ProRodeo Sports News - January 19, 2024

UVALDE, TEXAS

SAN ANTONIO RODEO STEER ROPING

Brodie Poppino wins San Antonio roping crown Unlikely Champ BY TRACY RENCK B rodie Poppino had not roped a steer since September. That’s hard to imagine considering what unfolded Jan. 12. The Big Cabin, Okla., cowboy bested a star-studded field to capture the championship at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo steer roping event, which took place at the Uvalde (Texas) County Fairplex.

“This is awesome,” said Poppino, 32. “I don’t know how you could beat it. This is a dream come true. I had absolutely zero expectations because I had not run a practice steer since the first of September, and I just came down here because it is one of the best ropings of the year. They add great money, and they are awesome to us. I just went down there to have fun and stay in my lane and see what happened.” Poppino won the event with a 36.6-second time on three head. He was riding his father, Marty’s horse, Ice Box to the title. “I was just able to draw the right steers at the right time,” Poppino said. “I drew them in the right order because they weren’t very good after I ran them or before I ran them. The Lord was just looking over me and truly blessed me today.” Poppino clocked times of 13.0 seconds, 12.0 seconds and 11.6 seconds in his three runs at the event, which had a $100,000 purse. Poppino left town after earning $12,223. “I was wanting to win it and I was trying to make the best run I could every time,” said Poppino, who finished 32nd in the 2023 PRCA | RAM World Standings. “I just had to do what I could do, and the steer ropers are super thankful that San Antonio brought the steer roping back and gave us the opportunity to compete for this much money. We are super grateful.” Poppino is no stranger to success as he is a three-time qualifier to the National Finals Steer Roping – 2014-15, and 2018. He finished a career-best 12th in 2018 with $64,197. “I wouldn’t say I’m retired by any means I think I’m too young to do that,” Poppino said. “I have a family now and my priorities just changed. I have been working more to support my family and be home more for them. I might enter a little more (after this win), I’m just going to play it by ear. “This is one of the top wins of my career. I won Cheyenne (Wyo.) in 2018 and that was super cool. There are a lot of awesome rodeos and you want to win all of them, and now I can check Cheyenne and San Antonio off my list.” Poppino and his wife, Taylor have a boy, Beckett, 7. When Poppino’s not roping, he works as a sales rep with Professional’s Choice, a Western Tack company. This is Poppino’s ninth year with the company. “It is nice to have a job to pay the bills,” Poppino said. “I spend a lot of nights away from home and a lot of miles traveling with my job, so it is hard when you get home and get out of a vehicle and get in a truck and trailer and be gone again.”

James Phifer photo Brodie Poppino, shown competing at the National Finals Steer Roping in 2018 in Mulvane, Kan., captured the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo steer roping win in Uvalde, Texas, with 36.6 seconds on three head. He left town after earning $12,223.

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