Ladies Breakaway Roping debuts at the iconic Calgary Stampede Rodeo in 2025!

Get ready to witness history as Ladies Breakaway Roping makes its debut in the iconic Calgary Stampede Rodeo in 2025, in partnership with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). This exciting, lightning-fast event, presented by Imperial, is an electrifying addition to The World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo at the Calgary Stampede, July 4-13, 2025.

“The WPRA is excited to expand our partnership with the Calgary Stampede by adding Ladies Breakaway Roping as an official event to this iconic rodeo,” says Heidi Schmidt, WPRA President. “Not only taking this step to add Breakaway Roping to their daily rodeo but to include it at equal money is exceptional. Showcasing our members in Barrel Racing and now Breakaway Roping in 2025 and beyond reflects our shared conviction of the importance of providing equal opportunity for women in rodeo.”

Attention RODEOHOUSTON contestants competing at Rodeo Austin

Please note the following addition recently approved by the Board for RODEOHOUSTON. Anyone making the finals, semi-finals, or wildcard round at Houston that conflicts with their performance in Austin will be moved forward at Austin to the first available position, provided the contestant notifies Procom no later than the turnout deadline for their originally scheduled performance in Austin.

FACTS about WPRA Results and Rodeo Payouts

While we live in a society that likes everything instantaneous that usually comes with errors and incorrect information. We see this more and more with rodeo results for WPRA events like breakaway roping or barrel racing. Recently the issue stemmed from the payout in Tucson, AZ. We thought the below information would help our members understand what goes into verifying and making the results official.

Why does it take so long to see results for WPRA barrels and breakaway at pro rodeos?

While you may see results quickly after a rodeo on the PRCA’s website, these results and payouts are unofficial and are frequently adjusted. The PRCA’s website is directly linked to the secretary’s system while the WPRA website is not.

Once a rodeo is over, all rodeo information is sent to the WPRA office for an official audit. This is where turnouts, releases and the final payout (making sure it matches the WPRA rulebook or if applicable, ground rules - example: correct number of positions to pay 15 vs 10) are verified. Results are then entered into the WPRA’s database and are published for all to see on WPRA.com.

Please keep this information in mind as you are looking for results right after the rodeo. The only official results will be found at WPRA.com.

New Sock Drop at Lucky Chuck!

Enjoy 20% off your purchase by using code “WPRA20”

2025 WPRA Election Complete

Thanks to the members who took the time to be part of the 2025 Election process.

Congratulations to the following who will either be moving into a new role or to those that retained their current position on the board:

President: Heidi Schmidt

Vice President: Julie Herman

Columbia River: Kacey Gartner

First Frontier: Chrissy Chromczak

Montana: Dillon McPherson

Mountain States: Shelly Vossler

Southeastern: Ashley Rogers

Texas: Lois Ferguson

Wilderness: TBD

Roping Director 2 (West Region): Tibba Smith

How do I qualify for the Calgary Stampede - Barrels and Breakaway

With the recent announcement on the Calgary Stampede we wanted to share with our members the ways you can qualify for Calgary Stampede. Each event will take 30 contestants. The breakdown in qualifications is as follows:

• 4 - from the 2024 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Standings (drop down until filled)
• 15 - Top 15 in the 2024 WPRA World Standings (will not drop down - if someone drops out, it goes to 2025 World Standings)
• 5 - Top 5 in 2025 WPRA World Standings as of April 1, 2025 (will drop down until filled)
• 2 qualifiers from the Western Regional - Salina, UT - April 10-13 (will drop down until filled with two unique individuals)
• 4 qualifiers from the Calgary qualifier in June - breakaway June 3-4 and barrels June 10-11 (will drop down until filled with two unique individuals)

The Western Regional will feature a $7,500 WPRA Card Race and Calgary Qualifier in which you can enter up to 3 horses for barrel racing. For the breakaway roping there is also a $7,500 added event and Calgary Qualifier where you can enter twice.

Entries will open on NexGen (online or through the app) on March 17 and will close on April 4. Don't miss this opportunity. Card race money will count toward 2025 world standings in both events.

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. 

Rule Spotlight

WPRA Rodeo Count Rules

• Specification of Unofficial Entries. Any rodeo entered will be considered an “official entry” unless otherwise specified by the contestant at the time of entry through Procom.
• Once positions are drawn a contestant cannot change an “unofficial entry” to an “official entry.”
• Only money won at “official entry” events will count for Championship points. Only “official entry” events will count for rodeos that have qualifications.
• A contestant may enter as many WPRA events as she so chooses. However, no more than 100 WPRA approved events for barrel racing and 80 for breakaway roping will be accepted as “official entries”.
• If a rodeo is entered as “unofficial” for World Championship points, rodeo will be “unofficial” for circuit points.

Refer to section 10.4.1.8. in the WPRA Rulebook

In Addition be aware of the following rule:

There will be a minimum rodeo count for NFR eligibility of 25 WPRA events approved to count for World Standings. - Refer to rule 15.2.3

30-Hour Replacement Helpful Information

We would like to pass on some information regarding 30-Hour Replacements.

• If you get called from Procom, you need to reply back to Procom as soon as possible even if you are not going to accept the position so that Procom can then move to the next person on the list and get the positions filled before they run out of time. There was a recent rodeo that didn't get filled as Procom was waiting for member responses. Please help make this an easy process for all and if you are not interested in the position give the next person a chance to say yes or no.

• Keep in mind the following in terms of how the 30-Hour replacement works - If the open position (turnout or release) had qualified from the WPRA Tour, she will be replaced with the next person in the WPRA Tour standings that entered. Or if the open position qualified from 2025 circuit standings, the next person that entered from the 2025 circuit standings will fill that position. The drop down order depends on where the person qualified from that they are replacing not which number you are on the list.

Helpful Member Tips

How To Read Rodeo Listings

Events:

LB - Ladies Breakaway Roping

GB- Girls Barrel Racing

Other Abbreviations

NPP - No Priority Positions

EOO - Entry Office Opens

EC - Entry Close

MT - Mountain Time

MDT - Mountain Daylight Time

EF's - Entry Fees

W/F's - With Finals