On Saturday, November 11, horse trailers lined the roads of Athens, Texas as the top steer wrestlers from across the country descended upon Pat Hooper Leatherwrks Annual Veterans Day Jackpot.
Hooper, a PRCA steer wrestler, saddle maker, and veteran, proudly hosts this jackpot every year with the intention of providing quality competition and top-notch prizes.
With the support of multiple sponsors, Hooper delivered on both, and winner Chase Crane took home $7,000, plus a saddle and other assorted prizes.
A native of Boynton, Oklahoma, Crane has known Hooper since his childhood rodeo days and has been a loyal attendee of the jackpot since its inception. Although he has placed every year, this was the first year he won the whole event.
A special win in many ways, this win was also the culmination of his summer goals: to win every jackpot that had a saddle as the main prize. After burning up the road attending jackpots in Duvall and Kingfisher, OK, and winning the Rodeo Carolina steer wrestling, Crane achieved his goal by taking home five new trophy saddles and qualifying for the International Pro Rodeo Association (IPRA) finals.
While Crane did not grow up in a rodeo family, he grew up in a small community where athleticism was prized, and through local friendships with folks with horses, he turned his athleticism towards the equine world.
He started his journey as an eight-year-old competing in barrels in rodeos, before getting into calf roping and steer wrestling, his two current events.
One particular friend, Calgary Smith (his current hazer), was a steer wrestler and introduced Crane to the sport. Smith has remained an important part of Crane’s journey, and Crane’s competition horse Tarzan is from Calgary Smith Jr.
The sorrel horse gets the job done and helps Crane focus on consistency, which he sees as the secret to success, along with believing in oneself and never counting yourself out.
Crane believes the younger generation is filled with steer wrestling talent and the future is bright. Jackpots like Hooper’s help competitors line their pockets without having to be on the road constantly.
It was a good day for Crane, and for all who attended Hooper’s jackpot, and got to share in the fun and fellowship of folks who love to bulldog.
