INAUGURAL WINNER Cassie Bahe Named Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Breakaway Roping Champion By Amy Wilson T he 124th Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo continues to be legendary, but in new ways. They moved into the new Dickies Arena, implemented a new rodeo format, and added WPRA Breakaway Roping with an equal added payout of $127,600
dollars. Each ProRodeo event featured 56 contestants who were divided into seven brackets that competed in two rounds. Money won determined who advanced to the semifinal rounds or wildcard round, and ultimately the championship finals. Cassie Bahe, along with her younger sister, Anna, earned their opportunity to rope at the FWSSR from being ranked high enough in the WPRA Breakaway Roping World Standings after having success in the Wilderness Circuit. “We were about 30 cents apart going into the [Wilderness Circuit] finals,” Cassie said. “I ended up second, and my sister was first.” Cassie, 24, learned to rope from her dad, Francis, when she was about 5 years old. “My dad has always been a really good roper, but he mainly just team ropes. He got us started on roping and I’ve loved it ever since,” she explained. “There’s never been a time that I didn’t think I was going to rope.” With the recent advancement of breakaway roping in professional
round with a 2.6 second run, but Cassie missed her first calf. “I kind of got real down on myself thinking I was going to be out of it. But I came back the next day and won the round which got me into the semifinals,” Cassie said. Her 2.4 second run was enough to advance her to the semifinals. “I really love that tournament format which is based on money won.” With a couple days off, Cassie, who is originally from Grantsville, Utah but now living in Idaho Falls, Idaho, got to enjoy everything Texas has to offer but her focus was still on roping. She and Anna roped with James Barton a couple times. “That helped a lot,” she said. “It’s definitely nice to get a few practice runs in and especially with his help – he was awesome.” They also watched the calves at Dickies each night. Cassie Bahe took home over $23,000 from the Lone Star State after winning the inaugural breakaway roping title at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Bahe and her younger sister, Anna, both competed in the finals aboard the family’s equine partner Roy, a 13-year old sorrel gelding. Both Cassie and Anna called on Roy’s services during the historic event. Photo by James Phifer, Rodeobum.com
rodeo, Cassie and other breakaway ropers are getting experiences they’ve never had before. “It’s my favorite rodeo,” she said of the FWSSR at Dickies Arena. “The committee is awesome. We ate dinner in contestant hospitality most nights and I took showers in the locker room there. They are just so accommodating, especially for stalls and rv hookups – it was amazing. I’ve never been to a rodeo where they just accommodate to cowboys and cowgirls so much.” Then she added with a laugh, “I definitely felt like real high-class there.” The Bahe sisters both competed in Bracket 5. Anna won the first Cassie Bahe of Grantsville, Utah, did her family proud in Fort Worth at the brand new Dickies Arena. Cassie, 24, earned the biggest title of her career thus far and she credits her father, Francis, with teaching her how to rope at the age of 5 years old. Photo by James Phifer, Rodeobum.com
Cassie Bahe was all smiles in the winner’s circle at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo receiving her awards from Mr. Bass and Mr. Barnes. Photo by James Phifer, Rodeobum.com
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12 WPRA NEWS MARCH 2020
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