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.

WPRA Announces 2025 Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year presented by Montana Silversmiths

Oct 17, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year RODEO NEWS WPRA Announces 2025 Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year presented by Montana Silversmiths By Ann Bleiker COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - The backbone of any rodeo is no doubt the rodeo committee and...

WPRA, INFR, and PRCA Expand Partnership to Promote Native Athletes in PRORODEO

Oct 14, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year RODEO NEWS WPRA, INFR, and PRCA Expand Partnership to Promote Native Athletes in PRORODEO By Ann Bleiker The Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) kicks off today through Saturday, Oct. 18 in Las Vegas at the South...

Nutrena Horse of the Year Presented by AQHA

Oct 10, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year Awards Nutrena Horse of the Year Awards Presented by AQHA By Ann Bleiker COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – While most awards in rodeo are reserved for the human athlete, there is one that is solely based on the equine...

NFBR Tickets Now On Sale

Oct 3, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping National Finals Breakaway Roping Tickets On Sale Now By Ann Bleiker COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –Tickets for the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by...

WPRA Announces 2025 Committee and Contract Awards

Oct 2, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year 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...

Contract personnel announced for National Finals Breakaway Roping

Sep 29, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year Wrangler National Finals Contract personnel announced for National Finals Breakaway Roping By Ann Bleiker COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The PRCA and WPRA are proud to announce the contract personnel selected for the...