Quietly Climbing: Here Come Derrick Begay and Colter Todd

By Lane Kareny, Courstesy: TetonRidgePlus.com

Talking with Derrick Begay and Colter Todd individually, you’d certainly draw some comparisons. You’d guess they’d be compatible, and it’s no surprise that the Arizona natives are actually best friends. While the first word that you’d probably use to describe both men would be “cowboy,” “sensible” would probably come in a close second. Their cowboy comradery extends well beyond the arena. Contrary to many team roping teams out there, their friendship isn’t a result of their partnership. It’s their deeply rooted friendship that has landed them in the arena together.

Begay—who with his wife, Justine, and daughter, Brindle Mae, 3, calls Seba Dalkai home—is a nine-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo header. Todd, who ranches around Willcox with his, wife, Carly; their 18-year-old daughter, Madilyn; and sons, Colter Lee, 14, and Traven, 13, headed at three consecutive NFRs from 2006-2008.The Todd family ranches and rodeos together, and supports each other’s dreams.

Daddy Derrick got his roping out of the way to keep his date with daughter Brindle Mae at Disneyland.

For the last few years, Begay has found a balance between life on the road and life on the ranch. Todd put down his team ropes after the 2008 NFR to raise his young, growing family and never looked back. Their perspectives and their friendship are the backbone of what has organically evolved into a successful team roping team. It wasn’t a lengthy, in-depth plan to hit the road together, but rather their relationship and God’s timing that has them riding the rodeo wave they’re on now.

“With Colter and me, none of this was really planned. It’s one of those deals where one thing led to another. I guess it starts with he’s my best friend, and our friendship is the centerpiece of all of it,” said Begay, 39. “We have the same outlook on life, and share really similar lifestyles. Luckily, I like to rope and he likes to rope, so rodeo is something we have in common. We get along good, and like doing all the same things together.”

The truly organic part of this is that it started with Begay just reaching out to his dear friend Colter—who’s best known as a world-class header, but heeled all through high school—to fill in and heel for him at a couple Arizona rodeos after COVID hit.

“Whenever Begay asked a couple times if I’d fill in, I talked to my wife and thought it would be fun to heel behind somebody that fast. How often do you get an opportunity to heel for somebody who at least at one time was one of the fastest headers from the head loop to turning the cow,” said Todd, who’s also 39. “We entered Payson and Cave Creek (Arizona). I could’ve missed the very first one, but I caught both of them, so it became more intriguing, because I had a false wonder if I could catch more.

“I never dreamed or even thought it would be anything more than those two rodeos. I don’t know how it’s gotten to this point. I don’t even know what this point is, really. But I’m enjoying the moment. We don’t talk about rodeoing or roping or a run. When we get in the truck, we’re always talking about cattle, somebody’s ranch, this country or that country, or we might just not say anything for four hours. I bet we haven’t turned the radio on for a total of five minutes. I enjoy that time in the truck together talking about life.”

One thing led to another and again, Begay needed a fillin partner for San Angelo last year. They won it. Parlaying that success and excited encouragement from home, Begay and Todd eased around last summer and look to be gearing up for a summer run in 2023. “After we won San Angelo, I ran it (rodeoing) by my boys last summer. My wife and family were all excited about it, maybe even more so than me. He (Begay) needed a run, and I had no excuse to say no, because my family wouldn’t really give me a good one. So I was like, ‘Heck yeah,’” said Todd. “He (Begay) really started entering me from Cheyenne on. I had bought my continued on page 18

Derrick Begay and Colter Todd

really started entering me from Cheyenne on. I had bought my (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) card since 2008, but just to be a pickup man for my friends at Salt River Rodeo, never to compete. Even three years ago, I’d have said I’d never do it (rodeo) again. Every now and then, that thought enters my mind and I wonder if I’m going back on my word. I hate making bad decisions, but between prayer and my kids being intrigued with it, I don’t think I am.” The thing about Begay and Todd—who as of today are ranked 12th and 18th in the world on their respective sides—is that even though they’re hitting the road, their perspectives remain the same. While their desire to compete is there, and obviously their success is indicative of their talent, family is first for this team.

The 2023 Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo team roping titlists, Begay and Todd, are men of few words. But when they speak, everyone listens, and when they rope, everyone watches. The format at Guymon in the timed events is for the Top 12 in the aggregate on two head come back to the final performance on Sunday afternoon. While Begay and Todd were slated to rope Sunday, they found a trade to the first perf in the progressive round on Friday night, so they could get home. Begay was in Southern California by Sunday evening to take Brindle Mae to Disneyland. Todd spent the weekend at his boys’ Junior High State Finals Rodeo. Though Begay and Todd’s perspective allows them to find a balance of peace between being gone rodeoing and getting back home, their competitive nature is lurking around, as well.

“None of this was planned around a goal or anything like that, but guys like us love the competition so we like entering. It’s never been about the money for rodeo cowboys, so that’s not the driving force or the case, either. When you’re winning, it makes it fun. When you’re roping with someone you get along with so well, it makes it even more fun and next thing you know, you’re entering something else,” grinned Begay. “I don’t have the goal of making the NFR written on my bathroom window or anything like that, but making the NFR is a natural feeling to anyone that ropes competitively. It’s always naturally in the back of your mind, but I don’t think we have to do it to prove anything to ourselves. It’s fun.”

Todd shares those sentiments, and isn’t shying away from the idea of making the NFR a reality behind Begay. But it won’t come at the expense of life outside the arena. “It’s not like we have $60,000 won, and it’s June and making the NFR seems like a reality. But you have your moments when your mind is wandering. Especially where I’m at, your mind can wander pretty easy. If I wanted to throw up a dream, then I’d say that it’d be sweet for us to make the NFR,” Todd said.

“To put it in a nutshell, I’ve always tried to be where God has wanted me to be. From 2008 until last year, it has been in Willcox, Arizona on a ranch raising three kids, trying to be a good husband to my wife and building that relationship.”