The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) was created almost by accident in 1936, when a group of cowboys walked out of a rodeo at the Boston Gardens to protest the actions of rodeo promoter W.T. Johnson, who refused to add the cowboys' entry fees to the rodeo purse. Johnson finally gave in to the cowboys' demands, and the successful "strike" led to the formation of the Cowboy's Turtle Association. In 1945, the Turtles changed their name to the Rodeo Cowboys Association, and in 1975, the organization became the PRCA. The PCRA headquarters, established in 1979 in Colorado Springs also houses the Pro Rodeo Hall of Frame and Museum of the American Cowboy.
The National Finals Rodeo (NFR)
The National Finals Rodeo, organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, is the premier championship rodeo event in the United States. Wrangler Jeans is the title sponsor for the 10-day event, commonly just called the National Finals or NFR, which is also sometimes referred to as the World Series of Rodeo and the Super Bowl of Rodeo. The NFR is held each year in the first full week of December, at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)
The Professional Bull Riders, Inc., was founded in 1992 by 20 accomplished bull riders who joined together and took a business risk to try make bull riding into a stand-alone sport. Each rider chipped in $1,000 to help launch his dream of someday seeing bull riders recognized as mainstream professional athletes. As of April 23, 2007, Spire Capital Partners, L.P., a private equity firm based out of New York, became partner and majority investor in the PBR. Randy Bernard, Ty Murray, Tom Teague and all the Directors of the PBR will continue as shareholders. Fifteen of the shareholders are among the elite 45 riders currently on the BFTS tour, which will help preserve the tradition originally started by the cowboys in 1992.
The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., and has over 1,200 bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. PBR currently operates four domestic tours, including the Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour and Discovery Tour, and has a rapidly growing presence in international markets, including Brazil, Mexico, Australia and Canada. PBR competitions can be viewed regularly on its cable channel partner, VERSUS, every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET. In addition, the PBR will have eight events televised on the FOX and NBC networks in 2007.
United States Team Roping Championships
The USTRC has continually been the leader in producing championship team roping events for amateur ropers since 1989. In the 2005 season alone, the USTRC delivered nearly $25-million in cash and prizes to its members, culminating this record-setting season with the largest and richest team roping event in history. As the pinnacle event of the sport, The USTRC 2005 National Finals of Team Roping drew thousands of ropers from across the country and topped the $4.3-million dollar mark in cash and prizes. The USTRC's unique TRIAD classification system now maintains the handicaps of almost 127,000 team ropers across North America, continuing to offer the only classification system dedicated to provide everyone, regardless of age or ability, the fair and equal opportunity to compete.
The USTRC has continued to make history and revolutionize the sport of team roping through fairness and a 'roper first' philosophy. We invite you to come along, and experience the thrill of the sport of Team Roping.
World Series of Team Roping
World Series Of Team Roping caters to the serious money players in the roping industry with qualifiers across the country and culminating in a Grand Finale each year during the NFR in Las Vegas. In its first 36 months of operation World Series has created and amazing 3 Million dollar event. "The Finales" as they are called by the ropers is the icing on the roping season cake, the final and most visible roping in the United States. World Series boasts the richest Lo-Am, second richest Amateur and the richest Pro-Am Roping in the Untied States. WSTR was created by Denny Gentry, founder of USTRC and Super Looper Magazine. His return to the roping industry marks a return to the roping innovations for which he is known. Immediately on his return Priefert and Gentry collaborated to create and introduce the Priefert No-Barrier Roping Chute which is taking the industry by storm.
Thunder EquiGames
Thunder EquiGames if a multi-faceted celebration the very best of the cowboy world. The event occurs each year at Michael Gaughn's South Point Casino and Equestrian Center on the strip in Las Vegas, NV. "Thunder EquiGames is the cowboy version of the X Games," explained announcer Bob Tallman. "The payout here is equivalent to 60% of the total 10-day NFR payout that took fifty years to create". The EquiGames features The Rob Smet's Free Style Bull Fighting, World Series Team Roping, the Charmayne James Invitational Barrel Race, the World Series Mounted ShootOut, and many more exciting cowboy events.
Tommy G Productions
Tommy G. Productions is an established, award-winning producer of top quality entertainment. Based in Colorado, the organization began by producing rodeo, bull riding, team roping and mutton bustin' events. Today, it continues to offer all of these established events, in addition to, concerts and action-oriented, extreme activities like demolition derbies, boxing matches, ultimate fights and extreme motocross venues.
S Industries - The Barn Fly Spray System
Provides a solution for eliminating mosquitoes, poisonous spiders, ants, and over 300 other insects from kennels, vet clinics, holding pens, barns and stables. The Fly Spray System will give you peace of mind and your livestock and horses will thank you. They guarantee it!
Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund
In 1989, Justin Boot Company formed a partnership with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women's Professional Rodeo Association to lend a helping hand to professional rodeo athletes and their families in the event of catastrophic injuries. Thus, filling the void created by financial hardships when the inevitable serious injury interfered with the careers of those who have dedicated their lives to the sport.
Tru-Test
Tru-Test have been designing, manufacturing and marketing the world's leading electronic livestock weighing systems for nearly 25 years. Our in-house research and development capability has created leading livestock management systems that are in use throughout New Zealand, Australia, Europe and North and South America.
Tru-Test manufactures to the ISO9001 quality standard - the global seal of excellence in all facets of business, from research and design to customer service. When you choose Tru-Test, you receive the backing of the company that designs, manufactures, distributes and supports their own products. Tru-Test products have been designed specifically to withstand the rigors of the testing agricultural environment. The words simple, rugged, versatile and powerful describe the Tru-Test range.
Other Important Affiliations
* National Western Stock Show - Visit the Website
* Lazy E Arena - Visit the Website
* Bob Feist - Visit the Website
* George Strait Team Roping Classic - Visit the Website
* Midwest Horse Fair - Visit the Website