PRORODEO Sports News - Nov. 7, 2025

MANAGER'S MESSAGE

PATTERSON READY TO DEFEND CROWN AT LUCRATIVE NFSR

T here was a time not long ago when the PRCA Steer Roping World Champion was essentially deter mined before the National Finals Steer Roping started. Sure, the Legend Guy Allen was part of the reason because he captured a single-event record 18 PRCA World Championships – 1977, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1989, 1991 2001, 2003 and 2004. Then, there was the fact that the cowboys couldn’t win enough money at the NFSR to catch the season leader. Es pecially, if the cowboy came in with a sizable money lead. Well, that’s not the case anymore – which is a good thing. When the Top 15 steer ropers get set to do battle Nov. 14 15 at the Kansas Star in Mulvane, the winner, in all likeli hood, will be determined by who does best at the NFSR. “With as much money as there is nowadays at the (NFSR), no lead is safe,” reigning world champion Cole Patterson said. “Obviously, I would like to think I can surely hold my own like I have all year, but you never know what can happen in two days. You can have a bad two days but that can’t change your mindset as you get ready. You have to just keep practicing as hard as you have all year and keep your foot on the gas pedal and don’t look in the rearview mirror, I think that’s when guys get in trouble. They start looking behind them in stead of looking ahead.” Patterson’s line of thinking makes sense. The 2025 NFSR is the richest in the storied event’s his tory with a $550,000 purse up for grabs. Included in that is the following breakdown: Round: Average: $38,885 $116,150 1. $11,277 $33,684 2. $9,332 $27,876 3. $7,388 $22,069 4. $5,444 $16,261 5. $3,500 $10,454 6. $1,944 $5,808 A year ago, Patterson came in with just under a $19,000 lead and then held on with a dramatic performance in Round 10. With a championship hanging in the balance in Round 10, Patterson delivered a 10.6-second run, which split second in the round, and catapulted him to his third PRCA World Championship at the Kansas Star Arena. Patterson, who also won gold buckles in 2021 and 2023,

Cole Patterson is ready to defend his championship at the National Finals Steer Roping. (PRCA photo by Ryan Jae)

needed to finish fourth or better in the round to clinch the world title and that’s what he did to defeat hard-charging Scott Snedecor by $4,141. Patterson enters the 2025 NFSR with a new single-sea son steer roping earnings record of $125,080. He holds a $28,543 lead over Resistol Rookie of the Year Riley O’Rourke. In the past, that would seem like a comfortable lead – but not anymore. Now more than ever, Patterson has to be consistent at the NFSR to keep collecting checks and stay in the average race. It is a challenge he welcomes. “Riley is young and probably the fastest there’s been and he’s dangerous,” Patterson said. “He no doubt is going to leave his mark on the sport. Honestly, the best accomplishment I could give myself is sitting back and watching guys like Riley, Scott Snedecor, and the Fishers (Vin and J. Tom). These veterans are destined to be in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and sometimes I sit back and think, ‘How am I beating these guys?’” He has and whether it happens again will unfold two days in mid-November at the Kansas Star.

TRACY RENCK , Manager of Communications and Media

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