2022 PRCA Media Guide

Steer Roping

Patterson’s Historic Season Ends with First World Title

The steer roping record books underwent a makeover following the 2021 season. Cole Patter son’s season served as the hammer. The Pratt, Kan., cowboy’s historic season ended without a sweat, cruising to his first National Finals Steer Roping World Championship at the Kansas Star Arena., Nov. 12-13 in Mulvane. Patterson was relieved to capture his first gold buckle. “The hardest one to get is the first gold buckle and to get it this early is big,” said Patterson, 26. “I have a ton of family here. This has been a long time coming. A lot of work has gone into this. I want to try and reflect on everything. To think just four years ago I was learning how to do this.” Patterson entered the finals breaking the steer roping regular season record with $104,516, passing Tuf Cooper’s $89,427 mark set in 2018. The Kansas native’s third NFSR appearance mirrored his breathtaking 2021 season. The steer

roper placed in eight of the 10 rounds, including two victories in Round 3 and Round 8. His showing finished with 97.7 seconds on nine head, earning his first average title and the $27,347 prize. Over the course of the rodeo, Patterson collected an NFSR-record $85,726. The previous mark was set in 2016 by Cody Lee, earning $70,651. Patterson finished atop the world standings with $190,242, a single-season steer roping earnings mark. The previous record of $142,350, held by his father Rocky in 2016, never stood a chance. Cole joins Rocky as a steer roping world cham pion. Together, the pair is the third father and son duo to win steer roping world titles, joining John and Clark McEntire and Charles and Gary Good. “Anytime I get to rope with my dad no matter if it is in Mulvane or some little bitty rodeo in the middle of nowhere, I try not to take it for granted because I know one day it will not be there,” Cole

said. “He’s one of the best to ever do it and he taught me everything. I couldn’t ask for a better teacher, a better dad. He’s helped me every step of the way.” Patterson rode Tigger, 16, the 2021 Nutrena Steer Roping Horse of the Year presented by AQHA at the Kansas Star. “A lot of what I have been able to do comes back to this horse,” Cole said. “I feel like I have an unfair advantage when I saddle this horse in the morning. That’s not a knock on anybody else’s horse. There were so many good horses that were in this building this weekend, but this horse right here has something special about him.” – Dagin Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Rod Connor

Cole Patterson competes at the 2021 National Finals Steer Roping with his prized horse “Tigger.”

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2021 WORLD CHAMPIONS