Road to Cheyenne - Updated Format

An expanded rodeo schedule with an updated format will highlight the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration in 2026.

For the first time in the rodeo’s history, there will be 10 consecutive days of professional rodeo with the addition of the first Friday rodeo, from July 17 – 26.

In 2026, Cheyenne Frontier Days will increase rodeo prize money from $770,000 to $960,000 reflecting a continued investment in maintaining its elite status as one of the richest payouts in professional rodeo. CFD is also introducing revisions to the tournament style format designed to support the rodeo’s long-term sustainability.

Cheyenne Frontier Days faces challenges accommodating the huge number of modern rodeo rigs used by contestants in timed events to house both the contestants and their horses. The new format will allow road-weary contestants and their animals time to rest while on Frontier Park. It will also ease park congestion, while supporting the volunteers who are preparing for the celebration. Current challenges also exist with cattle availability, a major factor for the rodeo industry.

The updated rodeo format eliminates qualifying slack rounds for timed events the week before the official start of Cheyenne Frontier Days. Instead, CFD worked with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) to select qualifying rodeos across the country for contestants to be among the elite that compete at the Daddy of ‘em All.

In the timed events of tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping and barrel racing, contestants will qualify through a combination of selected qualifying rodeos, world standings and circuit qualifications. Advancement to the semifinals will be determined by performance during the first six preliminary rounds, with top competitors moving on to one of three semifinal rounds. From there, finalists will advance to championship competition, where champions will ultimately be crowned during the finals on July 26, ensuring a competitive field and strong nationwide representation inside the Frontier Park arena.

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

1. Lakeside Rodeo in Lakeside, California - April 23-26 - Entries Closed
2. American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri - April 30-May 2
3. Rodeo Killeen in Killeen, Texas - May 14-16
4. Bill Hoy Kiwanis Rodeo in Clarksville, Tennessee - May 15-17 - listing coming soon
5. Ag Expo Pro Rodeo in Watford City, North Dakota - May 22-23
6. Colorado Stampede in Grand Junction, Colorado - May 22-24
7. Home of the Navajo PRCA Rodeo in Window Rock, Arizona - May 29-31
8. Eastern Oregon Livestock Show in Union, Oregon - June 12-14
9. 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

2026 ProRodeo Hall of Fame Class Announced

Mary Burger, the 2006 and 2016 WPRA World Champion, and Loretta Manuel, the 1963 and 1967 WPRA World Champion will be inducted into the Barrel Racing category. They will join the following on the PRCA side – Jerome Davis (bull riding), the late Butch Myers (steer wrestling), Ike Sankey (stock contractor), Keith Isley (contract personnel), Jeff Medders and Bobby Goodspeed (notables), Killer Bee (Livestock) and San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo (rodeo committee). Troy Weekley will also be honored with the Ken Stemler Pioneer Award during the Cowboy Ball on July 17

While winning one world title in the WPRA is a major feat, both these ladies have tasted that victory twice and now they will be honored for their accomplishments in the professional rodeo arena with induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. The other things they have in common are they were both born in August in the State of Indiana.

2026 WPRA Tour Schedule - Barrel Racing Only

The WPRA Circuit Directors have chosen the rodeos in each of their circuits that will count toward WPRA Tour Standings for 2026 for barrel racing only.

The WPRA Tour Standings are used at many approved limited entry rodeos. The WPRA strongly encourages all limited entry rodeos to include the WPRA Tour Standings as one of their qualifications. By including the WPRA Tour, it provides an opportunity for a wider range of our members to participate and possibly gain entry to a limited entry rodeo.

However, it is important to note using the WPRA Tour Standings for limited entry rodeos is encouraged but is not a requirement for any committee. Importantly use of the WPRA Tour Standings may vary from year to year. It is not guaranteed from year to year.

Rodeos selected to be part of the WPRA Tour are: Rodeos with $5,000 or less added money, 1 round or multiple rounds. Limited entry rodeos are not part of the 60 identified rodeos in the program. In the case of a rodeo with multiple rounds, points will be allocated based on the average only.

WPRA Tour Standings: The WPRA Tour standings will be point based and will count from your best 7 results (out of the 60 possible qualifying rodeos) where one competed and won money. There is not a minimum or maximum number of rodeos/events required.

Walk-Up Replacement Guidelines on WPRA.com

We have recently seen WPRA members asking on Facebook platforms about Walk-Up Replacements and we wanted to remind each and every one of you information and official guidelines on this are listed on wpra.com under the Office tab and WPRA Guidelines tab.

A few questions we have seen include:

How do I know if I am eligible to walk-up at a rodeo?

You must have purchased your WPRA membership by the member dues date for the rodeo you wish to walk-up at. • You must meet the eligibility criteria for that rodeo (e.g., permits cannot walk-up at a cards only rodeo). • You must be a member in good standing (e.g., no past due account balances).

What if I walk-up and compete at the rodeo, but I am ineligible?

Walk-up contestants must pay entry fees. • You will be removed from the results and any winnings including money, sponsor points, and prizes will be redistributed. In addition to this redistribution, you will be subject to a minor rule violation and $250 fine for the first offense if you are ineligible for membership reasons, (WPRA rule 9.2.9.) or you will be subject to a major rule violation per WPRA rule 9.3.21. and will receive a minimum of a $1,000 fine for second and subsequent offenses for membership ineligibility and all financial ineligibility offenses. 

Qualifying Rodeos Set for 2027 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

It is never to early to plan ahead so we wanted to make our members aware of the qualifying rodeos for the 2027 edition of Fort Worth Stock Show and 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 2026 that enter will be accepted (drop down until filled):

Mark your calendars now to take advantage of this opportunity.

Waxahachie, TX - March 26-28 - Entries Closed

Mineral Wells, TX - April 30-May 2

Gladewater, TX - June 11-13

Weatherford, TX - June 10-13

Cleburne, TX - June 10-13

Wichita Falls, TX - August

Denton, TX - August

Rule Spotlight

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. 

LaTonne Sewalt

January 23, 1939 - March 24, 2026

The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association is saddened to hear of the passing of Barrel Racing World Champion LaTonne Sewalt.

LaTonne was a 2X Barrel Racing World Champion in the WPRA (at the time Girls Rodeo Association), winning her first title in 1950 at the age of 11 years old. Her and her bay gelding “Little Joe” were tough to beat in the 1950’s, winning their second world title in 1954. LaTonne holds the distinction of being the first cowgirl to win the Houston Rodeo in 1950 and is a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association sends their condolences to the family of LaTonne Sewalt.