story by Lily Weinacht
Patterson Starcher is leading the bull riding in the KHSRA. The 18-year-old from McClouth, Kansas, found his home in the chutes six years ago, the second generation of his family to step onto the rodeo trail. “I enjoy the self-improvement, especially from two years ago to this year, I could see myself improving,” says Patterson. “I’m winning more rodeos and doing better. I’ve had some things click for me, and I became good friends with Trey Holston, and that really changed the direction I was going towards rodeo.”
While Patterson was first a team roper and plans to enter this spring when someone needs a heeler, bull riding provided the extra challenge he was craving. “I wasn’t really against bull riding, because my dad was a bull rider, but it was the dangerous side of rodeo. Once I got into it, the enjoyment came from being able to conquer that challenge, and I didn’t find that in roping. I still enjoy it (roping), but I like the excitement and thrill of being able to ride.”
Skeeter Kingsolver, a PBR athlete from Patterson’s hometown, convinced a young Patterson that he should try riding bulls after they spent a day at the lake tubing. “He couldn’t throw me off a tube, and he said I should try riding bulls,” explains Patterson. “I thought if Skeeter was telling me to ride bulls, I should try. I called him and went to the practice pen and got on some steers. He’s definitely one of the main reasons I ride bulls, and Todd Holston, Trey’s dad, is one of the reasons I really started working after this sport and really trying to improve myself. We have two quotes that are kind of jokes, but one of them is, ‘Don’t be a frog.’ All that means is don’t quit trying — keep going. I have that on a sticker on my vest.”
In order to keep going, Patterson is on the practice barrel almost every night, or he visits Skeeter and works on his drop barrel. “If I need to get tuned up, like after this winter when we start rodeoing again, I’ll go to David Berry’s in Oklahoma and stay down there for two or three days.” He’s also getting his heel horse, Ace, legged up. Patterson says the black gelding has a lot of go, which he enjoys. “He used to rear in the box and never stops moving his feet, but as soon as we’re set to go, he does his job. I have a new little bay horse, Crank, that I’m going to take to a couple of high school rodeos.” Patterson also heads down the road with his dad, Lennie Starcher, and their blue heeler/Australian shepherd named Oakley.
A senior at Tonganoxie High School, Patterson is also attending Kansas City Kansas Community College and learning auto body and collision repair. “We got to take a front end — hood and fenders, and we sanded them down and fixed all the dents and sealed, painted, and polished.” He also wrestles on his high school’s team, though he’s competed in the sport since he was 4 or 5, and is known for his grip strength. Riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers, along with traveling outside of rodeo, also keeps him busy. Patterson and his family visited Yellowstone National Park and Arches National Park, and he hopes to check more national parks off his list, along with spending more time in Wyoming.
Being clear-minded and more focused during his rides is one of Patterson’s goals, while he plans to college rodeo in Kansas this fall after he finishes his certification from KCKCC. But first, he plans to top off his senior year by revisiting the Cowboy State with a qualification to the NHSFR.
