Page 137 - Barrel Stallion Register 2024

Rodeo Corpus Christi and WCRA Announce a $600,000 Payout for 2024.
return for the coveted Triple Crown of Rodeo Round. The top athletes on the WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi Leaderboard in each discipline will compete for their piece of the over $545,500 purse, across nine disciplines, which include – Bareback Riding, Women’s Breakaway Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping (Heading and Heeling), Tie-Down Roping, Barrel Racing, and Bull Riding. Format and competition information will be available at wcrarodeo. com on October 2, 2023, and will close
April 7, 2024.
WPRA Celebrates 75 Years
The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) is celebrating 75 years in 2023. The WPRA is the oldest women’s professional sports organization in the world. This year is the anniversary of the Girls’ Rodeo Association (GRA)—now the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association— after a few dozen trailblazers came together in 1948 to change the competition in professional rodeo. The groups mission was to give women legitimate opportunities
to compete, as well as establish an alliance with the PRCA (then RCA) to host women’s events in conjunction with its rodeos. They drafted rules and enacted a point standings system to crown World Champions. While barrel racers got the media limelight, many of them also roped or competed in the WPRA’s steer-wrestling-like event. They worked tirelessly to cultivate relationships with promoters and sponsors and market their league, with the end goal of equal prize money. At the same time, the WPRA made the decision in 1981 not to approve any PRCA rodeo that wouldn’t offer the women
at least half the purse of the lowest-paid men’s event. Pam Minick, a WPRA board member 45 years ago, credits the WPRA’s longevity to directors who put aside their personal agenda for the greater good and who have “a servant’s heart” that have carried women’s rodeo on their shoulders. The WPRA started with 74 members, 60 events and a payout of $29,000. Now, 75 years later, it has more than 3,000 members, 1,500 events and payouts totaling more than $5 million. Today’s women are reaping the benefits of the sacrifices made
by the world’s toughest cowgirls for the past seven decades.
William Herschel “Bud” Upton
William Herschel “Bud” Upton passed away on Sept. 11 at the age of 82. Bud was a fifth-generation rancher, who continued to ranch until his final days. Bud became a member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1966 and a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since its inception in 1976. Dedicated to promoting the sport of rodeo, his involvement in
the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association began in 1961 where he served on the board of directors for 25 years. He was also Rodeo Chairman for 20 years, Chairman of the Roping Fiesta for 14
years and president of the organization from 1986-1988. Bud was successful in the arena as well as he was a five-time National Finals Rodeo Steer Roping qualifier and was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Harriet, his children, Herschel Lee Upton, Candice Belle Upton Powell, Margaret Ruth Upton Porter along with many other family members and friends.
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