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Ora Taton Ready to Defend NCFSR Title

Everything aligned for Ora Taton at the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping last year.

The part-time roper’s consistent, solid runs led to his first NCFSR title, beating a star-studded finals field of legendary cowboy Trevor Brazile, four-time world champion Scott Snedecor and 17-time National Finals Steer Roping qualifier Vin Fisher Jr.

Taton won the finals with a 12.9-second run to edge Fisher Jr., who came in at 16.1 seconds.

“Everybody knew I was an underdog in the finals, and I was very surprised how things happened,” said Taton, 51. “It was just my day.”

Taton is back to defend his title at the 2021 NCFSR at the Goshen County Pavilion in Torrington, Wyo., April 24-25.

“That roping is a blast no matter when we have it,” said Taton, who lives in Rapid City, S.D. “The way the roping is set up with the long average and having to go head-to-head there at the end makes it interesting. A guy has to be prepared to try and stay in the average and go as fast as you can. Repeating as the champion is a tough deal. I’ve had really good luck there. I’m not going to bet that I’m going to win it again, but I would love to.”

The field of 33 ropers will compete in a six-head average. The first four rounds will be Saturday, while the final two rounds in the long-go will be Sunday. The top eight finishers in the average advance to the semifinals with the top four advancing to compete in a sudden-death round. The event begins at noon (MT) each day.

“Last year they had the event outside in July, and there’s hardly anytime in July you’re going to have fresh cattle,” Taton said. “They were older cattle. They were stronger running. We will have fresh cattle this time, which we usually do at this event, and I like fresh cattle. I just like roping steers, I don’t care where we are, indoors or outdoors.”

Taton qualified for the NFSR in 2003-04.

“Those two years, I won Cheyenne one year and took second in Cheyenne the next year, and that’s why I qualified for the NFSR,” Taton said. “That’s almost 20 years ago. There are more rodeos now that pay better. I don’t travel and I don’t rodeo a lot. Last year is probably the most I’ve gone, and I finished 20th (in the world standings).”

In Torrington, Taton will be riding Spur, the horse he won on in July.

While Taton is defending his NCFSR title, Cole Patterson will be competing in the event for the first time. Patterson leads the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $26,555. He’s qualified for the last two NFSRs, finishing fourth in the world last year.

“My mindset is the same as always,” said Patterson, who will be riding Tigger. “You want to try and tie everything down that you get drawn, and if you have a good one try and win something.”

Rocky Patterson, Cole’s father, who is sixth in the world standings, also is in the NCFSR field. He won the event in 2012 and 2019.

Vin Fisher Jr., who claimed the NCFSR crown in 2016, and his brother, J. Tom, also will be vying for top honors this weekend.

“The money counting in the world standings from the NCFSR is a huge deal,” Vin Fisher said. “I love the Torrington atmosphere. The committee is great and the whole thing is just phenomenal. It does up the ante when you know you’re going to a rodeo that counts in the standings and you can win $10,000 at because we don’t go to many rodeos where you can win $10,000.

“The toughest thing about Torrington is you have to make the top eight in the average even if you don’t place in the rounds. Last year, I think I went through the first six rounds and never got a check, but I made the top eight and finished second overall. There’s a tough trade off because the round money is great the first six rounds, but you can’t go out of the average. The mindset you have to have is just go out and tie six steers down. I think the format in Torrington is really fun. It’s the only one of the year we do that way, and it makes for an exciting finish, for sure. That pavilion is a great place to rope. Everything about it is good. That arena is a really nice size and the ground is really good. It’s a great setup.”


NCFSR TORRINGTON RECORD BOOK

Most money won: Scott Snedecor, $10,095, 2020

Fastest average: Scott Snedecor, 67.6 seconds on six head, 2020

Past NCFSR champions: Ralph Williams, 2010; Trent Williams, 2011; Rocky Patterson, 2012; J.P. Wickett, 2013; Roger Branch, 2014; Jason Evans, 2015; Vin Fisher Jr., 2016; Chris Glover, 2017; Will McBride, 2018; Rocky Patterson, 2019; Ora Taton, 2020

Courtesy of PRCA

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