This issue is full of stories of on the circuit champions from Coast To Coast. We feature one contestant in the barrel racing and breakaway roping across the 12 circuits in the United States. These are all individuals who have earned a spot in the NFR Open in Colorado Springs in July. Enjoy the read!
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February 2024
Champs from Coast to Coast
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CONTENTS
News
431 S. Cascade Colorado Springs, Colo., 80903 PH: 719 - 447 - 4627 FX: 719 - 447 - 4631 Please contact the WPRA office for all correspondence regarding the WPRA News.
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Jimmie Munroe WPRA President Ann Bleiker (719) 330-4293 ableiker@yahoo.com Managing Editor Paige Louis Thomas (719) 633-7700 paigeink@gmail.com Graphic Designer Allie Bohus Josie Fladager Tim Gentry Brittany Gunn Ted Harbin Joe Kusek Kristen M. White Contributing Writers WPRA Office (719) 447-4627 (877) 977-2462 Fax: (719) 447-4631 www.wpra.com
On the Cover : This issue is chalked full of stories on all the Circuit Champions from Coast to Coast who have punched their tickets to the $1 Million NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado in July. From the weekend warriors to those who have made the NFR before the Circuit System is definitely a mix of stories from across the United States. President’s Corner......................................................................................................................6 By A Nose Feature......................................................................................................................7 In The News.................................................................................................................................8 Taking Care of Business............................................................................................................9 2024 WPRA ProRodeo Standings........................................................................................... 10 2024 WPRA Resistol Rookie Standings................................................................................. 11 First Frontier Circuit - Barrels ................................................................................................ 12 Breakaway Roping............................................................................................................ 13 Mountain States Circuit - Barrels .......................................................................................... 14 Breakaway Roping............................................................................................................ 15 Texas Circuit - Barrels ............................................................................................................ 16 2023 Barrel Circuit Standings................................................................................................ 17 Business of............................................................................................................................... 18 2024 Roping World Standings................................................................................................ 19 2024 Futurity/Derby Standings.............................................................................................. 19 Turquoise Circuit - Barrels ..................................................................................................... 20 Breakaway Roping............................................................................................................ 21 Wilderness Circuit - Barrels ................................................................................................... 22 Breakaway Roping............................................................................................................ 23 Texas Circuit - Breakaway Roping......................................................................................... 24 2023 PRCA/WPRA Breakaway Roping Circuit Standings.....................................................25 Great Lakes Circuit - Barrels .................................................................................................. 26 Breakaway Roping............................................................................................................ 27 Southeastern Circuit - Barrels ............................................................................................... 28 Breakaway Roping............................................................................................................ 29 Columbia River Circuit - Barrels ............................................................................................ 30 Breakaway Roping............................................................................................................ 31 Montana Circuit - Barrels....................................................................................................... 32 Montana Circuit - Breakaway Roping.................................................................................... 34 2024 PRCA/WPRA Breakaway Roping Circuit Standings.....................................................35 Prairie Circuit - Barrels............................................................................................................ 36 2024 PRCA/WPRA Circuit Standings...................................................................................... 37 California Circuit - Barrels ..................................................................................................... 38 Breakaway Roping............................................................................................................ 39 Badlands Circuit - Barrels....................................................................................................... 40 Breakaway Roping............................................................................................................ 41 Prairie Circuit - Breakaway Roping ....................................................................................... 42
WPRA News does not endorse and is not responsible for the contents of any ad in this publication. Neither that information nor any opinion which may be expressed here constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor and commentaries are those of the authors and not necessarily those of WPRA NEWS. WPRA News (ISSN 1093-9202) is published monthly by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. Subscriptions are $45 a year. Postmaster: Send address changes to WPRA News , 431 S. Cascade, Colorado Springs, Colo., 80903 WPRA News is designed to provide current news and results to the members of the WPRA and WPRA All-Women Rodeo. Direct all editorial and advertising correspondence to WPRA News , 431 S. Cascade, Colorado Springs, Colo., 80903 Trademark 2017 WPRA NEWS Published by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association Printed, produced and read in the U.S.A.
4 WPRA NEWS FEBRUARY 2024
FEBRUARY 2024 WPRA NEWS 5
PRESIDENT CORNER H ard to believe that the first month of 2024 is now behind us. That means that all our 2023 circuit finals have concluded and the initial field for the NFR Open has been set. The circuit system has been a staple in our business for nearly 50 years now. It is a great avenue for members that can’t rodeo full-time due to work or family obligations or that just prefer to compete close to home.
Stampede qualifiers planned for this year. The qualifier will be for both barrel racing and breakaway roping. The top two finishers in the average standings in the Calgary qualifier barrel race and breakaway roping will earn a spot to compete in their respective events at the 2024 Calgary Stampede. Only 30 ladies in barrel racing and 30 in breakaway roping will get the honor to compete in July in Calgary. In addition to this opportunity at the Western Region Event in the United States, the Calgary Stampede will be hosting their Ladies Barrel Racing qualifier June 11- 12 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. The top three from this event will earn a spot in the Calgary Stampede. The Calgary Stampede Ladies Breakaway Roping Qualifier will take place June 4 -5 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. Be sure to check the WPRA website for more details on the qualifier including ground rules, entry information, as well as the other races that will be featured that weekend. And finally, Heidi Schmidt your WPRA Vice President has been working closely with Alan Woodbury on the new innovative timers called BY A NOSE. The Board and I are excited to see how this partnership will revolutionize barrel racing timing on the professional level as well as within the industry. Be sure to keep an eye out on our website for more information on these timers. Enjoy your extra day in February since this year is leap year! Safe Travels,
Each year the national circuit finals, now called the NFR Open, brings the year-end champions and average champions from each circuit together to compete for what is now a $1 million purse. The field for the 2024 NFR Open is a talented and diverse group of ladies in both barrel racing and breakaway roping. This issue features stories on a qualifier from each circuit in the barrel racing and breakaway roping so you can get a look at some of the great story lines as we travel the Road to the NFR Open. For those looking to qualify for their respective circuit finals in 2024 the board has recently approved the required minimum number of rodeos to meet rule 8.8.2 known as the Forty Percent 15 Rule. I encourage all members to make yourself aware of this either by reviewing the information in the February issue of the WPRA News on the Taking Care of Business page, the WPRA website or by contacting your circuit director. We are also very excited and busy planning the inaugural Western Region Event in April that will take place in Salina, Utah. This event will feature barrel racing and breakaway roping card races that will have money counting toward world standings along with a Permit Only barrel race. In addition, we will be hosting one of two Calgary
6 WPRA NEWS FEBRUARY 2024
EVERY SECOND COUNTS WPRA Partners with Alan Woodbury on New Timing Devices – BY A NOSE W ith a new year comes new opportunities. The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce its partnership with Alan Woodbury on his latest innovation BY A NOSE.
expect,” stated Heidi Schmidt, WPRA Vice President. “It was pretty incredible to come out of that meeting with an extreme sense of excitement. Witnessing something that could revolutionize barrel racing timing and the industry was something the WPRA Board needed to see immediately, so we arranged for Alan to present the product to the board at our 2023 Spring board meeting in Colorado Springs.”
BY A NOSE is a new timing device that Woodbury has developed for the world of barrel racing, specifically in the professional realm. The term By A Nose comes from horseracing and that is where the idea of this new timing device came about. BY A NOSE was developed, designed, and produced from research and data. Woodbury has closely followed barrel racing and horse racing for over 40 years. He recognized a need for a more accurate barrel racing timing system early on. A few years ago, he was at the track in Ruidoso, NM, when he met the expert who analyzes film, (and
horses’ NOSES,) to determine race winners. Woodbury hired him to travel the country, filming over 700 barrel racing runs at major rodeos. Using state of the art technology, the runs and their times were analyzed to record timer heights and nose heights both starting the run and finishing the run. From these numbers, Woodbury designed a timer tripod with a standard height and WITHOUT adjustable legs. This tripod is easy to set up and is ALWAYS THE SAME HEIGHT. He was also able to determine the nose height range of horses crossing the eye. From this data, he designed a canister to sit on top of the tripod that uses four eye beams spaced at specific measurements to catch the differing heights of noses…all sizes of horses, running with heads up or heads down.
The team saw the fruits of their labor at the recently completed Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo in Great Falls, where BY A NOSE timers were used. “We were excited to put the BY THE NOSE timers into action at the Montana Circuit Finals,” stated Dillon McPherson, Montana Circuit Director. “They definitely created a buzz and everyone from contestants to spectators were interested in learning more about them. They were well received by our circuit members, and we are anxious to get more in the field during the 2024 rodeo season.” The WPRA Board of Directors believes the Montana Circuit Finals was just the tip of the iceberg and are excited to use these at more events throughout the 2024 rodeo season. Currently there are a few prototype units being used successfully with 50 more
in production that are planned for WPRA distribution. Woodbury hopes that sometime in March, there will be 100 more units available to purchase. This timer was designed with colored lights on the back of the canister to indicate when the timer is on, lined up, ready to time, timing in progress, and back to ready to time. It’s EASY and as long as someone is paying attention to the lights and the battery has been charged, it shouldn’t miss a time. In addition, the BY A NOSE timing system has its own wi-fi that will transmit times to an app that can be downloaded to a phone, etc. When changes or upgrades are needed with the system, the app will update automatically. “In the WPRA, hundredths of a second can change lives, and it is the WPRA’s responsibility to provide to its members the most accurate timing system we know of,” said Schmidt. “The WPRA Board is very excited to move ahead with BY A NOSE and help get these game changing timers in the hands of contractors and other contract personnel.” As more information becomes available including where these timers can be ordered, the cost, WPRA plans for implementation at rodeos, etc., an update will be shared at that time.
The WPRA Board of Directors have been working closely with Woodbury over the past year. “When Alan called a year ago to come look at the prototype for these timers, I went into that situation not really knowing what to
FEBRUARY 2024 WPRA NEWS 7
IN THE NEWS WPRA Sends Condolences Katherine Wyss Anderson May 1, 1936-January 13, 2024
Mary Guy February 21, 1949 — January 19, 2024
Mary Guy, 74, of Abilene, Texas, passed away Friday, January 19, 2024, at Hendrick Medical Center, surrounded by many of those who she had wrapped with love in life. Mary-a cowgirl every moment of her existence-did every day BIG. Born in Fort Worth to Edgar and Lillie Davis, Mary built a life of legend on the Guy ranch outside Abilene, raising a family-some by marriage, some
Born and raised on the Wyss Dairy (near Pendleton) to Conrad and Jetta Bennett Wyss. Katherine spent many hours on the back of a horse. She attended grade school in Reith, Junior and Senior High in Pendleton where she graduated in 1954. She was the white captive girl in the Happy Canyon night show and rode in the square dance on horseback. The Round-Up was special to her and she was a Princess in 1954 and Queen in 1955. Katherine attended Oregon State in the fall of 1954 but came
birth and most by pure love for the wayward soul. The rodeo world was her family, and she loved every member of it like her very own. There was simply no life she’d have rather lived. Mary wed the love of her life, Larry Guy, March 10, 1967, in Abilene. Together, they had a son, Tommy, and a daughter, Lari Dee, who would give Mary her greatest joy as their mother. She lived to crack the chute for her kids to rope, from Abilene to Las Vegas and beyond. Nobody would dare question her fierce support of them, as she never failed to show up everywhere they’d back into the corner and nod their head. Along the way, Mary acquired dozens of adopted children she’d lovingly call her ‘strays’, for whom she supported through good times and bad. Known best for her unmatched skill for honesty, Mary didn’t care if you were the “King of the Cowboys” or her ornery, teenage grandson- she never left you questioning where you stood or what she thought of the choices you were making. A fierce advocate for women in rodeo, Mary lobbied hard for all her girls and loved cheering for her boys, young and old. Mary is survived by Larry, her husband of 56 years; son, Tommy, of Abilene; daughter, Lari Dee, of Abilene; grandson, Tegan Guy; granddaughter, Adison Guy; nephews Roy Hurd Manahan (Kendra) and Cole Manahan; great nephew, Lanham Manahan; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins and loving friends and family. Boot Barn Best Dressed Circuit Winners The WPRA would like to thank Boot Barn for sponsoring the Best Dressed Barrel Racing Award in each circuit this year. We would like to congratulate the following ladies who rode away with a $100 gift certificate along with the recognition. Badlands – Molly Otto California – Shelby Bates Columbia River – Lindsay Ham
home over winter break and went to work in the office at the Pilot Rock Lumber Co. She transferred to the Reith Plant and remained there through 1957. She married Jerry Anderson that December and moved to Ellensburg, Washington. They farmed and opened a saddle and tack shop. They had a son, Curtis. They divorced in 1971 and Katherine worked for the Ellensburg School District until July of 1979 when she married Courtney Bach. Katherine loved horses and barrel racing. As a member of the Washington Barrel Racing Association, she was the 1965 champion and was in their top ten for 11 years. In 1974 she joined the GRA, which later became the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. She also competed in the Senior Pro Rodeo Association and won the year- end barrel racing saddle in 1981 at their finals in Nevada. Her husband died in January of 1987 so she moved to Hermiston, Oregon. She worked part-time for P.G. G. in the clothing department. Katherine continued competing in the northwest, California, and Arizona during the winter. In 2007 Katherine and her special barrel horse “Foxy Coke” (from the 60’s and 70’s) were inducted into the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame along with her step-son Allen Bach, four-time PRCA World Champion Heeler. Preceded in death by her parents, husband Courtney Bach, son Curtis Anderson, sister Anne Wyss Wilson, and brother Conrad Wyss. Katherine is survived by stepdaughter Judy (Jim) Nelson, step-sons Mike (Terri) Bach PRCA Gold Card Member, and Allen (Peggy) Bach, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Katherine requests no services, just a gathering of friends and relatives for talk and food wherever and whenever.
First Frontier – Joanna Reid Great Lakes – Kricket Gintner Montana – Sarah Verhelst
Mountain States – Kelly Yates Southeastern – Margo Crowther Turquoise – Jordan Bassett Kircher Keep an eye out for these best dressed ladies at a rodeo near you.
8 WPRA NEWS FEBRUARY 2024
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
“It’s the friends we meet along the way that makes us appreciate the journey.” 2.) If the contestant’s principal place of residence is no within her designated circuit, said contestant must compete in either 40% of the rodeos within the circuit (based on the total number of rodeos during the previous year which held the particular event for which the contestant seeks to become a CR contestant) or 15 rodeos with that event within the circuit, whichever is greater (provided that, if there are less than 15 rodeos with a particular event in a circuit during a rodeo year a nonresident must satisfy this rule if she competes in 100% of the rodeos with that particular event in the circuit during that rodeo year.) At a Director’s discretion it may go up to 60%. 2024 Required Participation Submitted by Circuit Directors Circuit Event No. of Rodeos Resident Non-Resident Badlands Barrels 29 12 15 Breakaway 23 9 15 California Barrels 39 15 16 Breakaway 21 8 15 Columbia River Barrels 41 15 17 Breakaway 34 14 15 First Frontier Barrels 37 14 15 Breakaway 32 13 15 Great Lakes Barrels 49 15 20 Breakaway 27 11 15 Montana Barrels 33 13 18 Breakaway 22 9 15 Mountain States Barrels 49 15 20 Breakaway 21 8 15 Prairie Barrels 46 15 23 Breakaway 32 13 15 Southeastern Barrels 61 15 23 Breakaway 38 15 15 Texas Barrels 72 15 29 Breakaway 59 15 24 Turquoise Barrels 23 9 15 Breakaway 23 6 15 Wilderness Barrels 39 15 23 Breakaway 29 12 15 2024 Circuit Count Update 8.8.2 Forty Percent (40%) 15 Rule 8.8.2.1 In order to satisfy the 40%/15 rule, a contestant must comply with the following: 1.) If the contestant’s principal place of residence is within her designated circuit, said contestant must compete in either 40% of the rodeos within that circuit (based on the total number of rodeos during the previous year which held the particular event for which the contestant seeks to become a CR contestant) or 15 rodeos with that event within the circuit, whichever is less or;
WPRA 2024 Holiday Schedule Holiday Day of Week From the Corner Office
Date
Presidents Day Memorial Day
Monday Monday Thursday Monday Thursday
February 19
May 27
Independence Day
July 4
Labor Day
September 2 November 28 November 29 December 24
Thanksgiving Day
Day After Thanksgiving Friday
Christmas Eve Christmas Day New Year’s Eve
Tuesday
Wednesday December 25
Tuesday
December 31
2025 Holiday New Year’s Eve Day
Wednesday January 1
Thought of the Month Don’t carry your mistakes around with you. Instead, place them under your feet and use them as stepping stones to rise above them. Rule of the Month If Circuit Finals is a goal for you this year, remember when planning your schedule that rodeos co-approved with your circuit can also be helpful. However, keep in mind, money won at these rodeos will count towards your circuit standings, but they will not contribute to your required rodeo count for your circuit. Please reference rule 8.4.3. in the 2024 WPRA Rule Book
DidYou Know Pulmonary damage and bleeding in the lungs from exercise makes a horse more susceptible to pneumonia. Bacteria thrive in inflammation and blood found with
exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH or lung bleeding). Learn more about EIPH at https://flairstrips.com/protect-from- eiph-lung-bleeding/.
FEBRUARY 2024 WPRA NEWS 9
2024 WPRA PRO RODEO STANDINGS Unofficial Standings as of Jan. 29, 2024 *2023 WPRA World Champion BARREL RACING 1. Abby Phillips Marshall, TX $19,844 2. Katie Jo Halbert Port Lavaca, TX $18,381 3. Taylor Carver Broxton, GA $18,198 4. Ashley Castleberry Montgomery, TX $17,585 *5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi Lampasas, TX $14,704 6. Chloe Gray Yatesville, GA $14,443 7. Hailey Kinsel Cotulla, TX $13,998 8. Sadie Wolaver-Troyer Weatherford, OK $13,752 9. Jymmy Kay Cox Ruidoso Downs, NM $12,626 10. Skyla Peters Liberal, KS $12,417 11. Tayla Moeykens Three Forks, MT $11,827 12. Shelley Morgan Eustace, TX $11,036 13. Preslie Reid San Angelo, TX $10,972 14. Halyn Lide China Spring, TX $10,829 15. Rainey Skelton Llano, TX $10,814 16. Maggie Poloncic Gillette, WY $9,901 17. Tessa Arnold (R) Coleman, TX $9,224 18. Madison Bean Lubbock, TX $9,044 19. Kelly Yates Pueblo, CO $8,787 20. Kelly Allen Stephenville, TX $8,572 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
BREAKAWAY ROPING 1. Willow Wilson Baggs, WY
$11,699 $11,658 $11,526 $11,187
Jackie Crawford
Stephenville, TX Miles City, MT
*3. Shelby Meged
Sawyer Gilbert Cadee Williams
Buffalo, SD
Big Timber, MT Commerce, TX
$9,932 $9,691 $9,095 $8,905 $8,645 $7,895 $7,851 $7,655 $7,443 $7,238 $7,210 $7,193 $6,978 $6,956 $6,404 $5,965
Addie Weil
Taylor Hanchey Christi Braudrick
Carmine, TX Caddo, OK Midway, TX
Tacy Webb
10. Taylor Munsell 11. Martha Angelone 12. Kassidy Dennison
Alva, OK
Stephenville, TX Tohatchi, NM Abilene, TX Pottersville, NY
13. Bradi Good
14. Jessie Letzelter 15. Rylee George 16. Cassidy Boggs 17. Devan McAdow
Oakdale, CA
Stephenville, TX
Littleton, CO Standish, CA
18. Suzanne Williams 19. Danielle Wray 20. Jordan Jo Hollabaugh
Ord, NE
Springtown, TX
Where The Elite Compete SM
2023 WPRA World Champion Barrel Racer Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi Photo by Kenneth Springer
2023 WPRA World Champion Breakaway Roper Shelby Boisjoli-Meged Photo by Rodeobum.com
10 WPRA NEWS FEBRUARY 2024
2024 WPRA RESISTOL ROOKIE STANDINGS Unofficial Standings as of Jan. 29, 2024 BARREL RACING 1. Tessa Arnold Coleman, TX $9,224 2. Oceane Veilleux St. Alfred, Quebec, CN $6,020 3. Millie Marquart Mason, TX $4,604 4. Sadie Miller Jonesboro, AR $3,177 5. Julie Plourde Saint-Gedeon, Quebec, CN $2,898 6. Shaeley Jenkins Palatka, FL $2,524 7. Kylie Perra LaBelle, FL $2,241 8. Piper Cordes Wall, SD $1,511 9. Tammy Stedmen Arlee, MT $1,448 10. Ryleigh Kaye Adams Okeechobee, FL $1,265 11. Krystal Dillman Navasota, TX $1,114 12. Madison McCaffity Omaha, TX $1,103 13. Skylar Alves San Luis Obispo, CA $857 14. Ashlyn Goven Stephenville, TX $571 15. Michele Davenport Plant City, FL $529 2. Shiloh Napp 3. Nikayla Brill 4. Sierra Spratt 5. Georgia Orahood 6. Tayler Felton 7. Ariana Varischetti 8. Addison Elliott 9. Jakelyn Primrose 10. Harley Meged 11. Shelby Edwards 12. Sara Montgomery 13. Cady Dever-Boaz Cheree Caudie 15. Aldyn Ashton
BREAKAWAY ROPING 1. KC-Gail Churchill Waco, TX
$3,870 $3,351 $2,687 $2,106 $2,019 $1,604 $1,166 $1,164 $1,147 $1,085
Enterprise, MS Summerdale, AL San Tan Valley, AZ
Malta, MT Fallon, NV Carbon, TX Live Oak, FL
Eaglelake, TX Miles City, MT Broadalbin, NY Worden, MT Senatobia, MS Livington, AL
$993 $966 $931 $931 $891
Lorida, FL
Where The Elite Compete SM
2023 WPRA Resistol Rookie of the Year Kali McCall. Photo by Ric Andersen
2023 WPRA Resistol Rookie of the Year Braylee Shepherd. Photo by Click Thompson
FEBRUARY 2024 WPRA NEWS 11
CIRCUIT FINALS: FIRST FRONTIER BARRELS BURNING RUBBER Jaime Fowler Earns Road Trip to NFR Open as First Frontier Circuit Barrel Racer By Josie Mac Fladager J aime Fowler of Henderson, Maryland loves to run in front of the sold-out crowd in the New Holland Arena. The fans in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania are electric at
every performance and make the rodeo special for the First Frontier Circuit contestants. This was Fowler’s seventh First Frontier Circuit Finals, but she was as excited as ever. “I feel like I’m always nervous the first run back in that building,” Fowler said. “It’s always sold out, so there’s a lot of nerves and excitement.” This year, however, was extra special for Fowler. Aboard TR Blazin Ta Cash, she secured the average win and a road trip to the NFR Open. She went to Greeley (CO) in 2020 (location of the national circuit finals that year due to COVID), and Fowler is excited to get to make the trip again this year. She plans to make the 25-hour drive with “Blaze” this July and is looking forward to the opportunity to run again with the best in the business from across the country. “It was very exciting. It was unexpected,” Fowler recalled of the 2023 average title. “I was just hoping to go in there and make three clean runs and [Blaze] really stepped up. He’s a cool horse.”
Jamie Fowler and Blaze definitely blazed a trail through the cloverleaf pattern at the First Frontier Circuit Finals capturing the average in at time of 42.40 seconds on three runs to earn a trip to the NFR Open in July. Photo by Casey Martin
He handled it like the champion he is, running the fastest time of the week and breaking the 14-second barrier in the second round with 13.96 seconds. Overall, the team placed in all three rounds and won just over $5,100 for their work over the weekend. Fowler grew up with her dad hauling her to 4-H shows where she mostly rode English. It didn’t take long for her to make the switch to running barrels and she has now been doing it for nearly 20 years. Her experience has made her quite the jockey, and her riding caught the eye of Ricky and Summer in 2022. After seeing Fowler win on one of her own mares at a barrel race, they wanted her to see what she could do with Blaze. The team clicked, and Fowler now also rides a mare for Ricky and Summer. Fowler has six of her own horses in her barn at home, and this year was the first time Fowler rode someone else’s horse at the circuit finals. Outside of running barrels, Fowler is the Deputy Town Manager for the town of Greensboro, Maryland. Fowler says she balances working, riding outside horses, and her own with the help of a good team around her. “I have a really good job and they’re flexible and supportive of it all. And I have good help in my boyfriend. If I’m getting home ten minutes before dark, he’ll have horses caught for me so I can ride real fast before it gets dark,” Fowler said with a laugh. Fowler is ready for an opportunity to run in Colorado Springs, and she says she’s ready for more of the rodeo atmosphere. “You’re more amped up and I think the horses run harder too when there’s a huge crowd and music blaring,” she noted. “The atmosphere is more exciting at the rodeos for sure.”
Fowler has only been on Blaze for about a year a half, but the duo clicked nearly instantly. Owned by father-daughter duo Ricky and Summer Moomau, the 8-year-old gelding had mostly been running at NBHA barrel races. Fowler and Blaze had won the NBHA state title in 2022 and 2023, but Blaze had yet to be in the hectic atmosphere that came with the circuit finals.
Jamie Fowler placed in all three rounds at the First Frontier Circuit Finals to land atop the average leaderboard and collected over $5,100 en route to a berth in the NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She will be joined by Jodi Colton in representing the First Frontier. Photo by Casey Martin
12 WPRA NEWS FEBRUARY 2024
CIRCUIT FINALS: FIRST FRONTIER BREAKAWAY ROPING COWGIRL GRIT, NEVER QUIT First Frontier Circuit Breakaway Roper Paige Pursel Talks About Trials and Triumphs By Brittany Gunn F or Paige Pursel of Danville, Pa., winning the average breakaway champion title in 10.9
seconds on three head not only meant a trip to the NFR Open, but meant the world when she shared the success with her 83-year-old “Pap,” Bill Pursel – a man who inspired her to rodeo. “I was born into rodeo,” Pursel explained. “My grandfather was a calf roper and has trained calf roping horses his whole life.” Pursel began her rodeo career in youth rodeo, and later competed in high school and college rodeo. In 2015, Pursel began her career with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. In 2020, Pursel was in need of another horse after retiring her 24-year-old mare named Miss Super Wolf, a.k.a. Wolfy. She then acquired a now 16-year-
Paige Pursel ropes her way to the top of the average leaderboard finishing with a total time of 10.9 seconds on three head to win the First Frontier Circuit Finals. As a result, she punched her ticket to the NFR Open and a shot at a share of the $1 million payout. Photo by Casey Martin
roping on him again, and finally started competing in 2023 by attending a few pro-rodeos and amateur rodeos. “Going into this year, my main goal was to qualify for circuit finals and the NFR Open. I just wanted to hit my count for the year, so I wasn’t too focused on where I was sitting, she said. “I placed well in round one and in rounds two and three, I drew some really hard to catch calves – they were not easy, but I got them caught.” When asked about the kind of rope she uses, she explained she had been a lifetime fan of the King poly three-strand rope but now uses a pink caddy five-strand nylon rope from Lone Star when roping on Woodrow. “I’ve used King ropes my entire life, but with my horse, I can speed up my tip a little better with the nylon ropes,” she said. Pursel, alongside year-end champion Jessie Letzelter, will be representing the breakaway ropers from the First Frontier Circuit at the NFR Open In closing she said, “Breakaway roping is not one of those things you can go buy a faster horse and win. It’s a skill you have to work on and it’s a blade you have to keep sharp.”
old Quarter Horse palomino gelding named Ducelena Sam, a.k.a. Woodrow, from her grandfather. She noted the pair has come leaps and bounds since the beginning of their rodeo journey. “It was really hard to come off a horse you can win on and go find something else that makes you feel like you can be a winner,” she said. “It took a really long time for us to click. Woodrow has a long-stride and runs really hard. It takes him half a stride extra to stop compared to the mare I retired.” In 2020, after moving to Stephenville, Texas, Woodrow sustained an injury that sidelined the team for about a year. Shortly after coming back from the injury, the pair qualified to compete in several American Contender Tournament Qualifying Events, and made it to the American Semi-Finals, but was just short of competing in the Finals when she placed one spot out of the top 30. “It was a satisfying feeling making it up to that point, but was also heartbreaking,” she said. “After that we had a few great runs and then he got hurt again.” Due to injury, Pursel returned to Pennsylvania. In 2022, she started
FEBRUARY 2024
WPRA NEWS 13
CIRCUIT FINALS: MOUNTAIN STATES BARRELS ENJOYING THE RIDE Kelly Yates Wins Mountain States Average, Earns Berth to NFR Open By Kristen M. White K elly Yates is well versed in the rodeo circuit system. After all, she’s been competing in it for quite literally decades. At this point, the cowgirl from Pueblo, Colorado, said she feels blessed to
continue doing what she loves. This year, that led her to the average victory at the Mountain States Circuit Finals, punching her ticket to the NFR Open which is held “just up the road” in Colorado Springs, only about 50 miles from home. “I was pretty tickled,” she said of the win. “It was a tough one! It’s a tough circuit, so when you make the Mountain States Circuit Finals, you know you’ve done something right.” Yates and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (who won the year- end title) went neck-and-neck for the average title. The two women were tied headed into the final round, so the title was most definitely up for grabs. Pozzi Tonozzi won the first round in 15.08 seconds, while Yates was just a tick behind in 15.09 seconds. In the second round, they reversed - Yates won in 15.21 seconds, with Pozzi Tonozzi stopping the clock in 15.22 seconds. “I remember letting it just all roll in my third run,” Yates said. “Even if I’d finished second, I would have still gotten to go (to the NFR Open, since Pozzi Tonozzi won the year- end title too) but I knew my horse could outrun the field. I knew she was good and asked her for everything - and she gave it to me.”
Kelly Yates won a hard fought battle for the average title in the Mountain States Circuit edging out Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi for the title. Yates rode Gucci to the title and a spot in the NFR Open in her home state of Colorado. Photo by Tanya Hamner
Yates and her horse, Gucci, clocked a 15.18-second run in the last round to take the win over Pozzi Tonozzi’s 15.27-second round. Pozzi Tonozzi had already run, so Yates knew exactly what she needed to do, and said she and Gucci were ready.
“Sometimes I think it’s the way I ride her, asking her to give me more,” Yates said. “That run she was craving it just as much as I was. She was on it.” Although this is Yates’ first berth to the NFR Open (titled as such, in its current form), she’s no stranger to national circuit finals in the form of the Ram or Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeos. She won her first Mountain States circuit finals title back in 1990, then won again in 2001, 2003, 2010, 2019 and 2020. She is “super excited” about the NFR Open and the chance at some good checks there too. Yates said she was disappointed that she didn’t make enough money from the circuit finals win to get her into some of the bigger winter rodeos, so for now she’ll continue to concentrate on circuit rodeos this season and see where things lead. “I want to do my best and maybe I could win the circuit this year,” Yates said. “I’m very serious in what I do, but I want to have fun and enjoy my horses. I don’t have a goal anymore - in the past I did, but now I just enjoy my life. Life is short and I want to enjoy it while I can, while I’m lucky enough to keep doing this after all these years.” Yates said she loves riding colts and helping younger competitors. She has some up-and-coming horses that she thinks have great horsepower, so she’ll continue to run the pattern as long as she can.
Kelly Yates (second from left) accepts yet another Mountain States Circuit buckle having won her first circuit title in 1990. Photo by Tanya Hamner
14 WPRA NEWS FEBRUARY 2024
CIRCUIT FINALS: MOUNTAIN STATES BREAKAWAY ROPING HANDY WITH A ROPE Willow Wilson Punches Ticket to NFR Open By Winning Year-End Title in Mountain States By Kristen M. White W illow Wilson has some new adventures on the horizon this year, after winning the year-end breakaway roping title in the Mountain States Circuit. Doors are open not only for the NFR Open, but for some of the big winter
rodeos like San Antonio and Houston. “I’m a circuit cowgirl for sure,” Wilson said. “But since I’m sitting good, we’re going to give those a try. It’s all new. And the NFR Open, that was a big goal, to get to go there and run at a lot of money. That should be a lot of fun.” Wilson won the year-end title and finished second in the average at the Mountain States Circuit Finals. She finished second in the first round and tied for third in the second round. Those checks, along with the check for second place in the average, helped put her over the top for the year-end title. “It was a pretty close race,” Wilson said. “All of us girls were pretty close. We all roped good all summer, picking up a bit of money everywhere, so I definitely didn’t have it wrapped up.”
In 2013, Willow Raley (now Wilson) made history qualifying for the short round at the Cheyenne Frontier Days heading for Pake Younger from Grand Junction, Colorado. Photo by Fred McClanahan Jr.
Wilson credited Cheyenne Frontier Days for helping boost her to the year-end title. She said the rodeo was “really good to me,” as she made it back to the short round and won about $4,500 in total at the rodeo.
In addition to breakaway roping, Wilson also team ropes in the PRCA with her husband, Todd. She in fact holds the distinction of being the only female to make the short round of team roping at Cheyenne Frontier Days, so it’s clear she’s good at her craft. Growing up, Wilson said she “wasn’t really a very good barrel racer,” and because until a few years ago professional breakaway roping didn’t have a ton of opportunities, she leaned into the team roping. She’s had her PRCA card since 2008. Now that breakaway roping is catching fire, being added to more and more rodeos and gaining more added money, she’s excited to be part of the movement. “It’s made a lot of ropers come out of the woodwork that had kind of hung it up,” Wilson said. “That’s part of why I was doing the team roping. It’s been great to be able to breakaway rope and let people know that girls can rope too!” For Wilson, rodeo is largely a full-time gig. She builds saddle pads and trains some horses to help keep her bank account full. Todd also has a flexible job, so together they travel and rodeo when their schedules allow. In fact, he talked her into entering the WPRA Finals last fall, and because it’s about an 18-hour drive from their home in Baggs, Wyoming, she wasn’t sure she wanted to go. However, Wilson won the breakaway average title at the WPRA Finals, making it a worthwhile trip. “I love roping,” Wilson said simply. “I love the unpredictability of it. You could draw good or bad, and you have to use what you’ve got. You really rely on you and your horse to make the best of it and that’s what I love.”
“We go to a lot of circuit rodeos because we have great ones in the Mountain States - Sheridan, Cheyenne, Greeley ... the goal is to make the Finals. Definitely the goal.” Now, with that goal met and the NFR Open on her schedule later this year, Wilson can see where else her love of roping might take her.
Willow Wilson won the year-end title in the Mountain States Circuit and will now compete at the NFR Open in July. Photo by Tanya Hamner
FEBRUARY 2024
WPRA NEWS 15
CIRCUIT FINALS: TEXAS BARRELS MOMENTUM BUILDING Following adversity, Castleberry ready to take next step in professional rodeo journey By Alex Riley, Special to WPRA W hen the 2023 rodeo season began, Ashley Castleberry had no expectations. In September 2022, the Montgomery, Texas native was traveling between rodeos in Washington when she
got into a single vehicle accident. Ultimately, Castleberry came away from the wreck bumped and bruised but in relatively good shape. Unfortunately, one of her horses sustained injuries that it would not be able to recover from. The moment left Castleberry unsure of what was next for her as a barrel racer in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Associatiåon. She still had her primary horse, Sky, and eventually decided to purchase another horse named Stormy. The plan was to use 2023 as a reset year to train. Very quickly, things took a different turn. “At the beginning of last year, I had no goals for myself,” Castleberry said. “I had my good horse, Sky, and whenever I got (Stormy), I told myself I was just going to go season him a little bit. Once (Stormy) started winning more and more and then winning at the big rodeos, I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know where we’re going to end up this year.’ I just kept going and kept following God’s plan all year. We were so close, but I was so grateful for where we ended up anyway.” Castleberry finished the 2023 season sitting 17th in the WPRA world standings, two spots away from reaching her first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It was her highest ranking ever, edging her 2020 showing of 18th. Along the way, she earned just shy of $88,000. While last year came up slightly short of professional rodeo’s biggest stage, the momentum hasn’t slowed down. Her regular season success in 2023 earned Castleberry a spot at the Texas Circuit Finals last October where she dominated. She placed among the top four to earn money in every round, including wins in the third and fourth round, helping her secure the average title at 63.62 seconds on four runs. In all, Castleberry earned $10,231 at the Waco-
based event, giving her a strong start to the 2024 season and punching her ticket to the $1 million NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in July. After a few runs at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver recently, Castleberry is sitting third in the WPRA world standings with more than $17,200 to her credit already. “This will be my sixth-year hauling and I’ve never had a good winter. Every winter, I’ve gone into my summer run with about $12,000,” Castleberry said. “This winter, I’ve already got $17,000 won and I’ve never had that. I’m hoping that I can go have one of my normal summers and we can be in Vegas this year.” Ashley Castleberry dominated the Texas Circuit Finals winning money in every round and taking home the average title in a time of 63.62 seconds on four runs. Photo by Rodeobum.com (James Phifer)
Ashley Castleberry (second from right) is looking to collect more cash and hardware in July at the NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Photo by Rodeobum.com (James Phifer)
Last season, she came in with no expectations and a lot of uncertainty. Now, Castleberry enters 2024 with a plan and a focus. She calls her two-horse combo a game- changer as each mount gives her a chance to win. She’s qualified for all of the large indoor winter rodeos, giving her the opportunity to add more money to her ledger and solidify herself as a top 15 competitor. No matter what happens next, Castleberry’s outlook is to simply enjoy the ride and see where it ends up. “I’m just following God’s plan for the year. I can’t go against it, so I’m just going with it with an open mind and grateful to be going every year,” she said. “I hope that we end up achieving our goals this year – making the NFR. “
Ashley Castleberry punched her ticket to her first NFR Open after winning the average title. She is hoping 2024 will finally be the year she cracks the top 15 and earns a trip to the Wrangler NFR. Photo by Rodeobum.com (James Phifer)
16 WPRA NEWS FEBRUARY 2024
2023 PRCA/WPRA CIRCUIT STANDINGS BARREL RACING Unofficial as of Jan. 24, 2024 *NFR Open Qualifiers BADLANDS *1. Jessica Routier $21,419 *2. Lisa Lockhart $19,129 3. Lakken Bice $18,378 4. Hallie Fulton $14,920 5. Molly Otto $13,039 6. Nicole Bice $10,321 7. Taylor Hanson $9,318 8. Britany Diaz $9,240 9. Fonda Melby $8,733 10. Bobbi Olson $7,904 11. Britta Thiel $5,656 12. Amanda Lewis $5,554 13. Allene Nelson $5,350 14. McKenzie Jendersee $5,290 15. Alyssa Gabrielson $5,006 CALIFORNIA *1. Kathy Petska $36,902 2. Shelby Bates $23,609 *3. Payton Schoeppach $23,531 4. Tonia Forsberg $16,864 5. Hayle Gibson $16,819 6. Miley Bunting Bravos (R) $16,001 7. Shelley Holman $13,549 8. Ann McGilchrist $13,194 9. Kay Cochran $10,936 10. Kaillee Hamre $10,572 11. Sheena Robbins $9,588 12. Maren Powers (R) $8,567 13. Madison Camozzi $7,369 14. Taylor Arakelian $6,640 15. Nellie Miller $5,543 COLUMBIA RIVER *1. Megan McLeod-Sprague $22,479 2. Rachelle Riggers $22,317 3. Kacey Gartner $21,768 4. Pamela Capper-Coker $21,000 5. Lindsey Ham $20,490 6. Cheyenne Allan $18,398 *7. Sharon Gow $17,082 8. Julia Johnson (R) $15,534 9. Karen Gleason $12,965 10. Kathy Grimes $11,299 11. Mary Shae Thomas $10,011 12. Shane Falon $8,307 13. Coti Fuller $6,930 14. Kaycie Kayser $6,400 15. Lacy Diefenbach (R) $5,940 FIRST FRONTIER *1. Jodi Lyn Colton $18,991 *2. Jamie Fowler $13,637 3. Brooke Klinger $10,127 4. Dawn Powell $6,593 5. Karissa Landis (R) $4,907 6. Ali Montgomery Allen (R) $4,651 7. April Masterson $4,641 8. Madison Ann Iager $4,280 9. Joanna Reid $4,104 10. Kerri Frazier $3,805 11. Jennifer Guzzi (R) $3,530 12. Willie Horzepa $2,513 13. Samantha Vallone $2,150 14. Beth Ann Borowy $2,031 15. Renee Gardner $1,875 GREAT LAKES *1. Lacinda Rose $23,658 *2. Ronda Casey $18,245 3. Austyn Tobey $16,957 4. Kricket Gintner $16,498 5. Jillian Zaun $14,785 6. Jamie Lenzner $12,173 7. Katie Sowada (R) $11,368 8. Caitlyn Clair $10,692 9. Shannon Jensen $9,617 10. Ashley Peterson $8,666 11. Nikki Singler $8,134 12. Lucy Ferch (R) $7,085 13. Sissy Warren $6,789 14. Tasia Behnke (R) $6,361 15. Sandi Brandli $6,162 MAPLE LEAF *1. Taylor Manning $18,115 *2. Lynette Brodoway $17,049 3. Karli Cowie (R) $13,656 4. Brooke Wills $13,206 5. Jennifer Neudorf $9,392 6. Kirby Penttila $8,195 7. Lane Wills $7,871 8. Traci MacDonald $7,800 9. Lisa Zachoda $7,031 10. Shelby Spielman $6,557 11. Bradi Whiteside $6,102 12. Kyla Simmons $5,991 13. Bertina Olafson $5,217 14. Lakota Bird $5,132 15. Kylie Whiteside $3,967 MONTANA *1. Tayla Moeykens $29,274 *2. Ashley Day $17,906 3. Hailey Garrison $17,203 4. Heather Crowley $15,880 5. Abby Knight $15,516 6. Brittney Sporer $14,214 7. Tammy Carpenter $12,509 8. Hannah Sharon $11,125 9. Bailee Murnion $9,854 10. Allie Novotny $8,188 11. Tia Murphy $7,924 12. Tisha Larsen $5,490 13. Celie Salmond $5,433 14. Casey Wagner $4,698 15. Sabra O’Quinn $4,441 MOUNTAIN STATES *1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi $35,006 *2. Kelly Yates $20,733 3. Shali Lord $13,159 4. Sage Kohr (R) $10,160 5. Chris Gibson $9,917 6. Kim Schulze $9,366 7. Karson Bradley $8,823 8. Shawnee Williams $8,674 9. Heidi Tillard $7,846 10. Sydni Blanchard $7,783 11. Taryn Boxleitner $7,115 12. Nicole Waggoner-Ludwick $6,811 13. Molly Pritchard $6,135 14. Andrea Busby $5,718 15. Kaitlin Drosihn $5,274 PRAIRIE *1. Emily Beisel $18,686 *2. Tracy Nowlin $17,868 3. Wenda Johnson $11,280 4. Ivy Hurst $11,211 5. Emily Griffin $10,998 6. Suzanne Brooks $10,958 7. Sadie Wolaver $10,810 8. Emma Charleston $9,198 9. Michelle Darling $8,499 10. Leslie Smalygo $8,296 11. Ivy Saebens $7,943 12. Ali Armstrong $7,316 13. Andrea Haden $7,203 14. Paige Jones $6,758 15. Taylor Johnson $5,841 SOUTHEASTERN *1. Chloe Gray $24,087 *2. Taylor Carver $22,404 3. Erin Wetzel $21,016 4. Margo Crowther $18,482 5. Nicole Love $16,443 6. Ashley Parks $13,721 7. Kristin Hanchey $13,288 8. Ashley Rogers $12,168 9. Sarah Rose Waguespack $10,605 10. Emilee Jackson $10,570 11. Dallas Sawczak $10,015 12. Cindy Patrick 14. Taycie Matthews 15. Sally Young TEXAS *1. Kelly Allen 2. Kassie Mowry 3. 5. Keyla Costa 6. Stephanie Fryar 7. Hailey Kinsel 8. Lindsay Sears 9. Natalie Bland 10. Ilyssa Riley 11. Jamie Olsen 12. Jackie Ganter 13. Sydney Graham 14. Preslie Reid 15. Sissy Winn TURQUOISE *1. Tara Seaton 2. Cindy Smith 3. Doskie Edwards 4. 5. Casey Mathis *6. Madison Bean 7. Lisa Anderson 8. Sarah Kieckhefer 9. Jordan Kircher 10. Bailee Switzer 12. Sharon Harrell 13. Carly Longo (R) 15. Halle DeWitt WILDERNESS *1. Sue Smith 2. Marcie Wilson 3. Meka Farr 5 Abby Phillips 6. Lauren Butler 7. Stacy Glause 8. 9. 10. Amanda Butler 11. Kailey Mitton 13. Macee McAllister 14. Italy Sheehan 15. Jillette Atkinson Sabrina Ketcham 11. Kortni McConnell 12. Jennifer Kalafatic 13. Bobbie Jo Alcazar
$9,385 $7,169 $6,108 $4,356
$40,690 $29,975 $23,981 $23,861 $22,666 $21,792 $17,483 $16,530 $16,018 $15,532 $15,217 $14,266 $14,103 $11,756 $10,599 $21,163 $11,980 $11,199 $10,404 $10,045 $10,000
Jimmie Smith-Tew
*4. Ashley Castleberry
$9,924 $7,249 $6,938 $6,469 $5,904 $5,120 $4,244 $3,517 $3,238
14. Quincy Sullivan (R)
$53,430 $20,181 $19,699 $16,953 $16,714 $16,066 $13,924 $13,478
*4. Savannah Bennett
McKenna Coronado
Haylee Moosman Woodward $12,389
$12,170 $8,502 $8,462 $8,452 $8,337 $7,346
FEBRUARY 2024 WPRA NEWS 17
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