ProRodeo Sports News - October 27, 2023

EDITOR’S LETTER TRACY RENCK

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.

Clay Guardipee photo Steer roper Cole Patterson heads to the National Finals Steer Roping for the fifth year in a row and he’s aim ing to win his second career gold buckle. His first world championship happened in 2021.

PRCA’s best steer ropers invade Mulvane for NFSR T here’s plenty of hype about the upcoming Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented Teton Ridge at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas – and rightfully so. All the NFR qualifiers need to be applauded for making it to the Super Bowl of Rodeo. in Round 10 – by winning the round and the average. For those keeping score in the stands, the time to remember is 8.2 seconds – that’s the fastest run in NFSR history – accomplished by Vin Fisher Jr. in 2020. Trevor Brazile, winner of eight PRCA Steer Roping World Championships, has the average record of 111.3 seconds on 10 head in 2015. This will be the 10th year the Kansas Star in Mulvane has played

However, before the Wrangler NFR kicks off, the National Finals Steer Roping is taking place Nov. 17-18 at the Kansas Star Arena. There are many story lines to follow for the upcoming NFSR. Cole Patterson arrives in Mulvane after earning a single-season record – before the NFSR – of $118,515. Can Patterson win his second career gold buckle to go along with the one he captured in 2021? That year, he also finished atop the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $190,242 a single-season earnings mark that still stands as does the record amount of money he won at the 2021 NFSR – $85,726. Does Cody Lee, who sits in second place in the standings capture his first world title in his 18th NFSR appearance? Or how about Scott Snedecor? His drive for his fifth PRCA Steer Roping World Championship came up short a year ago as he finished fourth, but you can never count this clutch performer out. Back in the not-so-distance past, making up a lot of ground at the NFSR was difficult but that has changed now that the NFSR has a $500,000 purse. Round winners take home $10,035 and the average champ will earn $30,349. With some quick math, that means a cowboy could earn $40,000-plus

host to the NFSR. The only other city that has hosted more NFSR’s than Mulvane is Guthrie, Okla. It was the home of the NFSR from 1984-2000 and then again from 2009-2013. The Kansas Star has been a great home for the steer ropers. Lodging, restaurants, gambling, and the arena where the competition is held is located all on one property. The convenience of the event adds years to your life. There’s no driving through traffic jams and sweating to find parking – this is one-stop shopping at its best. And at the end of the day, there’s nothing like winning a gold buckle at the NFSR. J. Tom Fisher, who won his first career gold buckle in 2022 summed up the feeling well. “It was really cool getting up and putting on that gold buckle every morning,” said Fisher, who is back to defend his crown. “When I’m competing, I see myself as just a guy trying to be No. 15 and make the (NFSR) and then I would look down at that buckle at least once a day and make sure it is real and that it happened. It is awesome.”

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ProRodeo Sports News 10/27/2023

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