PRORODEO Sports News - Nov. 7, 2025

PRCA’S TOP STEER ROPERS SET TO BATTLE AT NFSR FOR COVETED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP By Tracy Renck

T he stage is set. The Top 15 steer ropers in the PRCA will battle for the coveted gold buckle at the 2025 National Finals Steer Roping at the Kansas Star in Mulvane. The NFSR takes place Nov. 14-15 at 7 p.m. (CT) each day. Cowboys will compete in the first five rounds on Day 1 and conclude the NFSR with the final five rounds on Day 2. Reigning PRCA Steer Roping World Champion Cole Patterson is back to defend his title. He enters the NFSR after setting a single-season earnings record of $125,080. Trying to knock Patterson off his throne will be Resistol Rookie of the Year Riley O’Rourke ($96,537), four-time world champion Scott Snedecor ($75,104), Cody Lee ($74,005), Slade Wood ($67,626) and Vin Fisher Jr. ($65,148). Wood, who is making his fourth appearance at the NFSR – (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025), finished a career-best third last year. He also returns to the Kansas Star aboard Junior, a two-time winner of the Nutrena Horse of the Year Award presented by AQHA in steer roping (2023 and 2025). “Junior had been injured and I didn’t think I would ever get to ride him again,” said Wood, 23. “God had a lot to do with it because he was not sound and out of nowhere, he got sound, and he has been work

at the NFSR this year.” Fisher Jr. is making his 22nd appearance at the NFSR and his 18th in a row and he’s thrilled the NFSR has a record purse of $550,000. Round winners at the NFSR this year earn $11,277 and the average champ takes home $33,684. “That’s one awesome thing is the PRCA keeps increasing the purse,” Fisher Jr. said. “Each year the prize money goes up which makes the race more fun because there are guys who are back in the pack that have more opportuni ties to win more money and move up in the standings. “Mulvane is one of the best things that has ever hap pened to steer roping. I love the venue, especially for the friends and family and spectators who are able to come. It makes it so neat because you’re all in the same building with your friends and family for basically a week. You have the hotel, arena, restaurants all right there. Then every year the banquet (on Thursday night) gets better and better. A lot of committees come and people from the PRCA get to mingle with the steer ropers and that means a lot to the sport.” Patterson echoed Fisher Jr.’s thoughts about Mulvane. This will be the 12th NFSR at the Kansas Star, as it made its debut at the facility in 2014. “I think the (NFSR) has found a good home in Mulvane,” said Patterson, who has won all three of his steer roping world titles at the Kansas

ing amazingly. In July, I was not even in the Top 15 and I started rodeoing again and rode him everywhere and I moved to fifth in the world (standings) and it has to do all with

Star (2021, 2023, and 2024). There are restaurants and the casino and things for people to do where it feels like a getaway for them. It’s not Las Vegas by any means, but it has been a great home for us for sure.”

that horse. I’m really excited to see what I can accomplish riding him

Vin Fisher Jr. is one of several steer ropers trying to dethrone Cole Patter son at this year’s National Finals Steer Roping in Mulvane, Kan., Nov. 14-15. (PRCA photo by Laura Storey)

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Nov. 7, 2025