WPRA NEWS

Sammy Thurman Brackenbury – 1933 – 2024

We are saddened to read that 1965 World Champion Barrel Racer and 2019 ProRodeo Hall of Fame Inductee Sammy Thurman Brackenbury has passed away. She recently celebrated her 91st birthday on Dec. 11. She lived life to the fullest from chasing mustangs on the deserts of Arizona and Nevada, to a WPRA Barrel Racing World Championship, to roping and falling off horses in the movies Sammy Thurman Brackenbury did it all.

Sammy Thurman Brackenbury

Brackenbury qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 11 consecutive times, winning the world title in 1965. The only daughter of PRCA cowboy Sam Fancher, Brackenbury became one of the first women to rope in an RCA rodeo when her father entered the team roping at the Santa Maria Rodeo and his partner failed to show.

World Champions Visit Oval Office

Mar 13, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearRODEO NEWS World Champions Visit Oval Office By Ann Bleiker 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...

2026 WPRA Western Regional – Salina, UT

Mar 5, 2026

WPRA Western RegionWPRA Western RegionEntries open now through April 5th ENTER NOWEntries Are Open WPRA Western Regional - Salina, UT - April 10-12 The WPRA Board of Directors recently approved the WPRA Western Regional in Salina, UT, April 10-12 where contestants...

Lockhart Becomes First WPRA Member Reach $4 Million in Career Earnings

Mar 5, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearRODEO NEWS Lockhart Becomes First WPRA Member Reach $4 Million in Career Earnings By Ann Bleiker Lisa Lockhart kicked off Women’s History Month by becoming the first WPRA member to surpass the $4 million mark in...

Anita Ellis Returns to Win San Antonio; Hammons Moves to No. 1 in World Breakaway Standings

Mar 4, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearRODEO NEWS Anita Ellis Returns to Win San Antonio; Hammons Moves to No. 1 in World Breakaway Standings By Ann Bleiker Words really can’t fully describe the comeback of WPRA barrel racer Anita Ellis but rodeo fans...

2026 WPRA Election

Mar 4, 2026

2026 Election Information2026 Election InformationElection Results Updated 2/26/2026 WPRA Members, Ballots from the WPRA Election have been tallied by the WPRA’s 3rd party election vendor.The results are as follows: Badlands:Nicole Bice – 11 Votes (100%)...

Texas Precious Metals Joins WPRA Corporate Partner Family

Feb 18, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year WPRA NEWS Texas Precious Metals Joins WPRA Corporate Partner Family COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The WPRA is excited to announce Texas Precious Metals as our official precious metals partner. Through this...