With the year-end race separated by only a few hundred dollars, Macon Murphy rolled into Davie, Florida on November 14-16 and left with both Southeastern Circuit calf roping titles after stacking $9,672 onto his season.
Murphy started the weekend with $25,124 won on the year while his friend and closest competitor, Ike Fontenot, sat less than $500 behind him. Murphy only goes to the minimum 15 Southeastern rodeos each season, but he makes each one count.
“I go to 15 circuit rodeos and not one over,” Murphy said. “Most guys hit 40 to 70 rodeos, so I usually don’t come in winning first or second, but it worked out this year.”
In Davie he placed second in Round 2 with an 8.9 worth $2,232, won Round 3 with a 6.7 for $2,976 and sealed the average with a 26.5 on three head that added $4,464. He closed the season with $34,796 while Fontenot finished with $25,022.
Grinding Through Rounds 1 and 2
The weekend didn’t look like a sweep early on. Murphy’s first run got away from him and his second run was less than ideal, even though it still caught second-place money.
“My first one wasn’t very good,” Murphy said. “My second one didn’t feel great and I wasn’t happy coming back to my horse, but it ended up being enough.”
Heading into the final round he was splitting fifth and sixth in the average and figured he would be roping for a small climb, not a circuit title.
“I was at least two, two and a half second behind first in the average,” Murphy said. “I didn’t think the year-end was even possible at that point.”
Murphy’s Perfect Draw
The morning of the last round, Murphy’s good horse Julian felt a little off, so he changed plans and saddled his younger gelding, Cinco, registered as Boon Bayou.
“Cinco is really good for short scores and smaller cattle,” Murphy said. “And I had the calf they’d already won the first two rounds on.”
Cinco fit the setup perfectly and Murphy stopped the clock at 6.7 to flip the average race on its head.
Why Murphy Designates Southeastern Circuit
Even though he lives four minutes from the Texas line in Keatchie, Louisiana, the Southeastern Circuit fits Murphy’s program better.
“People think Texas is close, but it’s just as far from my house to Davie as it is to El Paso,” Murphy said. “And those big Texas rodeos everybody talks about don’t count for the circuit.”
The Southeastern Circuit rodeo committees have been increasing their added money, making a huge difference for guys trying to build a season.
“They’ve doubled and tripled their added money in the last few years,” Murphy said. “These rodeos are paying better and it’s finally worthwhile for the cowboy.”
It also keeps him close to his fiancée and his winter practice base in Okeechobee where he gives lessons during the early months.
With his horsepower dialed in and a strong circuit finish behind him, Murphy isn’t shy about his 2026 goals.
“I want to make the NFR and not just scrape in,” Murphy said. “I want to be top five going into Vegas. I feel focused and ready.”