ProRodeo Sports News - May 13, 2022

EDITOR’S LETTER TRACY RENCK

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, left, speaks to four-time PRCA World Champion Steer Roper Scott Snedecor on April 29 at a welcome reception for the contestants at the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping in Torrington, Wyo.

Cowboys relish roping in Torrington at NCFSR

C heyenne, Wyo., hosts the Frontier Days – the “Daddy of ‘emAll” a legendary PRCA rodeo. Just 75 minutes away fromCheyenne is the city of Torrington with a population right around 6,600. Torrington, the home of EasternWyoming College, is also a great host for the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping. The 2022 version of the NCFSR took place April 30 through May 1 and by all accounts it was a true success. Why wouldn’t it be? The people of Torrington, sponsors, you name it, rolled out the red carpet for the 35 ropers at the 2022 event. The ropers get to compete indoor at the spacious Goshen Pavilion. All involved know what they are doing since this was the 13th time Torrington has hosted the NCFSR. The importance of the event was obvious for the State of Wyoming as Gov. Mark Gordon was a special guest at the NCFSR welcome reception at the Cottonwood Golf Course on April 29. The Cottonwood Golf Course also hosted a dinner for the contestants and their family members on April 30. “I grew up roping every evening with my dad and having this circuit finals here just means so much to me coming here seeing these guys,” said Gordon, who was a special guest at the NCFSR welcome reception. “I think this is such an important event for this state and for this city. We are just delighted as can be to have this event.

and we need to preserve that legacy. We will do everything we can to make sure it (the NCFSR) stays here in Torrington.” Torrington wants to host steer roping and cowboys embrace and love that fact. “This is one of the bigger events we get to go to as steer ropers,” said Cole Patterson, 26, reigning PRCA Steer Roping World Champion. “They put on a heck of a function for us here and we get to rope amazing steers.” Patterson won the NCFSR for the second year in a row and left town after earning $8,185. Veteran steer roper Jess Tierney, who finished second for the second year in a row at the NCFS, also enjoys making the trek to Torrington. “This has turned into my favorite rodeo of the year because they really treat us so good,” said Tierney, a nine-time qualifier for the NFSR. “I was telling somebody on the way up here, this really is my favorite rodeo of the year. Now, I live in Oklahoma, instead of South Dakota fulltime and it is a 700-mile drive instead of 100 miles (to get to Torrington), but it doesn’t feel that way because it is such a great rodeo to go to.” Although Tierney didn’t get the NCFSR crown, he did earn an event-best $10,605, which was only $181 from tying Patterson’s event-record haul of $10,786 in 2021. Scott Snedecor, a four-time world champ, earned $10,095 at the 2020 NCFSR.

Tracy Renck is the editor of the ProRodeo

Sports News . He previously served more than seven years as a media coordinator at the PRCA. He has three decades of experience in sports journalism with the last several consumed by ProRodeo.

Anytime a cowboy can earn $10,000 at a regular season PRCA rodeo it is reason for joy, especially for steer ropers. It’s no wonder steer ropers like the cozy confines of Torrington.

“One of the concerns I have is steer roping is one of those fundamental (events) in rodeo and I have always felt strongly that there is a legacy here

ProRodeo Sports News 5/13/2022

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