Tyler Tryan, Levi Lord Dominate 2026 Bob Feist Invitational, Lead Wire-to-Wire for $160,000
Chelsea ShafferMar 30, 2026
Tyler Tryan and Levi Lord capped a dominant performance at the Bob Feist Invitational with a 42.21-second aggregate, earning $160,000 to split between them—including $8,000 for the first-round win—leading the event from start to finish Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Lazy E Arena.
For Tyler Tryan, the win capped a career-defining week. Just one day earlier, he claimed the Jr. BFI title, adding another $35,000 to his weekend haul and further establishing himself as one of the sport’s rising young headers…
“I feel it’s good to win it,” Tryan said. “It’s a prestigious roping… I’m just super blessed.”
The son of the BFI’s all-time leading earner—three-time World Champion Clay Tryan—Tyler Tryan has grown up around the highest levels of the sport. From traveling to Reno as a kid to watch his dad win the event to now winning it himself, the moment carried personal significance.
“I think when you put your name down, you expect to win,” Tryan, 20, of Lipan, Texas, said.
Tryan won the Resistol Rookie of the Year title in 2025, finishing 19th in the world and earning $102,352. He won the Live Like Ace Foundation Open earlier in March for $25,000, and in February he won the Lone Star Shootout with with Jake Long for another $35,000 and a new trailer. He and Lord also won second at the Cervi in February for $14,600. At the rodeos, he and Lord have won $21,401 and $19,581, sitting 20th and 23rd in the early world standings.
Tryan and Lord—who will part ways after the California run this spring—opened with a 5.42-second run to win the first round, setting the pace in a field packed. From there, they stayed aggressive without losing position, building a lead that forced the rest of the field to chase.
“He just treated it like another jackpot,” Lord, 30, of Sturgis, South Dakota, said. “If he’s winning, he’s usually out at the front.”
Lord, who’s won $1.3 million in ProRodeo earnings, said the mental side of the six-head roping is often the biggest challenge—so he approached it differently than he has in the past.
“The roping went pretty smooth… but the mental battle of getting through the day can be iffy,” Lord said. “You’ve got to battle the thoughts of what if and how much money it pays. I literally roped and I went back to the stall and I watched on my phone. I didn’t see anybody all day. I didn’t eat. I didn’t do nothing. So I was just kind of with myself and my thoughts… just trying to pass the time and get through the day.”
That focus paid off. By the later rounds, the pair had built enough of a cushion to shift strategy slightly, balancing execution with situational awareness.
“You’ve got to balance… do we back off or keep roping like we have been?” Lord said.
In the short round, the equation simplified: a clean run would win the roping.
Tryan handled a moment of pressure at the barrier but recovered quickly, setting up Lord for a routine finish.
“I knew I got out… after that, I was just trying to make sure I rode my horse and got to a good spot,” Tryan said.
Tryan got a neck, and Lord never wavered.
“As a heeler, I’m not worried about what he’s doing… just get to a good spot and throw a good loop,” Lord said.
Behind the scenes, horsepower played a major role. Tryan’s mount, Cowboys Famous Guy, a horse that has found its stride with him after changing hands earlier in its career, delivered consistent starts and positioning throughout the day.
“[That horse] just gives you the best opportunity,” Tryan said.
Lord’s San Jo Deacon—a 2009 model gelding—provided the speed and control needed to capitalize.
The win also came at a transitional moment. The BFI marked one of the final major ropings for the partnership, with Tryan set to rope with a new partner moving forward. For Lord, the future remains open as he evaluates his next move.
“It’s a spot I’ve been in before,” Lord said. “I’d like to think I’ve done good enough to get a good partner.”
Still, for one day in Guthrie, none of that mattered.
“It’s the pinnacle of team roping… the hardest one to win,” Lord said.
