Wednesday Mini Mag

“I’ve known all of the top steer ropers and look up to all of them just like I do Dad. To have my name in the same category is pretty rewarding. It’s every kid’s dream growing up to put on that world champion buckle,” Cole admitted. However, the second generation world class steer roper is most realistic about his championship outlook. “It’s a 10-head marathon at the steer roping finals,” Cole emphasized. “If you look back to just about everyone who has had good finals, they had a good first round.

“That first round sets the pace for the next nine head, it seems,” Cole analyzed. “You can’t put all the weight on the first one, but last year I got off to a bad start. When your game plan goes out the widow right after starting it usually is not a good thing.” The clock was stopped by Cole on only three steers at last year’s finals worth $5,420. Rocky collected $26,098 at last year’s finals to be 13 th . In his 26 th trip to the NFSR, Rocky, 55, was the world champion steer roper in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2016.

The five-foot-11, 190-pound cowboy was the PRCA Steer Roping Rookie of the Year in 1992. Cole matched his father’s feat as the Steer Roping Rookie of the Year in 2019. Horsepower is key to rodeo arena success and the Pattersons have one of the best. Mr. Blackburn Chex 113 “Dunny,” owned by Rocky Patterson, was the Steer Roping Horse of the Year in 2019. Ridden by Cole throughout this year and at last year’s finals, Dunny is expected to see action limelight this weekend. “That horse doesn’t ever do anything to just drop your jaw, but just always stays out of your way. He never hurts you,” Cole said.