Berry, Ote
Steer Wrestling • Inducted 1998
Although his birth certificate says Scott Berry, everyone in rodeo knows him as Ote, thanks to his sister who gave him his nickname as a toddler. She thought that her brother walked like a television comic character named Otis, which was shortened to Ote. Berry, born Sept. 9, 1962, in Rapid City, S.D., has been involved in rodeo almost as long as he has had the name Ote. He started his career trying to ride bareback horses, but after a couple of injuries at the age of 13, he decided steer wrestling was more his event. His first in a long string of championships came in 1980 when he won the National High School Rodeo Association’s steer wrestling title. In 1982, Berry joined the PRCA hoping to make enough money to stay out of the hay fields. Most would agree he got his wish. Berry won his first world title at his first National Finals Rodeo in 1985. He returned to win three more bulldogging crowns in 1990-91 and 1995. When he won his last title in 1995, he became only the third cowboy in professional rodeo history to claim four or more world steer wrestling titles. Referred to as a “quiet champion,” Berry lives by the creed: “If you win, then walk over and pick up your money. If you lose, then walk over and congratulate the man who won.”
Accolades
Biography
World Championships: 4
Steer Wrestling: 1985, 1990, 1991, 1995
National Finals Rodeo Average Champion
Steer Wrestling: 1985
RAM Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion
Prairie Circuit:
All-Around: 1991
Steer Wrestling: 1991, 1995
Born: September 9, 1962 in Rapid City, South Dakota
Joined the PRCA: 1982
Rodeo Championships
California Rodeo Salinas / Salinas, CA
Steer Wrestling: 1993
Cheyenne Frontier Days / Cheyenne, WY
Steer Wrestling: 1983, 1991
Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo / Deadwood, SD
Steer Wrestling: 1986 (tie)
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo / Fort Worth, TX
Steer Wrestling: 1998 (tie)
Grand National Stock Show & Rodeo / San Francisco, CA
Steer Wrestling: 1985, 1988
Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo / Guymon, OK
Steer Wrestling: 1995
National Western Stock Show & Rodeo / Denver, CO
Steer Wrestling: 1985
Red Bluff Round-Up / Red Bluff, CA
Steer Wrestling: 1999
Reno Rodeo / Reno, NV
Steer Wrestling: 1988
Rowell Ranch Rodeo / Hayward, CA
Steer Wrestling: 1983
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo / San Antonio, TX
Steer Wrestling: 1987 (tie)
West of the Pecos Rodeo / Pecos, TX
Steer Wrestling: 1999
