World Champions Visit Oval Office

The 2025 WPRA and PRCA World Champions made a historic trip to the nation’s capital Friday to meet with President Donald Trump.

The event was a way to recognize the world champions for their accomplishment during last December’s National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas and the National Finals Breakaway Roping in Fort Worth, Texas.

The champions were introduced to the media outside the White House before entering. There, they posed for photos with wall art of President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance and outside the the West Wing before being escorted into the Oval Office where the 47th President greeted them. 

Each champion was introduced and shook President Trump’s hand. Those in attendance included Barrel Racing World Champion Kassie Mowry, Breakaway Roping World Champion Taylor Munsell; All-Around and Bull Riding World Champion Stetson Wright; Bareback Riding World Champion Rocker Steiner; Steer Wrestling World Champion Tucker Allen; Team Roping World Champion Header Andrew Ward; Team Roping World Champion Heeler Jake Long; Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion Statler Wright; Tie-Down Roping World Champion Riley Webb; Steer Roping World Champion Cole Patterson; and Miss Rodeo America Olivia Favero. 

Women's History Month on ESPN SportsCenter

Women in Rodeo took center stage on March 18 as part of the Women’s History Month series on ESPN SportsCenter. Representing the WPRA was three-time barrel racing World Champion Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, who was spotlighted for all she has and continues to accomplish in professional rodeo. She joined gold medalist downhill skier Breezy Johnson as part of the 2026 series thus far.

WPRA Western Regional - Calgary Stampede and Utah Days of '47 Rodeo Qualifier (SLC)

Salina, UT - April 10-12

WPRA members looking for an opportunity to punch their ticket to compete in Calgary Stampede or Utah Days of '47 Rodeo then don't miss this Qualifier Event.

The event will include a WPRA card race (barrels), WPRA breakaway, WPRA permit only sidepot, Calgary Qualifier, and Open 4D.

The WPRA Card Race, for card holders only, will have $12,500 in added money with entry fees being $210. There will be two rounds of competition. The top four in the average will qualify for the Utah Days of '47 Rodeo (July 21-25) in Salt Lake City. For those looking to qualify for the Calgary Stampede they will need to enter the qualifier race with entry fee of $425 but can have their times rolled over into the WPRA Card Race for a shot at the Utah Days of '47 Rodeo as well. *Please note you must enter the card race and pay that entry fee plus the Calgary Qualifier entry fee to compete in the Calgary Qualifier.

The WPRA Board of Directors recently approved a change to the ground rules for barrel racing in regards to the drag.

The drag was previously approved for Drag every 5, big drag every 50 in the WPRA Card Race, Calgary Qualifier, and Fri, Sat & Sun Open 4D. The board approved updating the drag to be Drag every 3, big drag every 30 in each of these races.

In the breakaway roping, which is open to card and permit members, there is $10,000 added with an entry fee of $330. There will be two back-to-back rounds of competition. The top four in the average will qualify for the Utah Days of '47 Rodeo (July 21-25) in Salt Lake City. For those looking to qualify for the Calgary Stampede they will need to enter the qualifier race with entry fee of $425 but can have their times rolled over into the WPRA breakaway roping for a shot at the Utah Days of '47 Rodeo as well. Should a permit member qualify for the Calgary Stampede or the Utah Days of '47 Rodeo, that member will need to buy their card prior to entering either one. *Please note you must enter the WPRA breakaway and pay that entry fee plus the Calgary Qualifier entry fee to compete in the Calgary Qualifier.

In addition there will be a WPRA Permit Only Sidepot with $250 added for those interested.

Complete schedule, ground rules and entry link can be found at www.wpra.com or by clicking the link below.

Entries are now open and will close on March 27 at 11 p.m. MT

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 will I know if the rodeo accepts walk-up replacements in the barrel race and breakaway roping?

It will be listed in the WPRA ground rules of the rodeo. Committees will have the option to allow walk-up replacements at their rodeo. The ground rules for the rodeo will state if walk-up replacements will be in effect. Rodeos that accept walk-up replacements must have a condensed drag. If not listed then walk-ups are not accepted. Check ground rules on wpra.com

Do limited entry rodeos take walk-ups?

Yes, at (1) one go-round limited rodeos only. Limited Entry Rodeos utilize the 30-hour replacement policy and use a “replacement list” based on the rodeo qualifications and contestants who entered. For those positions that are not filled under the 30-hour replacement policy, if the rodeo accepts walk-ups, walk-ups would be able to fill the remaining positions.

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

Friendly Reminder - 30 Hour Replacement

We would like to pass on some helpful 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.

Rule Spotlight

9.3.20. Horses shall not be worked around official pattern with or without barrels. Barrels shall be set not less than fifteen (15) feet off markers. – This includes going around the markers at any speed with or without barrels.

Failure to comply will result in a major rule violation against WPRA member.

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.

2026 WPRA Spring Board Meeting

The 2026 Spring Board Meeting will be in Colorado Springs, Colorado, March 21 and 22. The newly elected East Region Roping Director (Danni Clover) will officially be added to the WPRA Board of Directors at this meeting.

In addition, those that were recently reelected to their directorships will officially begin their three year term.

Contact your circuit director for additional information regarding this meeting if you have any questions.