IN THE NEWS Every Buckle Has a Story Campaign
Beutler (stock contractor), Rick Young (contract personnel – clown), Mel Potter (notable), Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman (livestock – saddle bronc), Whiskey (livestock – steer wrestling horse owned by world champion Roy Duvall), and Nebraska’s Big Rodeo - Burwell, NE (rodeo committee). John Van Cronkhite will also be honored posthumously with the Ken Stemler Pioneer Award during the Cowboy Ball on July 15.
The WPRA is proud to expand our footprint with our longtime partner Montana Silversmiths through Every Buckle Has a Story to spotlight female rodeo athletes along with the special equine partners that made their dreams come true. WPRA Members: We want to hear about your most memorable buckle and the horse behind it all.
Submit your story for a chance to be featured in the WPRA’s monthly publications as well as WPRA.com and social media channels. If your most memorable buckle is made by Montana Silversmiths, you’ll also receive a Custom Talking Feather necklace from Montana Silversmiths, engraved with your horse’s name on it to wear close to your heart. Please submit the following for your chance to be featured: • Your story – limit of 500 words • Photo of your Montana Silversmiths buckle • Action photo of you and your horse • Sample article can be found on page 26 of this issue • Email to Hannah Miller in the WPRA office - hannahk@wpra.com
Ardith Bruce, who was born July 22, 1931 and currently resides in Fountain, Colorado, has been a member of the WPRA since 1960, reaching the pinnacle of the sport in 1964 when she won the world title aboard a horse known as Red, registered as Straws Kingwood Snip. The duo won $6,510 that year, edging Sissy Thurman by $400 to win the title. That same year, Red was the AQHA Reserve World Champion Barrel Horse and in 1965 was the first GRA/WPRA barrel horse to ever be featured in color on the cover of the Quarter Horse Journal. “Oh wow,” said Bruce upon learning of her induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. “This is a surprise to me but I feel deserving of this recognition. I am honored to be joining an elite group of hard working ladies that have received this honor before me.” Bruce landed among the top 15 seven consecutive years from 1963 thru 1969. In 1967, she and Red won the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo the first year it was held in the Astrodome. Red loved running close to home – he won the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Bruce’s hometown of Colorado Springs six times. She was inducted into the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1997. Bruce was among the early GRA members to conduct barrel racing clinics and often traveled to Hawaii to conduct them. In addition to barrel racing, she spent a great deal of time on the race track and
2022 ProRodeo Hall of Fame Class Announced COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Class of 2022 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductees were announced on Tuesday, April 12 and will mark the 43rd annual induction. A total of 11 will be inducted including two representatives from the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) on July 16. 1964 WPRA World Champion Ardith Bruce will be inducted into the WPRA Barrel Racing category, while Cindy Rosser will be inducted as a WPRA notable. Bruce and Rosser will join the following on the PRCA side – Trevor Brazile (all-around), Bobby Mote (bareback riding), Bobby Harris (team roping), the late Jake
8 WPRA NEWS MAY 2022
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