Professional Team Roper | World Champion Header

Broken Bow, Oklahoma

Clay Smith is one of the most accomplished and consistent athletes in professional team roping today. A two-time PRCA World Champion Header, Clay has established himself as a perennial contender at rodeo’s highest level.

Raised in a rodeo family in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, Clay was roping on horseback by the age of five. That early foundation set the stage for a standout professional career that began in 2012. Just three years later, he qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 2015 — the start of an impressive streak that now includes eleven consecutive NFR qualifications.

Clay’s career highlights include back-to-back PRCA World Championships in 2018 (with Paul Eaves) and 2019 (with Jade Corkill), with career earnings surpassing $2.1 million. He has captured victories at many of rodeo’s most prestigious events, including Cheyenne Frontier Days, San Angelo, Greeley Stampede, Ellensburg, Fort Worth, and San Antonio.

Beyond the PRCA arena, Clay has also claimed major open roping titles, including wins at the Wildfire Open to the World and the USTRC National Finals of Team Roping.

In recent seasons, Clay continues to perform at an elite level. Partnering with Coleby Payne, he captured the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo ProRodeo Tournament and returned in 2025 to advance through the Wild Card Round with a standout 3.8-second run.

Known for his consistency, composure, and competitive drive, Clay Smith remains firmly positioned among the sport’s top headers — representing the dedication, excellence, and grit that define Border Valley Trading athletes.