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.

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...

Sutton Rodeo Co. Celebrates 100 Years in the Rodeo Business

Feb 3, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Sutton Rodeo Co. Celebrates 100 Years in the Rodeo Business By Ruth Nicolaus, originally printed in Tri-State Livestock News Deep in the heart of South Dakota lives one of rodeo’s premier...

Gunderson Gets Big Win in Denver

Jan 26, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year RODEO NEWS Gunderson Gets Big Win in Denver By Ann Bleiker Heidi Gunderson is a regular name in the Futurity world standings but after a big win in Denver her name will be amongst the top in the early 2026...

Breakaway Roper Dowell Leads Odessa With a 1.5 Second Run

Jan 12, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year RODEO NEWS Breakaway Roper Dowell Leads Odessa With a 1.5 Second Run By Ann Bleiker The official start of the 2026 rodeo season was back in October, but many consider January the real start to the season with big...

Munsell Wins First World Title in Breakaway Roping, George Ropes Her First Average Title

Jan 12, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year NFBR 2025 Munsell Wins First World Title in Breakaway Roping, George Ropes Her First Average Title By Ann Bleiker FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The 2025 Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by Tito’s...

Williams Dominates on First Night of 2025 Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping in Ft. Worth

Dec 22, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year NFBR 2025 Williams Dominates on First Night of 2025 Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping in Ft. Worth By Ann Bleiker FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The 2025 Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by Tito’s...