The Senior Steer Ropers Association, a nonprofit organization, was started in 1984. The membership ranges from 50 year old “rookies” to 80 plus year old “veterans”. The Senior Steer Ropers include eleven former Professional Cowboys Association (PRCA) World Champions and many other accomplished ropers from some 15 states and every walk of life. They also boast about the fact that seven former and current members are in the RCA Cowboy Hall Of Fame. They are Sonny Davis, Troy Fort, Don McLaughlin, Clem McSpadden, Shoat Webster, Jimmie Cooper and Jim Davis. We have lifestyles that range from day working cowboys, rodeo cowboys, business owners, bankers, lawyers and a host of other professions.
Over the years, the Seniors have added a new dimension to the Cheyenne Frontier Days, Guymon Pioneer Days, Dodge City Roundup and the prestigious Windy Ryon Memorial Roping, plus numerous other rodeos and roping events throughout the United States. They complete their season at the great Lazy E Arena in November of each year for their SSRA National Finals at the same time as the PRCA Steer Roping Finals.
Today’s steer roping event evolved from the days of the open range when a cowboy, by himself, was required to doctor cattle outside. The cowboy would rope the animal by its horns and then lay it on its side, using only his horse and lariat. Throughout the years, this practice has become a primary rodeo event. As in the past, the cowboy of today ropes the steer around the horns, positions the rope to the right of the steer and as the steer continues forward, the cowboy rides to the left and lays the steer on its side. As the cowboy dismounts, the horse, continuing with his momentum, brings the steer to the cowboy who then ties three legs. The only communication between the horse and rider is a voice command. In those early days, it would take a cowboy an average of 60 seconds to secure the animal, but today’s cowboy is more of an athlete and has refined his skill to average less than 20 seconds.
Widely recognized as rodeo’s “Goodwill Ambassadors”, the Seniors with their roping prowess, outgoing and competitive nature, have thrilled rodeo fans wherever they perform. Moreover, their generous contributions to such entities as the Cheyenne Frontier Days Scholarship Fund, Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, Sonrises, Leukemia Society, Women’s Protective Services, the Rope-A-Wish Foundation plus numerous other charitable causes have helped to promote rodeo’s goodwill image throughout the country. The proud, well mounted men, consistently working for the betterment of rodeo, exemplify the best of rodeo’s past while helping to insure its future.
“So………, Let’s Go Ropin.”