News Release Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 101 ProRodeo Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80919 Contact: PRCA Media Department 719.528.4840 www.prorodeo.com June 10, 2008 PRCA ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT NEW INVESTMENT IN CIRCUIT SYSTEM AND OTHER INITIATIVES AT ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
COLORADO SPRINGS - The annual general membership meeting of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) was held today at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. The PRCA used the opportunity to unveil a number of new and exciting initiatives to its membership.
PRCA Chairman of the Board Keith Martin announced the Board's unanimous decision to bolster the PRCA Circuit System, which, in Martin's words, is "the backbone of the PRCA." Starting in 2008, the PRCA will contribute an additional $500,000 per year into the PRCA Circuit System. The 12-circuit system includes the Badlands, California, Columbia River, First Frontier, Great Lakes, Montana, Mountain States, Prairie, Southeastern, Texas, Turquoise and Wilderness Circuits, as well as the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which is a vital part of the circuit package.
The PRCA has committed to matching up to $3,000 per event in added money at every Circuit Finals Rodeo, in each of the six standard PRCA events, which are bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and bull riding. Equal money of up to $6,000 will be made available in the team roping event. The four circuits - Columbia River, Mountain States, Prairie and Texas - that also include steer roping will be entitled to the same matching benefit in that event, for a total potential PRCA commitment of $264,000 per year in additional added money. The PRCA Board of Directors believes that this initiative will encourage Circuit Finals Rodeo committees to increase their contribution as well. The PRCA's matching prize monies will be added to the committee contributions.
In addition, the PRCA announced that it will pay the entry fees of all PRCA contestant qualifiers at the 2009 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo. "These initiatives show the PRCA Board's firm commitment to support and strengthen our Circuit System, which is a core component of our business," Martin said. "Wrangler National Finals Rodeo contestants do not have to pay entry fees to compete at the NFR, and now our circuit contestants will no longer have to pay entry fees to compete at our Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo. We are all part of the PRCA Circuit System, whether we are contestants, committees, stock contractors, sponsors or contract personnel. These improvements to the Circuit System are good news for all of us, because they take this important part of our business to the next level."
The PRCA will provide $92,400 to cover all DNCFR entry fees for PRCA contestants, which are $550 per qualifier per event. The PRCA will also contribute additional monies to the DNCFR fund, which when added to the sponsor and DNCFR committee commitments will bring the total DNCFR payoff for the six PRCA events to $500,000 in 2009. The total payout in those same events at the 2008 DNCFR was $350,350. The PRCA also announced more welcomed news for cowboys and fans, confirming that the scheduling conflict between the DNCFR and RodeoHouston has been eliminated. The 2009 DNCFR will be held April 8-11 in Pocatello, Idaho.
"These actions represent the beginning of our initiatives," Martin said. "It's definitely not the end. Fuel prices are hurting everybody right now, but they're really impacting our contestants. This $500,000 commitment of additional PRCA funds will help."
Martin had more good news for PRCA members at the meeting, including an additional $300,000 shot in the arm of the PRCA judging program. "Judging is such an important part of professional rodeo," he said. "We are all working hard to increase the competitive opportunities available to our contestants, but we also want to make sure that money ends up in the hands of those who deserve it most. Competitive integrity is vital to every professional sport."
Martin also reported that overall entries at Heartland ProRodeo Series events have increased by 8.4 percent to date in 2008, with a 16 percent increase in bareback riding alone. The new Heartland ProRodeo Series concept is working, and the boosted bareback riding entries are an encouraging trend, as the number of professional bareback riders has declined in recent years. Finally, the PRCA announced a major membership initiative designed to reward top high school rodeo contestants throughout the United States. The PRCA will waive permit dues for every National High School Rodeo Association state champion in each event that is part of the PRCA.
"We wanted to reach out to the next generation of cowboys, and let them know how much we value their participation in our sport," Martin said. "This will give almost 300 cowboys per year a head start in pursuing a career in professional rodeo. "All of these initiatives reinforce the fact that the PRCA Board of Directors and staff are making every effort to meet the needs of its membership. We're working hard to get the job done, and we're making progress. The PRCA is financially sound, entries are up and attendance is on the rise at our rodeos. Our foundation is solid, and we're in strong position to continue to grow the great sport of professional rodeo."