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.

Calgary Stampede – One for the Record Books in 2026

Jul 13, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearRODEO NEWS Calgary Stampede – One for the Record Books in 2026 By Ann Bleiker If you weren’t a barrel racing fan before the 2026 edition of the Calgary Stampede, one could bet if you watched just one round of the...

Michelle Alley and Haiden Thompson Top Earners over the Fourth of July

Jul 7, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearRODEO NEWS Michelle Alley and Haiden Thompson Top Earners over the Fourth of July By Ann Bleiker Michelle Alley had never been to Canada, but she made the most of her first time north of the border raking in a...

Special Wins in Reno for Beisel and Outhier

Jul 7, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearRODEO NEWS Special Wins in Reno for Beisel and Outhier By Ann Bleiker If the short round of the 2026 Reno Rodeo was any indication of the level of competition expected within the WPRA over the next month of...

Calgary Stampede Field Finalized

Jun 30, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearRODEO NEWS Calgary Stampede Field Finalized By Ann Bleiker The 2026 edition of the Calgary Stampede gets underway on July 3 and we now have an official list of those who have earned a spot in this prestigious...

Heidi Schmidt talks WPRA National Breakaway Finals

May 20, 2026

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New Home, New Name, New Dates—Still the Crowning Jewel for Professional Rodeo Breakaway Roping

Jun 1, 2026

Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearRODEO NEWS New Home, New Name, New Dates—Still the Crowning Jewel for Professional Rodeo Breakaway Roping By Ann Bleiker COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO (May 14, 2026) – The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and...