Discover the organizations that shape competition and opportunity across the nation for rodeo athletes.
When people think about professional sports, organizations like the NFL, MLB, or NBA often come to mind. These organizations define rules and leagues and set the standard for value and financial payouts within the industry.
In the rodeo world, it works the same way with one notable exception. Whereas NBA players are not normally seen playing in local leagues, even professional rodeo athletes may enter rodeos across a variety of sanctioning organizations and levels, often depending upon their location and the needs of their wallet, schedule, and horse.
At the highest professional level there are organizations such as the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association (WPRA), and the PBR (Professional Bull Riders). These organizations have individual circuits within them for certain regions of the country as well as special categories, such as the teams competition within the PBR. At the level just below these groups are numerous sanctioning organizations that still count as professional but are smaller and produce rodeos within specific territories.
The International Pro Rodeo Association (IPRA) is an Oklahoma city based rodeo group that lays claim to being the second largest professional rodeo organization. They hold their International Finals Rodeo (IFR) in Oklahoma every year as well, with the venue changing between the Lazy E in Guthrie and the fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.
The California Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association (CCPRA) is a regional organization on the west coast, covering California and Nevada, similar to the east coast’s Southern Rodeo Association (SRA), which covers North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia.
Countless other groups cover the middle of the U.S., such as the United Rodeo Association, the Colorado Pro Rodeo Association, the National Cowboy Association, and the American Cowboys Rodeo Association.
Some organizations focus on specific individuals based on heritage or military service. While everyone is welcome at rodeos regardless, these organizations seek to provide additional opportunities. There’s the Black Rodeo USA organization that hosts invitational rodeos in multiple states and the famous Bill Pickett Rodeo, as well as the Black Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Association.
The North American Indian Cowboys Rodeo Association and the All Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association provide additional support platforms for the Indian National Finals Rodeo, which draws competitors of Native American heritage to show off their skills. The Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association serves military families nationwide and beyond with circuits ranging all the way to Europe and Alaska.
In addition, there are youth, high school, and college rodeo associations, providing kids the chance to start at a young age with competition and then earn college scholarships as they age. Many western states also offer a great number of open rodeos. At an open rodeo, there is no specific association sanctioning it and anyone is welcome to enter. Sometimes these rodeos are hosted by community groups like roundup clubs or volunteer fire departments.
In a sport where the contestants are mobile and have to be nomadic at times, having these grounding organizations providing a foundation of support and opportunity is vital. The sanctioning organizations ensure that rodeo lives on for the next generation.