By Frank J. Buchman
It was a record performance for the Pratt County rancher and Pratt Community College rodeo team coach.
Rocky Patterson of Pratt added a fourth buckle to his gold collection during the 2016 Clem McSpedden National Steer Roping at Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane.
“It’s big,” said Patterson, 50. “It isn’t as easy for me to get out there and practice as it was 25 years ago.”
With his four championship buckles, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016, the top cowboy also received a Polaris four-wheeler.
Additionally, a single-season steer roping record of $141,350 was set by Patterson, surpassing the previous record of $121,112 by Trevor Brazile last year.
It’s the 22nd time the Kansas cowboy has qualified in the yearend finals sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Coming into the finals first in national standings with a $15,481 lead, it still wasn’t until the tenth round that the world championship was actually recorded.
Still leading the world by $21,905, Paterson was third in the average after nine rounds, while Cody Lee was first in the average.
Winning the average
