her first calf, Hali was a little off balance and kind of stung her foot leaving the box. She took three swings and roped him around the ears. She had already watched all the preliminary rounds and made a list of the calves but asked me to make another list during the semi-finals. I do not get mad at my kids when they fail. We had a game plan that she didn’t execute. My daughter doesn’t like to be tickled and happened to get close enough I could get hold of her. So, while I was tickling her, we had a discussion about throwing on her second swing. I told her I didn’t care if she caught, missed, or fell off but she needed to throw on her second swing or her chances of advancing were not good. It’s her opportunity and chance to rope for a lot of money, I was just trying to get her focused.
On her second calf she was 2.09. We’re splitting second and third in the round with Kelsie Reininger and only 80 girls left to go. It was one of the most nerve-racking things I’ve experienced because of the unprecedented opportunities. I left the arena several times until there were just five girls left and so I start to relax. The last girl, Kash Gay, goes and she’s 2.01, causing Hali to split third place. The speed of this sport cannot be underestimated… had Hali been 1/100th of a second slower she would not have been in the top three. They had announced in the case of a tie, there would be a rope off and Hali is tied for the last spot. The two things we work on a lot is being able to catch and go fast.
Hali won the flip and chose to go second, which is an advantage because then you know exactly what you need to do to succeed. Kelsie missed her calf so Hali just had to go catch. I’m completely relaxed at this point. I told her to let the gate open and take a high percentage shot. She caught him and qualified to rope for $25,000 a round, ten rounds, and a $60,000 average. I was mentally and physically exhausted and felt like I had run a marathon. I was so excited for the opportunity my child would have.
She roped all ten calves and placed in six rounds. She also won 2nd in the average for a total of $115,000 in three days. She won more in three days than nine months of running up and down the road rodeoing. I believe there were ten girls who each won over $50K each at that event. The highest winning money winner at the NFBR was $35,000. You don’t have to rodeo all year long to have the opportunity to rope for that kind of money. I expect them to have a huge turnout next year. Check out these payouts:
Top money earners: Hali Williams $115,000, Danielle Lowman $105,000, Reese Jacobs $97,500, Kelsie Domer $95,000, Josie Conner $85,000, Jordi Mitchell $80,000.
Average Results: 1. Kelsie Domer, 41.61/10, $60,000; 2. Hali Williams 43.02/10 $40,000; 3. Shelby Meged 55.47/10 $30,000; 4. Danielle Lowman 28.98/8 $20,000; 5. Rickie Fanning 20.39/7 $15,000; 6. Reese Jacobs 24.76/7 $10,000.
I am very excited for Breakaway ropers. Congratulations to Kelsie Domer for winning two averages in a row, Kimes, plus the average at the NFBR and a World Championship.
The deal I had with Hali was if she had a chance to win a world title at the National Breakaway Finals, I would be in Vegas with her. If not, I would be in Wickenburg with Gabe. We stayed at Dean Tuftin’s in Scottsdale. Dean designed a Kimes like arena for Hali to practice in. Gabe and I rode horses and roped with Dean. My son’s heading has come a long way. He was able to win more than he spent and cleared about $20,000. He had some opportunities to win more but was happy to clear what he did.
We are currently driving home from Vegas. I thought he had a rodeo partner for Odessa but found out two permits cannot enter together. I had told him I would be on reserve if he needed me, so it looks like I’ll be heeling for him at Odessa. It brings back some serious memories of the 1980’s when as a heeler, I drove to Odessa from Jacksonville, FL, excited to start the new year. I’m not that same person and I hope my son heads good enough to get another heeler.
Looking back at this trip, my daughter won close to $180,000 for three weeks and Gabe won close to $40,000. The Florida boy that had his Icon banner dropped in the Thomas & Mack didn’t win a dime roping or playing Blackjack. The PRCA did a nice job of making Rich, Joe Beaver, and I feel pretty special, if not a little ancient receiving the Icon award. It was nice to have friends and family there for the banquet and people that were instrumental in my career there with me.
I don’t have words to explain the feeling of having our banner dropped in the Thomas & Mack. Though it was never really a goal, it’s a pretty good feeling know that as long as the rodeo is at the Thomas & Mack that banner will hang for future generations to see.
I was talking to a friend and grumbling about not winning a dime in Vegas, but also how proud I was of the kids and how much they’ve accomplished. He looked at me and said, “Isn’t that what you do now? Teach your kids and other people?” He’s right. I teach people how to ride and rope. The goal is to eliminate wasted motion. I’m blessed that both kids have chosen a career I can help them with and are doing well. So, in the big picture I really am winning.
