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.

2025 Election Information-Nomination Results Now Available

by WPRA Administrator | Feb 3, 2025

2025 Election Information2025 Election InformationNomination Results WPRA Members, Results from the Nomination process have been tallied by the WPRA’s 3rd party election vendor. The top two candidates for each position that have accepted a nomination are listed below...

Co-World Champs Crowned in the WPRA Futurity 2D Category

by Brittany Gunn | Feb 1, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearWPRA NEWS Co-World Champs Crowned in the WPRA Futurity 2D Category By Brittany Gunn WPRA photos by Rodeobum.com The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) crowned not one, but two 2D Futurity World...

Ultimate Goal for Otero is Gold at Season’s End

by Ann Bleiker | Jan 29, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearWPRA NEWS Ultimate Goal for Otero is Gold at Season’s End By Ann Bleiker Photos by Ric Andersen After a 10-year hiatus from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Carlee Otero made her return in 2024 for her fourth...

Gunderson Gaining Notoriety as Top Futurity Trainer with Third World Title

by Kristen M. White | Jan 27, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearWPRA NEWS Gunderson Gaining Notoriety as Top Futurity Trainer with Third World Title By Kristen M. White Three futurity world championships. Three diﬀerent horses, from three owners. Clearly Heidi Gunderson is...

Thompson Takes All-Around Crown in the WPRA

by Joe Kusek | Jan 22, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearWPRA NEWS Thompson Takes All-Around Crown in the WPRA By Joe Kusek Haiden Thompson estimates she has won 75 championship saddles during her still ascending rodeo career. She’s kept a few that are close to her...

Second World Title for Moreno Just As Sweet

by Kristen M. White | Jan 20, 2025

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearWPRA NEWS Second World Title for Moreno Just As Sweet By Kristen M. White The thrill of winning her first team roping heeling world title will always be special to Lorraine Moreno. But the second one comes awfully...