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HAPPY BIRTHDAY WPRA
Today marks the 77th Birthday of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), the oldest women’s sports organization in the country. The Association started in 1948 with a group of Texas ranch women. A major move at the time, 38 women met in a hotel in San Angelo, Texas, on February 28, 1948, to change the way they were being treated in the male-dominated world of rodeo. These women banded together to create the very first professional sports association created solely for women by women – the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA). In 1981, the GRA changed its name to the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). The WPRA, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado., provides opportunities for women across the United States and Canada to compete in the timed events of barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, and tie-down roping.
Thanks for keeping this Association alive and well for 77 years and here is to many more years ahead!
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Election Ballots Due Back Next Week
Eligible voting members for 2025 should have received a digital election ballot via email on February 13 (Reminder there will be no physical ballots).Sent from: WPRA Election Coordinator - noreply@directvote.net
Please refer to the key dates for the remainder of the election process below. Be sure to reference chapter 3 in the 2025 WPRA Rulebook for more information.
If you have additional questions, please contact Hannah Miller in the WPRA office or your Circuit Director.
WPRA 2025 Election Key Dates:
On or before Thursday, February 13, 2025 - Election ballots will be sent to eligible WPRA members electronically - Please reference rule 3.3.1. in the 2025 WPRA Rule Book.
- The 2025 WPRA election will be digital ONLY. There will be no physical ballots sent.
Thursday, March 6, 2025, by 5pm MT- Election ballots are due back to the election vendor - Please reference rule 3.3.2. in the 2025 WPRA Rule Book.
Monday, March 10, 2025, by end of day - Election ballots will be certified by the election vendor. Candidates are notified the following business day - Please reference rule 3.4.1. in the 2025 WPRA Rule Book.
Tuesday, March 11 – Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Election recount period - Please reference rule 3.4.9. in the 2025 WPRA Rule Book for a recount by candidate.
First Board Meeting to be held around March 30, 2025 (physical attendance is required in Colorado Springs, CO) - Please reference rule 3.4.2. in the 2025 WPRA Rule Book.
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Qualifying Rodeos Set for 2026 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
With the start of the 2025 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo we wanted to make our members aware of the qualifying rodeos for the 2026 edition of this legendary rodeo in both the barrel racing and breakaway roping.
The champion contestant (winner of the barrel race and breakaway roping) from these 7 Texas Circuit PRCA Rodeos in 2025 that enter will be accepted (drop down until filled):
Mark your calendars now to take advantage of this opportunity.
Waxahachie, TX - March 28-29
Mineral Wells, TX - May 1-3
Gladewater, TX - June 5-7
Weatherford, TX - June 11-14
Cleburne, TX - June 11-14
Wichita Falls, TX - August
Denton, TX - August
*Breakaway Ropers please note: The WPRA World Finals Breakaway Roping in Waco, TX will still remain a qualifier for 4 positions into FWSSR and 2 positions into Houston, TX.
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Resistol and The Cowboy Channel Present the 4th Annual
Resistol Rookie Roundup
Hosted by The Cowboy Channel, the event will take place April 25-26 in the Fort Worth Stockyard Coliseum
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — For the fourth consecutive year, Resistol, in partnership with The Cowboy Channel, the leading network for Western sports, owned by Teton Ridge, will host the Resistol Rookie Roundup on April 25-26 at the iconic Fort Worth Stockyard Coliseum.
Sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), 15 first year card holders in each event will compete for a $100,000 purse. The Cowboy Channel will produce and broadcast the event. The first performance on April 25 will feature all 15 contestants in a single go-round of competition. Then, the top eight will continue to the semifinals on April 26, with the top four advancing to the championship round immediately following.
The Cowboy Channel will also produce a special roundtable series, where participants in each event will sit down with past Resistol Rookie of the Year winners. These discussions, combined with media training and mentoring sessions, will equip contestants with valuable insights for their careers ahead.
“Resistol is thrilled to partner with The Cowboy Channel for another year of this incredible event,” said Mary Jane Carpenter, Brand Director for Resistol. “The Rookie Roundup is a pivotal steppingstone in a young rodeo athlete’s career, giving them the opportunity to gain experience both in and out of the arena—whether through their PRCA headshots, media training or guidance from some of rodeo’s best.”
Money won at the Resistol Rookie Roundup, presented by The Cowboy Channel, will count towards the Resistol Rookie standings but will not be credited towards the world standings for a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification.
Tickets can be purchased:
April 25 - https://www.cowtowncoliseum.com/event/rookie-rodeo-4-25/axs_836297/
April 26 - https://www.cowtowncoliseum.com/event/rookie-rodeo-4-26/axs_836307/
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Celebrate 77 years of WPRA
with 15% off all WPRA merch!
No discount code needed - Offer valid through March 7th
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Conflict at Rodeo's adding $3,000 or more
Members should make special note of the following two rules as the rodeo season gets increasingly more hectic especially when we hit the summer rodeos. For now if competing in Houston and Austin be sure you understand how to deal with a conflict should it arise due to advancement.
10.3.5.6. Making the Finals or Semi-Finals — Anyone making the finals or semi-finals at a rodeo that conflicts with another rodeo that has a committee purse of $3,000 or more will be moved forward at the conflicting rodeo to the first available position, where possible, provided the contestant notifies the Central Entry Office (Procom) of the conflicting rodeo no later than the turnout deadline for their originally scheduled performance. If there are no available positions for the contestant to move forward, the contestant will not be moved. Turnout fines for the conflicting rodeo will be waived provided the contestant notifies the WPRA Office by Tuesday at 3:00pm MT following the end of the rodeo. Contestants will run last in all go-rounds in which she is moved due to conflict, provided the contestant does not create the conflict through a trade. In barrel racing, if a WPRA member is moved because of a conflict due to qualifying for a finals or semi-finals, they go to the bottom of the ground with no drag. In the event of subsequent go-rounds, if contestant is moved for only one go, she will run last in that go and then back to her original drawn position in other go(s). If she is moved due to conflict for all goes, she will run last in all goes. In breakaway roping, if a WPRA member is moved because of a conflict due to qualifying for a finals or semi-finals, they will go to the top of the order of competition but will draw last for cattle. End of go-rounds shall not interfere with moving contestant per this rule. In a back-to-back situation, you will be moved to the next available SET, meaning you will run your first go first and your second go second. 10.3.5.6.1. Turning Out of Finals If Moved or Drawn Out of Conflicting Rodeo. If a contestant is moved at a conflicting rodeo in accordance with Rule 10.3.5.6 or is drawn out of a conflicting rodeo in accordance with Rule 10.4.1.11.1, and that contestant turns out of the finals which had created the conflict, that contestant shall be subject to a $500 fine.
10.4.1.11. Conflicts 10.4.1.11.1. Conflict Due to Qualification for Progressive Go-Rounds, Semi-Finals, or Finals. A contestant who qualifies for a progressive go round, semi-finals, or finals, resulting in a conflict with another “official entry” rodeo at which she has not yet competed, may request that Procom draw her out of the conflicting rodeo. This notification must be no later than the turnout deadline of her scheduled competition at the conflicting rodeo. Contestant shall pay $5 draw out charge.
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Rule Spotlight
Members currently on your WPRA permit - once you have won $1,000 at WPRA sanctioned events you are required to call the WPRA office to either extend your WPRA permit for the rest of the rodeo season or upgrade to your rookie card for the rest of the rodeo season.
Please note that if you DO NOT extend or upgrade at the $1,000 earnings mark you will become ineligible. If you enter rodeos during this time you will be fined $100 per rodeo entered and could be subject to a draw out fee as well. To extend your permit or upgrade to a rookie card the cost is a one-time fee of $225 for that rodeo season.
You are only able to extend through the end of that particular rodeo season and will be required to purchase your rookie card at the start of the new rodeo season.
So as we get into the heart of the rodeo season pay close attention to your permit earnings so that you don't incur additional costs and fines and that you are able to compete at the rodeos you wish to enter.
Refer to rule 1.3.5.2.4 through 1.3.5.2.9 in the
2025 WPRA Rule Book
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Walk-Up Guideline Reminders
To be eligible for a walk-up:
- Must have been eligible to enter the rodeo, which includes meeting the membership dues date for the rodeo.
- Members can walk-up and replace an open position (notified turnout or release) if they simply did not enter the rodeo or were drawn out due to preferences or a parameter.
- Walk-up replacements are only available in performances not in slack, and only if it states in the WPRA’s ground rules that the walk-up replacement policy is in effect on the WPRA website.
- Please note: Walk-up replacements are not available at WPRA approved limited entry rodeos.
- To be a walk-up replacement, you are to physically check in with the rodeo secretary in the rodeo office no later than 2 hours prior to the performance by presenting your current active WPRA membership card to the rodeo secretary.
- If more people walk-up than positions are available, it will be a random draw for the open position(s) in the performance.
- Walk-up contestants must pay entry fees.
- Barrel replacements will be placed at the end of the draw and random drawn if more than one. Breakaway replacements will be placed in the open position and run in the position of the contestant that they are replacing and random drawn if more than one.
- Members are NOT eligible to be a walk-up replacement at a rodeo if they are turning out of another rodeo on the same day. Keep in mind, a contestant can compete at a rodeo as a replacement and at another rodeo with a “same day” conflict as long as she does NOT turnout of either rodeo. If they do compete as a walk-up replacement AND are a turnout at another rodeo on the same day, they will be disqualified and fined.
If a contestant is a walk-up replacement and is ineligible and competes at the rodeo, she will be drawn out of the rodeo, but will still be required to pay entry fees plus the major rule violation fine.
- If she won money, she will be removed from the results and all winnings, points, and prizes will be redistributed. In addition to this redistribution, the contestant will be subject to a major rule violation per WPRA rule 9.3.21. and will receive a minimum of a $1,000 fine.
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Circuit Resident/Non-Resident Count for 2025
The WPRA Board of Directors recently approved the resident/non-resident circuit counts for all the circuits for barrel racing and breakaway roping. Those details can be found on the WPRA website. If your goal is to compete at your circuit finals be sure you know the number of rodeos you must compete in to be qualified if you finish in the top 12 of your respective circuit standings.
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