Stanfield calf roper Brad Goodrich has had his own rope company for the last four years. Among his clients are PRCA calf ropers Cody Ohl, Cade Swor and Scott Kormos.

By Sara Shepherd

Staff writer

HERMISTON Most professional rodeo cowboys have sponsors who supply their clothes, tack and ropes. While local PRCA Calf Roper Brad Goodrich has sponsors for his clothes and tack, he supplies himself with ropes from his own rope company.

The Good Ropes Company has a new location at 620 W. Coe Street in Stanfield. Prior to the move, the company was based out of Goodrich’s home.

The company, which has been in business for the past four years, had been a part-time sole proprietorship for Goodrich until the increasing demand for ropes began to inch its way into his full-time rodeo schedule. The demand was going to make Goodrich choose either spend more time with the rope company and less time rodeoing, or fall short of the rope demands. That was when Goodrich decided to get a business partner. Sean Webb has been co-owner of the Good Ropes Company since August.

After Goodrich purchased the shop for his company, he needed the equipment necessary to produce his ropes, he says. All the rope equipment featured in his shop, was built by Goodrich and his crew.

The company’s piggin strings rope machine was busy producing rope samples by December.

With a rising demand for ropes, says Goodrich, more rope-building equipment may be needed in the near future.

Good Ropes’ product line currently consists of polygrass ropes, poly ropes and piggin strings. They also have jerk lines and miscellaneous equipment.

Originally, says Goodrich, the business was created with the intention of building polygrass ropes, but now with the addition of a co-owner, the company is expanding their product line to horse tack and other equipment.

“Within six months,” said Goodrich,” we’ll be able to provide everything a calf roper should need.”

On rope tying days, Goodrich, Webb and employee, Andy Carlson, can tie about 100 polygrass ropes, but in order for them to complete that many, the rope undergoes two weeks of preparation before they can be tied. The poly ropes on the other hand, can be tied in quantities of about 100 each day of production.

Good Ropes come in an assortment of sizes, strengths and thread counts.

The main focus for production right now is the piggin strings, says Goodrich. The on-hand inventory for polygrass and poly ropes are good.

Goodrich says that his idea to create his own rope building company came to him after his polygrass rope sponsor was sold to another company and, shortly thereafter, was out of business. When Good Rope Company was created it enabled Goodrich to produce a polygrass rope that met his high standards.

“I calf rope exclusively with polygrass ropes,” said Goodrich. “It utilizes the horse’s ability to work better.”

“It (polygrass ropes) has a natural feel and a truer consistency,” he added.

During his first year of business, Goodrich utilized his calf roping buddies for feedback. Into his second year, he was selling ropes, and by his third year, he had an established business.

The Good Ropes Company sells to both wholesale and retail dealers across the United States. Currently, Good Ropes are sold in more than 40 retail outlets.

Good Ropes Company is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

For additional information about Good Ropes, contact Goodrich or Webb at (541) 449-3333.