WPRA President Heidi Schmidt Joins Western Sports Roundup to talk WPRA National Breakaway Finals

A New Payment Option, Security Enhancement & Credit Card Update launched May 20th

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. On May 20th, we switched 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.

You can now make a payment either by charging your credit card, debit card or prepaid card and as well as 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 #.

Contact the office if you have any questions on this new enhancement.

NFR Open Entries Open June 9

The NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is where the top professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls in the U.S., Canada and Mexico compete to be named PRCA/WPRA Circuit Champions. There's bragging rights in play and mega prize money to win. All action will take place July 14-18 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Congratulations to those listed below on punching their ticket to this championship event. As a reminder you must enter the NFR Open to be eligible to compete - please reference ground rules no procedure. Entries will open on June 9 and close on June 10.

Barrel Racing

Badlands: Lisa Lockhart (year-end)/Molly Otto (avg)

California: Hayle Gibson-Stillwell (year-end)/Ann McGilchrist (avg)

Columbia River: Megan McLeod Sprague (year-end)/Hailey Garrison (avg)

First Frontier: Willie Horzepa (year-end & avg)/Karissa Landis (2nd year-end)

Great Lakes: Austyn Tobey (year-end & avg)/Kristen Meyer (2nd year-end)

Maple Leaf: Jayden Wilson (year-end)/Blake Molle (avg)

Montana: Ashley Day (year-end)/Taylor Gardner (avg)

Mountain States: Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (year-end)/Karson Bradley Berger (avg)

Prairie: Emily Beisel (year-end)/Kara Kreder (avg)

Southeastern: Margo Crowther (year-end & avg)/Kristen Hanchey (2nd year-end)

Texas: Alyssa Urbanek-Wade (year-end)/Jordan Driver (avg)

Turquoise: Katelyn Scott (year-end & avg)/Tara Seaton (2nd year-end)

Wilderness: Carlee Otero (year-end)/Caitlyn White (avg)

Breakaway Roping

Badlands: Sloan Anderson (year-end)/Taylor Engesser (avg)

California: Suzanne Williams (year-end & avg)/Kaitlyn Anderson (2nd year-end)

Columbia River: Bailey Patterson (year-end)/Millie Greenwood (avg)

First Frontier: Georgia Warner (year-end & avg)/Emily Fabian (2nd year-end)

Great Lakes: Alli Masters (year-end)/Clare Burcalow (avg)

Maple Leaf: Bradi Whiteside (year-end)/Jenna Dallyn (avg)

Montana: Joey Williams (year-end & avg)/Jacey Fortier (2nd year-end)

Mountain States: Haiden Thompson (year-end)/Taya McAdow (avg)

Prairie: Taylor Munsell (year-end)/Jenna Adams (avg)

Southeastern: Tiffany Schieck (year-end)/Ashten Denney (avg)

Texas: Martha Angelone (year-end & avg)/Britta Strain (2nd year-end)

Turquoise: Justin Doka (year-end & avg)/Macy Young (2nd year-end)

Wilderness: Braylee Shepherd (year-end)/Carly Bedke (avg)          

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) - Entries Closed

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

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Rule Spotlight

Buddying With Yourself

10.4.3.6. Cross-Event Buddies. The cross-event buddy system may be requested only for those events with one go-round, and only at those rodeos which are priority preference rodeos. At rodeos that have two go-rounds that are back-to-back, contestants may request the cross-event buddy system be used. A contestant or contestants competing in both barrel racing and breakaway may request a cross-event buddy in order to position themselves during the same performance or slack for both events entered, provided there are corresponding performances or slacks available in both events. A WPRA contestant requesting a cross-event buddy may buddy with only one other WPRA contestant. Preferences for both events must be exactly the same. If a contestant requesting a cross-event buddy gives a preference that is not valid in both events, her preferences will be deemed invalid. 

10.4.3.6.1. To the extent possible, up to two contestants under the cross-event buddy arrangement will be placed in both events in the same performance or slack. Barrel racers can buddy with their PRCA family members OR cross-event buddy with themselves in the barrel racing and breakaway. However, she cannot buddy with both. A WPRA/PRCA contestant can cross event buddy with themselves in a WPRA event and a PRCA event, i.e., breakaway and team roping.

Road to Cheyenne

The ground rules for the 2026 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo are now posted on the WPRA website (link below). Entries will open June 15 for those that have qualified.

As previously communicated the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo is changing their format in 2026 resulting in the WPRA selecting nine rodeos across the United States to serve as qualifiers.

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

• 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 - Entries Closed
• 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)
• Rodeo Killeen in Killeen, Texas - May 14-16 - Emma Parr (barrels); Maci Ray (breakaway roping)
• Bill Hoy Kiwanis Rodeo in Clarksville, Tennessee - May 14-16 - Barrel only - Ronda Casey (barrels)

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)