Wrangler National Finals

WPRA Announces 2025 Committee and Contract Awards

By Ann Bleiker

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – With the regular season behind us we turn our attention to what can be considered the reward season for not only our Top 15 but also all the personnel and committees that have gone above and beyond this past year.

The WPRA Board of Directors have selected their 2025 committee and contract award winners that have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all happen and have helped keep the Association alive and well for the past 77 years. Each winner will be officially recognized during the WPRA Star Celebration at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Thursday, December 4.

Honored this year with the Lifetime Family Heritage Award will be the McLeod Family. Megan McLeod-Sprague has qualified for her first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo after being a WPRA member since 1997 following in her mother, Teri’s, footsteps. Qualifying for the NFR ranked fifth is a great achievement for Megan and both she and her mother have worked tirelessly to make the sport better. Teri served as the Wilderness Circuit Director for 10 years (1994-2003), while Megan served as Wilderness Circuit Director from 2008-2009 and the Columbia River Circuit Director from 2019-2021. 

WPRA Announcer of the Year is Anthony Lucia, who recently was selected to work his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as an announcer. From a trick roper to top announcer Lucia has put in the work announcing rodeos from coast to coast. He has been selected PRCA Announcer of the Year the last two years.

Receiving the Lifetime Service & Dedication Award is Ann Thompson. Thompson is the go-to lady for WPRA barrel racers when it comes to entering rodeos, what rodeos are best to compete in, best ways to get set-up when it comes to preferences and understanding the WPRA Rulebook and event ground rules.

Rodeo committees have long been the backbone of the rodeo industry and without the hardworking rodeo committees, the industry would have a hard time existing. The WPRA is thankful to every committee who continues to elevate the sport to new levels. With the increase in added money the WPRA added a new category in 2024 called Mega Rodeo of the Year, which includes rodeos adding $25,000 or more. Winning this award in 2025 is the Calgary Stampede after adding women’s breakaway roping with equal prize money into the big show. This was the first year a new event was added to this prestigious rodeo since barrel racing was added. Also being recognized for outstanding commitment to the industry are: Toppenish (WA) Rodeo – (Small Rodeo of the Year), Rodeo Killeen (TX) (Medium Rodeo of the Year) and Tri-States Pro Rodeo – Ft. Madison, IA (Large Rodeo of the Year).

The WPRA would like to congratulate each of the award recipients as well as those that were nominated for these prestigious awards.

Below is a full list of those that will be recognized by the WPRA in 2025.

Announcer of the Year

Anthony Lucia

Stock Contractor of the Year

Kirsten Vold – Vold Pro Rodeo

Pro Official of the Year

Bruce Keller

Mildred Farris Secretary of the Year

Amanda Sanders

Small Rodeo of the Year (added money of $5,000 or less)

Toppenish (WA) Rodeo

Medium Rodeo of the Year (added money of $5,001 – $9,999)

Rodeo Killeen (TX)

Large Rodeo of the Year (added money over $10,000 – $24,999)

Tri-States Pro Rodeo – Ft. Madison, IA

Mega Rodeo of the Year (added money over $25,000)

Calgary Stampede

Corporate Partner of the Year                               

Montana Silversmiths

Roping Partner of the Year

7K Roping

Media Award

Money Barrel Podcast

Lenora Reimers Heritage Award

Carol Lake

Outstanding Individual of the Year Award

Ron Howard

NFR Lifetime Achievement Award

Tony Amaral

Outstanding Rodeo Committee Partner

Rodeo Austin (TX) 

Lifetime Service and Dedication

Ann Thompson

Lifetime Service and Dedication: Director

Dillon McPherson

Breakaway Committee of the Year

Lea County Fair and Rodeo (Lovington, NM)

Distinguished Partnership

Sevier County – Salina, UT

Lifetime Family Heritage Award

McLeod Family – Megan, Teri and Sandy

Innovative Media Partner

Teton Ridge/Cowboy Channel

Outstanding Service & Dedication

Jake Van

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