WPRA Announces 2024 Justin Best Footing Award Winners

By Ann Bleiker

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (October 29, 2024) – The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association is pleased to announce and congratulate the following rodeo committees who have gone above and beyond this past year to ensure safe ground for the animal athletes of rodeo, specifically the barrel racing horses. Every year since the early 1990s the WPRA and Justin Brands have honored rodeo committees in each of the 12 circuits with the Justin Best Footing Awards.

The Justin Best Footing Awards® program was created when Tom Feller, director of event marketing for Justin Brands, approached the WPRA about partnering on a program that would focus on the health and well-being of the animal athlete. Not only does the program keep animal athletes performing at the top level, but it also recognizes the hard work and time rodeo committees put into making their ground as safe as possible for the barrel horse and all rodeo livestock.

This award is determined by votes by the WPRA membership and Circuit Directors and represents our members’ voices saying “thank you” for a job well done. The WPRA recognizes the top three rodeo committees in all 12 circuits as well as the most improved ground committee in each circuit. Committee awards provided by Justin include cash bonuses (ranging from $400-$1,000), plaques and, at certain award levels, a pair of Justin exotic boots. In addition, names of each winner for each of the 12 circuits are put into a drawing for an additional $1,500 bonus from Justin. The following rodeo committees will be recognized at the WPRA Star Celebration in Las Vegas on Dec. 5 at the South Point Hotel and Casino.

Congratulations to the following rodeo committees being honored in 2024 and the WPRA thanks you for making your ground safe and consistent.

2024 Justin Best Footing Award Winners

Badlands Circuit

First – Killdeer (ND) Mountain Roundup Rodeo

Second – Range Days Rodeo – Rapid City, SD

Third – Black Hills Roundup – Belle Fourche, SD

Most Improved – Black Hills Roundup – Belle Fourche, SD

California Circuit  

First – California Rodeo Salinas

Second – King City Stampede

Third – Lakeside Rodeo

Most Improved – Old Santa Ynez Days – Santa Ynez

Columbia River Circuit   

First – Basin City (WA) Freedom Rodeo

Second – Eugene (OR) Pro Rodeo

Third – Ellensburg (WA) Rodeo

Most Improved – Molalla (OR) Buckeroo Rodeo

First Frontier Circuit

First –Painted Pony Championship Rodeo – Lake Luzerne, NY

Second – Goshen (CT) Stampede

Third – Gerry (NY) Volunteer Firemen’s Rodeo

Most Improved – Cumberland (ME) County Fair & Rodeo

Great Lakes Circuit

First – Pioneer City Pro Rodeo – Palestine, IL

Second – Buffalo (MN) Championship PRCA Rodeo

Third – Price County Rodeo – Phillips, WI

Most Improved – Stockton Lake PRCA Rodeo – Stockton, MO

Montana Circuit

First – Rosebud Treasure Co. Fair Rodeo, Forsyth

Second – Central Montana PRCA Rodeo – Lewistown

Third – Livingston Roundup

Most Improved – Bear Paw Roundup – Chinook

Mountain States Circuit  

First – Steamboat Springs (CO) Pro Rodeo Series

Second – Evanston (WY) Cowboy Days

Third – Greeley (CO) Stampede

Most Improved – Cheyenne (WY) Frontier Days

Prairie Circuit

First – Kansas Biggest Rodeo, Phillipsburg

Second – Longford (KS) Rodeo

Third – 101 Wild West Rodeo – Ponca City, OK

Most Improved – Great Plains Stampede & Rodeo – Altus, OK

Southeastern Circuit        

First – Rotary Rodeo – Starkville, MS

Second – Old Fort Days Rodeo – Fort Smith, AR

Third – 4^th Annual White County PRCA Rodeo – Searcy, AR

Most Improved – Imboden (AR) PRCA Rodeo

Texas Circuit

First – West Texas Fair & Rodeo – Abilene

Second – Cowboy Capital of the World, Stephenville

Third – Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and Rodeo – Mercedes

Most Improved – Waller County Fair & Rodeo – Hempstead

Turquoise Circuit  

First – World’s Oldest Rodeo, Prescott, AZ

Second – Helzapoppin – Buckeye, AZ

Third – The West Most Western Rodeo – Scottsdale, AZ

Most Improved – Yuma (AZ) Jaycee’s Silver Spur Rodeo

Wilderness Circuit

First – Mountain Valley Stampede – Heber City, UT

Second – Gooding (ID) Pro Rodeo

Third – That Famous Preston (ID) Night Rodeo

Most Improved – Lehi (UT) Round Up Rodeo

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