DODGE CITY, Kan. – Cole Patterson knew he was following in some pretty big footsteps when he decided to compete in rodeo for a living.

He’s filling them just fine. His father, Rocky, is a four-time world champion steer roper and 25-time qualifier to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, and Cole earned his first trip to the finale last November at age 24.

On Tuesday, the young Pratt, Kansas, cowboy roped and tied down three steers in 38.5 seconds to win the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo’s first championship of 2020. He pocketed $3,865 in the process and inched his way past Scott Snedecor into the lead in the world standings.

Snedecor, a four-time world champion from Fredricksburg, Texas, finished fourth in Dodge City. He trails Cole Patterson by just $685 in the world standings.

Dodge City Roundup Rodeo
Steer Roping
July 28, 2020
Steer roping: First round: 1. Tuf Cooper, 10.5 seconds, $1,793; 2. Travis Mills, 10.6, $1,484; 3. Rocky Patterson, 11.3, $1,175; 4. Cole Patterson, 11.4, $866; 5. Jarrett Blessing, 12.5, $556; 6. Scott Snedecor, 12.7, $309. Second round: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., 9.7 seconds, $1,793; 2. Kelton McMillen, 10.6, $1,484; 3. Cody Lee, 10.7, $1,175; 4. J.P. Wickett, 11.3, $866; 5. Garrett Hale, 11.6, $556; 6. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Jess Tierney, 11.7, $155 each. Third round: 1. Rocky Patterson, 9.1 seconds, $1,793; 2. Trevor Brazile, 9.6, $1,484; 3. Ty Herd, 10.0, $1,175; 4. Jim Locke, 10.4, $866; 5. Scott Snedecor, 10.8, $556; 6. Cole Patterson, 11.9, $309. Average: 1. Cole Patterson, 38.5 seconds on three head, $2,690; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., 39.0, $2,226; 3. Trevor Brazile, 39.1, $1,762; 4. Scott Snedecor, 39.6, $1,298; 5. J.P. Wickett, 40.9, $835; 6. Blake Deckard, 41.2, $464.