The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Team ropers Steve Keeton of Sisters and Rick Foss of Redmond entered their first rodeo as a team on June 3-4.

The National Senior Pro Rodeo circuit event was held at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in Redmond. Aiming to have a good time, Keeton and Foss achieved their goal — and more. They brought home the champion’s buckle with a time of 7.2 seconds in the Sunday rodeo.

The National Senior Pro Rodeo Association has around 1,000 members, all over the age of 40. Rodeos take place all over the country, with a final held each year in November. Foss said there are more ropers than rough stock competitors at these senior rodeos, attesting to the adage that wisdom comes with age.

The motto of the association is “No Rocking Chairs!”

Each day’s rodeo is separate from the other, and there’s just one chance to throw the rope per day. Keeton and Foss knew their Sunday time would be near the money — it equaled Saturday’s winning time.

Foss said, “It felt great. I just wish there were more (Senior Pro Rodeos) close by.”

The Redmond event is the only Senior Pro Rodeo held in Oregon.

The pair are members of the Terrebonne Horse Club and rope at about 25 jackpots through the season, which runs from March through October. Keeton heads and Foss heels and they travel all over Central Oregon and into California during the season. They have been roping together for “a while” and are coached by Shawn Brown of Sisters.

The Redmond rodeo was Keeton’s first rodeo entry.

While they’re not inspired to leap into the pro rodeo cowboy lifestyle full time, the two plan to compete in local rodeos this summer.

“We made a bit of money and the buckles are pretty nice,” said Foss.