It’s been a good four days for Scott Snedecor.
Over the weekend, the four-time world champion steer roper from Fredericksburg, Texas, won three of the first six rounds of the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping in Torrington, Wyoming. With that, he earned a spot in the semifinals, where he finished second, then won the final go-round to claim his first national circuit championship.
He earned $8,889 through the process, then loaded up his rig to be part of a contingent of steer ropers driving 500 miles south to the opening two days of competition at the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo.
Four days, 12 go-rounds and two championships. He placed in just one go-round in the Oklahoma Panhandle on Monday afternoon but clinched the aggregate title by 8.5 seconds over the runner-up, Brodie Poppino of Big Cabin, Oklahoma.
“It was a profitable few days,” said Snedecor, who won rodeo’s gold for the fourth time last season. “Anytime you get a win, it’s always good. To get those two wins back-to-back is a good confidence-builder.”
With four world titles and 21 qualifications to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, Snedecor is loaded with confidence. He had thought this was his second Guymon title, but there are no records to indicate he’d claimed the championship before this season.
“It’s one of my favorite rodeos,” he said. “It was really tough this year, because the steers were really strong.”
That’s what contestants have come to expect with Pioneer Days Rodeo. It’s known as a cowboys’ rodeo, which features great tests for all combatants. Snedecor passed the tests.
“I feel good and don’t have any issues,” said Snedecor, who turned 48 in February. “My health is good, my horses are great. The horse I rode is one I seasoned the last couple years, and he makes it easy.”
That’s Goose, a 14-year-old gelding he acquired from Oklahoman Shorty Garten. Snedecor had intended the horse to go to a client, but when situations arose that allowed him the opportunity to have Goose in competition, he decided to keep the bay for himself.
“I’d sold my good horse a month or two prior to that, and then I had a jackpot and a rodeo to go to,” Snedecor said. “I jumped on him and rode him at the rode and the jackpot, and it went really well.
“My wife told me I should just buy him.”
He did, and he added $13,336 in just four spring days to show for it. He also earned one of the most coveted prizes in ProRodeo: A Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo trophy belt, which should go well with whichever gold buckle he intends to strap on it.
Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo
May 1-7
Steer roping: First round: 1. Landon McClaugherty, 11.7 seconds, $1,715; 2. Cole Patterson, 12.7, $1,491; 3. Brodie Poppino, 13.0, $1,268; 4. (tie) Mike Chase and Tyler Hargrave, 13.7, $932 each; 6. (tie) Don Ed Eddleman and Cash Myers, 13.8, $485 each; 8. Jess Tierney, 14.0, $149.Second round: 1. Trent Sorey, 12.3 seconds, $1,715; 2. Slade Wood, 12.6, $1,491; 3. Trevor Hale, 13.1, $1,268; 4. Scott Snedecor, 13.7, $1,044; 5. Rob Denny, 13.8, $820; 6. Kelton McMillen, 14.0, $597; 7. G.R. Carter, 14.2, $373; 8. Billy Good, 15.1, $149. Third round: 1. Trevor Hale, 12.2 seconds, $1,715; 2. Mike Chase, 12.3, $1,491; 3. Will Eddleman, 12.9, $1,268; 4. Coleman Proctor, 13.4, $1,044; 5. (tie) J. Tom Fisher and Connor McNeil, 13.6, $708 each; 7. Blake Deckard, 13.8, $373; 8. Paul David Tierney, 14.0, $149. Fourth round: 1. Cody Doescher, 9.2 seconds, $17.156; 2. Neal Wood, 11.2, $1,491; 3. Blake Deckard, 11.8, $1,268; 4. (tie) Jake Clay and Dalton Walker, 12.0, $932 each; 6. Will Eddleman, 12.2, $597; 7. Brad Lund, 12.8, $373; 8. Jason Stockton, 12.9, $149. Aggregate: 1. Scott Snedecor, 56.9 seconds on four runs, $3,430; 2. Brodie Poppino, 65.4 $2,983; 3. Cole Patterson, 66.8, $2,535; 4. Jarett Holliday, 74.6, $2,088; 5. Matt Phipps, 76.8, $1,641; 6. Tyler Hargrave, 42.8 seconds on three runs, $1,193; 7. Slade Wood, 43.2, $746; 8. Rob Denny, 43.4, $298.
Legacy steer roping: First round: 1. Don Ed Eddleman, 13.8 seconds, $426; 2. Chad Mathis, 16.7, $320; 3. Buck Mekelburg, 17.1, $213; no other qualified runs. Second round: 1. Trent Sorey, 12.3 seconds, $426; 2. G.R. Carter, 14.2, $320; 3. Trey Wallace, 15.3, $213; 4. Dan Fisher, 18.1, $107. Third round: 1. Mark Milner, 14.5 seconds, $426; 2. Marty Jones, 15.8, $320; 3. Tanner Duwe, 20.0, $213; 4. Dan Fisher, 21.4, $107; Fourth round: 1. Brad Lund, 12.8 seconds, $426; 2. Chad Mathis, 13.2, $320; 3. Trey Wallace, 14.9, $213; 4. Don Ed Eddleman, 16.8, $107. Average: 1. Don Ed Eddleman, 52.7 seconds on three runs, $852; 2. Chad Mathis, 29.9 seconds on two runs, $639; 3. Trey Wallace, 30.2, $426; 4. Buck Mekelburg, 35.7, $213.