ProRodeo Sports News - Oct. 18, 2024

PRORODEO STEER ROPING

BY TRACY RENCK P This is definitely a familiar spot for Cole Patterson. The 2024 NFSR is Nov. 1-2 at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane. “The PRCA gives us a $7,500 bonus for being the season leader and that helps pay some bills,” said Patterson, 29. “Also, being able to go in as No. 1 (to the NFSR) makes it nice to have a little bit of cushion because it is kind of anyone’s game once it gets to Mulvane. If you have a little tough luck, it doesn’t hurt to have a little bit of a cushion.” Patterson, who came to the NFSR as the season leader in 2020, 2021, and 2023, won gold buckles in 2021 and 2023. Slade Wood ($77,887); Vin Fisher Jr. ($70,335); Trent Johnson ($70,028); and Cody Lee ($69,667) are second through fifth in the world standings. “Our season is a little different than everybody else’s,” Patterson said. “A lot of our money is won at the spring rodeos. There are a lot of good rodeos in the spring, and I drew well at some of those bigger rodeos this spring and got off to a quick start and I was able to kind of not go quite as hard in August and September as I normally would have. “I always feel like in August and September in our event it is a lot harder to make money than it is in the other events. I had a lot of luck in the spring and that helped me get off to a good start and I rode that wave.” Patterson is making his sixth appearance at the NFSR and sixth in row – 2019-24. Patterson’s main horse is Dunny, 13. Dunny was the 2019 PRCA Steer Roping Horse of the Year. Patterson told the ProRodeo Sports News he retired his star horse, Tigger, 19, the 2021 PRCA Steer Roping Horse of the Year, after the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo, which ended May 5. “Probably 95 percent of my money came on Dunny, the horse I was riding my rookie year,” Patterson said. “I don’t know what makes him so special. Nothing really stands out about him; he is just good at everything.” Patterson acknowledged he doesn’t have much experience competing on Dunny at the NFSR. “I don’t know how he will do,” Patterson said. “I rode him my rookie year there and I had all kinds of heck and the second night I rode Tigger and tried to change it up. I really haven’t given him much of an opportunity in Mulvane, so this will be the year to find out.” Back in 2021, when Cole won his first world title, he and his father Rocky became the third father and son to win steer roping world championships. They joined John McEntire (1934) and Clark McEntire (1956-57); Charles Good (1975) and Gary Good (1979). The Pattersons are the winningest father/son duo in PRORODEO steer roping history as they have combined to collect six world championships. Rocky has four world titles in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016. “That’s the only reason I’m going is (to win gold buckles),” Cole said. “I have always been a super competitive guy and I’m trying to win first everywhere I go.” buckle No. 3 Still on Top For the third time in four years, Patterson is arriving at the National Finals Steer Roping as the season-earnings leader with $96,403 to sit atop the PRCA | RAM World Standings. Patterson eyes gold

PANTONES:

466C 468C BLACK WHITE

186C 655C C. GREY 1C

FONT: GEOM GRAPHIC (SEMIBOLD)- ADOBE FONTS

Kristen Schurr photo Cole Patterson, shown at the 2024 National Circuit Finals Steer Roping, heads into this year’s NFSR No. 1 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings.

ProRodeo Sports News 10/18/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 10/18/2024

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ProRodeo.com

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