ProRodeo Sports News - May 1, 2020

COWBOY GRILLE WITH MATT NABER

Since he was first featured in the Cowboy Grille 10 years ago, saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in ProRodeo. With six qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2010, 2012-15, 2018) and more than $1.2 million in career earnings, the Nebraska cowboy is showing no signs of slowing down. In the last 10 years, Scheer bought his own place near Stephenville, Texas, where he can practice for ProRodeo competitions or just enjoy roping with friends. He will celebrate his 34th birthday on May 8 and is eager to resume competition once the COVID-19 pandemic settles down.

How has your approach to competing changed since 2010? Cort: I’m a lot more business savvy now. Back then I was young and hungry, I wanted to go everywhere and get on everything, but now it’s more of a business with a focus on staying healthy. If you don’t weigh in, you don’t get to wrestle. Do you think rodeoing smart is what has allowed you to stay highly competitive into your 30s? Cort: Yeah, I think so. I was fortunate with who I traveled with, Chet (Johnson), Tyler (Corrington) and Wade (Sundell), and some younger kids who filtered in too. But we have been together for 10 years, and that’s helped me out a bunch on knowing what horses to get on, what to do to your saddle and having someone with me who is willing to drive 20 hours straight to get on a horse, rather than someone who is there to party. Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic Fringe was your dream draw in 2010. Did you ever get to ride him? Cort: Tyler (Corrington) gets mad at me because I have been on all the good ones. I’ve been on him (Lunatic Fringe) four times, and he was a stud. Did you ever get to skydive again? Cort: No, I haven’t. I’ve been wanting to go but my girlfriend (Kortney Fisher) isn’t too crazy about heights. I dang- sure promise you skydiving’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I would love to do it again. Have you had a chance to use your Ag Business degree? Cort: Honestly, you kind of sit through those classes and wonder, ‘When will I use it?’ But I guarantee I used it. Rodeo is a business that involves talking to sponsors and committees, and it is marketing. Are you still a Nebraska fan? Cort: Oh, you’re darn right I am! It’s been tough, but we have a Frost Warning and we are coming on. What rides are you most proud of?

CORT SCHEER

Cort: It would be hard to put a pencil on any one thing. It was cool being 92 points on (Hi Lo ProRodeo’s) Larry Culpepper at the 2018 (NFR) Finals and winning Round 2. I spurred that horse good and went to him. Then there’s (Big Bend Rodeo’s) Kool Toddy at St. Paul (Ore.) last year, where I was 89. I love that horse, but that’s the best I got along with her. Kool Toddy is my favorite to get on and that was my favorite ride. What was the first thing you did when you hit the Strip in Las Vegas for your first NFR? Cort: I was pretty overwhelmed and didn’t know where to go or be, so I hung out with (Chad) Ferley and those guys, and they took me under their wing. The first thing I did was write down where I was supposed to be each day. We had to do autograph signings at the Aria (Hotel), and the night before, Cody Taton told me not to miss the autographs at 7 in the morning. I said, ‘Nobody will be there, that’s crazy.’ But I got up at 5 a.m., shaved and showered, and got to the Aria and there were tables against the wall. I was about 10 minutes late. I called Cody and said, ‘Dude, where is everyone?’ He laughed and said, ‘Dude, it’s not until 2 p.m.’ They got me, I got rookied. How do you approach the Wrangler NFR now?

Cort: I’m a lot more laid back. Before, I was hesitant and didn’t want to get bucked off since it’s on TV, and that makes you tight, but you ride best when you’re loose and having fun. How the week starts is the most important to me, that building will eat a guy up. If you go down, it’ll go worse. I want a rank spur out and a good third jump. If you do that, you will win a lot of money. What do you do for fun now? Cort: More of the above kind of deal, my girlfriend has a bunch of nice horses, and so I do a lot of work there at her place, and rope and ride my horses. If you do what you love for your job, you will never work a day, and I’ve got a smile on my face all day. What kind of music do you listen to while driving now?

Cort: My girlfriend hates it, but I listen to a lot of old country music. Before I get on, I listen to the old bread and butter of AC/DC to get my mind running and some Airbourne, too. Has your pet peeve changed? Cort: Now, it’s drivers that speed up and slow down – I can’t stand that when you got your cruise set; or when they have their lights in your mirror and stay on your rear end. That old answer was about Tyler Corrington, he’d have his boots off and his foot on the mirror out the window.

ProRodeo Sports News 5/1/2020

ProRodeo.com

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