Is this the year the veteran makes his move toward that elusive gold buckle? Fisher certainly hopes it is.

The 2011 season has been good to Fisher, a third-generation steer roper who is competing in his eighth Clem McSpadden National Steer Roping Finals. In fact, eight is the perfect number for the 30-year-old cowboy; that’s how many titles he won this season en route to this weekend’s battle.

Fisher – who last year competed at this championship with his younger brother, J. Tom, and their father, Dan – won titles in Dodge City, Kan.; Woodward, Okla.; Moses Lake, Wash.; Sinton, Texas; Gillette, Wyo.; Billings, Mont.; Dalhart, Texas; and Poteau, Okla. But this isn’t the first time Fisher has proven his talent.

At last year’s steer roping finals, he placed in two go-rounds and won the second and third rounds. Maybe just as big were his three second-place finishes. In just two days, he won $24,615.

How much will he win this weekend? Nobody knows, but it should be great fun to see.