WPRA Names Caroline Lukens New Chief of Operations and Board Executive Secretary

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association is pleased to announce Caroline Lukens as the new Chief of Operations and Board Executive Secretary.

           

The WPRA Chief of Operations is responsible for the hands-on operational aspects of the WPRA activities and is a critical partner to the WPRA President and the Board of Directors in terms of growing and ensuring a healthy and viable not for profit membership-based business. In addition, this position leads the office team, headquartered in Colorado Springs, handling the day-to-day operations to be efficient, productive, and effective.


“The WPRA Board of Directors is looking forward to working with Caroline Lukens as she joins the WPRA team,” said Heidi Schmidt, WPRA President. “Her passion for rodeo, strong work ethic, and effective problem-solving skills are certain to help the WPRA flourish as it strives to advance the women in rodeo into a new era."

2025 Prairie Circuit Finals Update


A few weeks ago we reported that the PRCA, WPRA and Prairie Circuit was looking for a new home for the Prairie Circuit Finals. We are happy to announce a home has been found for 2025 and we thank the PRCA and the committee in Mulvane, Kansas, for stepping up to the plate.

Miller Making Most Opportunities Presented, Take Title in Guymon


Things are coming together quite well for breakaway roper Aspen Miller.

She finished the 2024 WPRA campaign 25th in the ProRodeo World Standings, which not only helped build confidence in the young cowgirl but also helped create momentum heading into this season. She won San Antonio and picked up some decent checks at two other major Texas rodeos in Austin and Houston.


She headed into the first weekend of May fourth in the world standings, then won two of three rounds, placed in the other to clinch the aggregate championship at the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo in the Oklahoma Panhandle, securing $8,046. A format change from a one-head progressive – where the top performers in the opening round advance to make a second run – to a two-round progressive offered her a chance to make big money.


“They gave us three this year, so getting to do that this year like the other timed events was really nice,” said Miller, who pushed her 2025 earnings to more than $52,000. “That was a nice change.” 

ATTENTION MEMBERS


NSD (“No Same Day”) and NSP (“No Same Performance”) Preferences


The NSD (“No Same Day”) and NSP (“No Same Performance”) preferences can ensure that a contestant will not be placed to compete at two or more different PRCA rodeos either on the same day or within the same performance time frame. For the purpose of the NSP (“No Same Performance”) preference, performance (or slack) start times will be defined as: 12:00 AM through 11:59 AM as a morning performance or slack, 12:00 PM through 5:59 PM as a matinee performance or slack, and 6:00 PM through 11:59 PM as a night performance or slack. Only conflicts with other PRCA sanction rodeos or events will be checked. Conflicts with Canadian rodeo will NOT be checked.


The contestant must give, at the time of entry, a specific performance or slack, generic slack, or the middle as a first preference to use the NSD or NSP as a second preference. Conflicts will not be checked if a contestant receives her first preference (the contestant will be responsible for not creating a conflict by giving a conflicting first preference). If a contestant does not receive her first preference, she will be placed in the first available non-conflicted position or be drawn out (if a non-conflicted position is not available), if and only if she gives an NSD or NSP as a second preference.


Only the first go-round of a two or more go-round rodeo will be checked for conflicts with the exception of back to back formats or where the second or subsequent go-round cannot be traded. If trades for subsequent go-rounds at a specific rodeo will not be allowed, conflicts will be checked for all go-rounds at that rodeo (this does not apply to progressives and finals). Where the WPRA rulebook allows, second and subsequent go-round trades will be done through the rodeo secretary. If the NSD or NSP is used while entering a given rodeo, only the original position (drawn by PROCOM) at a rodeo with conflicting dates will be checked for conflicts, if a first go-round trade has not been finalized and processed by PROCOM. Once the first go-round trade has been verified and processed by PROCOM, then conflicts with the new traded position can be checked.


If a NSD or NSP preference is used, a contestant will not be placed in a conflicted position, she will be drawn out. If any one contestant in a buddy group has a conflict, the entire buddy group will be drawn out. This does not apply to multi-event buddy groups, since the same performance or slack in all events is not always guaranteed. The contestant may receive a non-conflicted position in one event and not in another. In this case the contestant can add a parameter with her entry at the time of entry to “draw out of all events, if drawn out of one due to the NSD or NSP preferences.”


For rodeos that have conflicting dates, the entries for the rodeos with the largest amount of total added money will generally close first. Therefore, a contestant will be placed in a rodeo with a larger purse first and then placed in the rodeo with the smaller purse if a non-conflicting position is available. Contestants who give slack as a first preference are no longer required to give a performance as a second preference. Instead, contestants will also be allowed to give a specific slack, generic slack, or the middle for their first preference and another specific slack for a second preference. All other preferences and parameters that have been allowed in the past will remain the same.


Rule Spotlight


No WPRA member shall participate in an open or invitational barrel race or breakaway roping held at a PRCA approved rodeo unless by special WPRA Board approval.


WPRA members participating in an open or invitational barrel race or breakaway roping held at a PRCA approved rodeo may be subject to a major rule infraction.


Refer to 1.3.12.3 in the 2025 WPRA Rulebook.



Rodeo Payout Schedule


Payout Schedule

Provided the WPRA office has received all necessary results and information on time, rodeo payouts are typically processed via RodeoPay by 12:00 PM MT on Tuesday for rodeos that ended on or before the previous Sunday.

 

Examples:

  • A rodeo held from Friday, August 15th - Sunday, August 17th, 2025, will be paid out on Tuesday, August 19th, 2025.
  • A rodeo ending on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26th, 2025, will be paid out Tuesday of the following week, June 3rd, 2025.

 

Holiday and Information Delays

  • If a holiday falls on Monday or Tuesday, payouts may be delayed by one day due to bank closures.
  • Payouts may also be delayed if required results or information are missing. In such cases, payouts will be processed as soon as all necessary information is received and processed.

 

We strive to communicate any delays via wpra.com or through email to keep members informed.

 

Using RodeoPay

The WPRA utilizes RodeoPay for payouts. If you do not have a RodeoPay account, a check will be issued by RodeoPay, with a $10 check fee applied. We encourage all members to set up a RodeoPay account at RodeoPay.com to avoid additional fees and expedite your payments. Members can set up their RodeoPay accounts to be automatically transferred to their bank accounts or they may use a debit card connected to their RodeoPay account. There is a Member Guide that is available at: https://wpra.com/pdfs/RodeoPay-WPRA_Members_Guide.pdf

 

Exceptions

Please note that exceptions to the payout schedule may apply in rare cases.


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



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