New Home, New Name, New Dates

Still the Crowning Jewel for Professional Rodeo Breakaway Roping



COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO (May 14, 2026) – The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (FWSSR) are excited to announce a new three-year agreement to bring the Wrangler WPRA National Breakaway Finals, formerly known as the National Finals Breakaway Roping, held in Las Vegas to the Lone Star State. The event is slated for December 18-19, 2026, at the newly remodeled Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.

“We are looking forward to this new chapter of women’s breakaway roping in professional rodeo and are excited to work with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo to continue to elevate this championship event,” said Heidi Schmidt, WPRA President. “With the overwhelming response we saw last year, we feel moving to a larger venue in Fort Worth will allow this event to continue to grow and evolve for the foreseeable future for our contestants and fans alike.”

Launching Wednesday, May 20: A New Payment Option, Security Enhancement & Credit Card Update

As shared in the last few newsletters, how you pay and manage payments in your member portal (or when you call into the WPRA office) is changing in several ways. Starting next week, May 20th, we are switching to a new credit card processor allowing us to add a new payment option (in addition to your cards), providing enhanced overall security and adding credit card management convenience.

Beginning Wednesday, May 20th you can make a payment either by charging your credit card, debit card or prepaid card and NOW using our new ACH feature.

• When you pay by using a personal credit card, a 2% flat surcharge will be applied to the transaction. This surcharge is to help offset charges the WPRA currently must pay when a credit card transaction takes place.
• When you pay by using a debit card, a prepaid card or the new ACH feature, there are no surcharges.

By using the new credit card processor, you will be able to safely store your card information and provide you with the convenience of providing the last 4 digits of your card #, the CVV and your billing zip code. There is no need to constantly supply your full card #.

Our systems have been updated, and the launch date is Wednesday, May 20th.

WPRA Names Kelsey Cox Chief of Operations and Board Executive Secretary

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association is excited to name Kelsey Cox (KC) as the new Chief of Operations and Board Executive Secretary.

The WPRA Chief of Operations drives daily, hands-on activities, acting as a key partner to the President and Board of Directors in cultivating a sustainable, member-focused, not for profit organization.

“It is incredible to have KC back on the WPRA team,” stated Heidi Schmidt, WPRA President. “Her in-depth knowledge of the WPRA and of the rodeo industry as a whole is an asset to our team and our members!”

After a three-year hiatus to focus on family, Colorado native Cox returns to the WPRA, bringing nine years of prior experience and a wealth of knowledge to the team. During her absence, she served as Products and Operations Manager for Rodeo Logistics. Cox previously held the position of Rodeo and Membership Administrator at the Association.

“I’m honored to step back into the WPRA in this new capacity,” Cox said. “This organization has always meant a great deal to me, and I look forward to supporting our members, strengthening operations, and working alongside the Board to continue building a strong future for women’s rodeo.”

Road to 2027 Utah Days of '47 Rodeo - Salt Lake City

It is never too early to start planning ahead for next year's rodeo run.

The Utah Days of '47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City takes place the third week of July during what is known as Pioneer Week in Utah. With it being a limited entry rodeo it has been determined the following Utah Rodeos that will serve as qualifiers for the 2027 edition of the Utah Days of '47 Rodeo.

The champion contestant at each of these rodeos in 2026 will earn a spot in 2027. Any ties will be broken by taking the contestant with the most money won in the year-end 2026WPRA ProRodeo World Standings.

UPCOMING

May 29-31 - Moab, UT (barrels only)

June 11-13 - Eagle Mountain, UT (barrels and breakaway)

June 11-13 - Monticello, UT (barrels only)

June 26-27 - Delta, UT (barrels and breakaway)

June 24-27 - Lehi, UT (barrels only)

Aug 5-8 - Logan, UT (breakaway only)

Sept. 4-5 - Manila, UT (barrels and breakaway)

Rodeo listing for each below - simply click on button to be taken direct to rodeo listing on wpra.com

Calgary Stampede - Last Qualifier Alert

Members looking for one last chance to qualify for the Calgary Stampede there is still one more opportunity coming up in June in Canada.

The Calgary Stampede is excited to present the Calgary Stampede Ladies Breakaway Roping Qualifier, June 2-3 2026, and the barrel racing qualifier June 8-9 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. Competitors will have the chance to earn their spot to compete at the 2026 Calgary Stampede Rodeo. Entries for both close on May 15.

Rule Spotlight

ATTENTION PERMIT MEMBERS

Starting with the 2026 rodeo season, the WPRA Board of Directors has implemented an extended college permit for those members who have won $1,000 on their WPRA permit but due to college is not yet ready to become a full card-carrying member and begin their rookie year. It should be noted that any money won on either your permit and/or this new extended college permit option will not count toward any WPRA Standings (i.e. world, circuit, etc.)

Refer to the following rule for more information:

1.3.5.2.1. Upon winning a cumulative total of $1,000 in rodeo and/or WPRA events, a permit member may elect to:

a) Apply for WPRA card status, or

 b) Purchase a second permit by payment of the appropriate fee, allowing her to continue to contest on a second permit for the remainder of the year (no dollar limit on second permit) and retain Rookie eligibility.

 c) After filling a permit, if a member gets a second permit, she must get her Rookie card the following season and can’t get more than her second permit once the first permit has been filled unless the following extended college permit eligibility is met. Anyone not wishing to obtain card membership after earning $1,000 as a permit member may apply for an extended college permit for up to and including 5 years. In order for a permit contestant to be eligible for an extended college permit, that contestant must be enrolled full time (minimum of 12 credit hours) in college and must provide a transcript of courses and credit hours with her membership application. If the permit member stops attending college, the extended permit will be revoked, and the member will be required to obtain a card membership. There is no dollar limit for money won on a college permit. A college permit must be renewed each year. No money won on a college permit will count for any WPRA standings, and no money won on a college permit will be carried over when upgrading to a card membership. 

Please keep in mind:

Members currently on your WPRA permit - 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.

Road to Cheyenne - Update on Breakaway Qualifiers

As previously communicated the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo is changing their format resulting in the WPRA selecting nine rodeos across the United States to serve as qualifiers.

The breakaway at the Will Rogers Stampede Pro Rodeo in Claremore, OK (May 22–24, 2026) is now serving as a 2026 Cheyenne Frontier Days qualifier, replacing the Bill Hoy Kiwanis Rodeo in Clarksville, TN (May 14-16, 2026). The Clarksville, TN Pro Rodeo will no longer serve as a breakaway Cheyenne qualifier.

Please note, this qualifier change applies to the breakaway event only.

The remaining WPRA qualifying rodeos from across the United States are:

• Rodeo Killeen in Killeen, Texas - May 14-16 - Entries Closed
• Bill Hoy Kiwanis Rodeo in Clarksville, Tennessee - May 14-16 - Barrel qualifier only - Entries closed
• Ag Expo Pro Rodeo in Watford City, North Dakota - May 22-23 - Entries closed
• Colorado Stampede in Grand Junction, Colorado - May 22-24 - Entries closed
• Will Rogers Stampede in Claremore, OK - May 22-24 - Breakaway qualifier only - Entries Closed
• Home of the Navajo PRCA Rodeo in Window Rock, Arizona - May 29-31 - Entries Closed
• Eastern Oregon Livestock Show in Union, Oregon - June 12-14
• Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Nebraska - June 17-20

Rodeo listing for each below - simply click on button to be taken direct to rodeo listing on wpra.com

Results: - unofficial pending audit

*ties will be broken based on approved grounds rules for Cheyenne

• Lakeside (CA) Rodeo - April 23-26 - Alyssa Urbanek-Wade (barrels); (tie) McKenzie Frizzel and Sadie Grant (breakaway roping)
• American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri - April 30-May 2 – Katie Chism (barrels); Lauren Hopkins (breakaway roping)

Road to the 2027 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

Qualifying rodeos for the 2027 edition of Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in both the barrel racing and breakaway roping can be found below.

The champion contestant (winner of the barrel race and breakaway roping) from these 7 Texas Circuit PRCA Rodeos in 2026 that enter will be accepted (drop down until filled):

Mark your calendars now to take advantage of this opportunity.

Gladewater, TX - June 11-13

Weatherford, TX - June 10-13

Cleburne, TX - June 10-13

Wichita Falls, TX - August 21-22

Denton, TX - August 21-23

Results

Waxahachie, TX - March 26-28 - Keyla Costa (barrels), Delani Kay Beatty (breakaway)

Mineral Wells, TX - April 30-May 2 - Sissy Winn (barrels), Delani Kay Beatty (breakaway)