Jimmie Munroe

February 1, 2024

Hard to believe that the first month of 2024 is now behind us. That means that all our 2023 circuit finals have concluded and the initial field for the NFR Open has been set. The circuit system has been a staple in our business for nearly 50 years now. It is a great avenue for members that can’t rodeo full-time due to work or family obligations or that just prefer to compete close to home.

Each year the national circuit finals, now called the NFR Open, brings the year-end champions and average champions from each circuit together to compete for what is now a $1 million purse. The field for the 2024 NFR Open is a talented and diverse group of ladies in both barrel racing and breakaway roping. This issue features stories on a qualifier from each circuit in the barrel racing and breakaway roping so you can get a look at some of the great story lines as we travel the Road to the NFR Open.

For those looking to qualify for their respective circuit finals in 2024 the board has recently approved the required minimum number of rodeos to meet rule 8.8.2 known as the Forty Percent 15 Rule. I encourage all members to make yourself aware of this either by reviewing the information in the February issue of the WPRA News on the Taking Care of Business page, the WPRA website or by contacting your circuit director.

We are also very excited and busy planning the inaugural Western Region Event in April that will take place in Salina, Utah. This event will feature barrel racing and breakaway roping card races that will have money counting toward world standings along with a Permit Only barrel race. In addition, we will be hosting one of two Calgary Stampede qualifiers planned for this year. The qualifier will be for both barrel racing and breakaway roping. The top two finishers in the average standings in the Calgary qualifier barrel race and breakaway roping will earn a spot to compete in their respective events at the 2024 Calgary Stampede. Only 30 ladies in barrel racing and 30 in breakaway roping will get the honor to compete in July in Calgary. In addition to this opportunity at the Western Region Event in the United States, the Calgary Stampede will be hosting their Ladies Barrel Racing qualifier June 11- 12 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. The top three from this event will earn a spot in the Calgary Stampede. The Calgary Stampede Ladies Breakaway Roping Qualifier will take place June 4 -5 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. Be sure to check the WPRA website for more details on the qualifier including ground rules, entry information, as well as the other races that will be featured that weekend.  

And finally, Heidi Schmidt your WPRA Vice President has been working closely with Alan Woodbury on the new innovative timers called BY A NOSE. The Board and I are excited to see how this partnership will revolutionize barrel racing timing on the professional level as well as within the industry. Be sure to keep an eye out on our website for more information on these timers.

Enjoy your extra day in February since this year is leap year!

Safe Travels,

Jimmie

January 1, 2024

Now that we have turned the calendar to 2024, I would like to take a minute to look back on the year that was in 2023.

What a special year it was as we started the year celebrating 75 years of the oldest women’s sports organization in the world and ended it with record-breaking performances in our barrel racing and roping divisions.

A big congrats to Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi who shattered the regular season earnings record in the WPRA winning just shy of a half a million dollars on the year. To have been apart of when the WPRA was pushing for equal money to now see these figures in 2023, it is truly a testament to all the ladies in the WPRA from the members to the Board of Directors and to all the committees that continue to help raise the bar in professional rodeo.

This year’s barrel racing at the NFR, especially during the second round, was very memorable. And what a crazy turn of events in the 10^th round to see Lisa Lockhart win her third average title and finish as reserve world champion. Not only that but now Lisa is WPRA’s all-time money earner which is a testament to her consistency in getting to the pay window. To have our two ladies that have made 17 NFR appearances finish 1-2 on the year was great to see.

It was also record breaking in terms of money won on the breakaway roping side as Shelby Boisjoli-Meged took home her first gold buckle winning just under $200,000 on the year. It is exciting to see the growth of breakaway roping with 480 rodeos now featuring the ladies at the rodeos in 2023. Crowds were up in Las Vegas as well, so this is all encouraging signs as we embark on 2024.

Speaking of roping, I would like to congratulate Jackie Crawford on the three titles she picked up during the WPRA World Finals in Waco back in November. Jackie’s overall total of WPRA world titles now sits at 23. She won the all-around, team roping heading and tie-down roping world titles this year. She only trails the late Wanda Harper Bush in total world titles in the WPRA. Wanda collected 32 during her illustrious career.

As we now embark on our 76^th year we look forward to more record-breaking performances in 2024. Happy New Year to All!

Jimmie Munroe

(719) 447-4627
(719) 447-4631 (fax)