PRCA Updates Archives - The Rodeo Round Up

Exclusive insider info on the WNFR Fight … Texas Vs. Florida!

January 12, 2014 By Jason Hetland

All the talk and speculation surrounding the moving of the NFR controversy has a new player involved. It was reported a couple days ago that the great state of Texas is involving themselves into the mix for potential host for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo starting in 2015.

There was a meeting held between the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Commissioner Karl Stressman, the PRCA Board of Directors, the Governor of Texas Rick Perry, State House Representative Cecil Bell Jr. and WNFR bareback qualifier Clint Cannon.

I have sources that are very close to the negotiations that have been talking exclusively with me and have given me the rights to post quotes and real time updates about this issue coming from Texas.

PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman, Governor of Texas Rick Perry and State House Representative Cecil Bell Jr. at the state capital Photo Credit: Chip Hunnicutt

Here is the statement I have received from one of my sources that is close to the negotiations and for now would like to be unnamed:

“We are part of group including trying to get the NFR to the state of Texas along with a unnamed Texas city. We are part of State group not the city, but we are helping support the city the with their bid. This state group was formed by Clint Cannon, Kirby Cannon and Cecil Bell Jr., with the intention of finding a way to get the NFR here. It now includes many more. Without getting numbers out, the bid is unbelievable. The Governers’ office puts events on par with Final Four, Formula One race in Austin, and the Super Bowl and wants the NFR here. We don’t know what board will do but we hope they were impressed.”

PRCA and Texas Bareback Rider Heath Ford sits down with Governor Rick Perry to talk about bringing the WNFR to Texas Photo Credit: Chip Hunnicutt

The Governor quotes, “lets bring the NFR home”, and those thoughts are represented throughout the entire state. To me it sounds like Texas is pulling out all the stops to do anything it can to lure the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to cowboy country, the great state of Texas. The next few months will be very interesting to see what the commissioner and the Board of Directors decides to do once all the options are out in the open and on the table.

Texas State Representative Cecil Bell Jr.

Current state negotiating group member and TheRodeoRoundUp.com’s friend Texas State Representative Cecil Bell Jr. is very involved in everything happening there. He is on the state group and is the one person that is tasked with coordinating with the city’s group. So as you can see EVERYONE wants the WNFR in Texas and both city and state are working together to try to make this happen in 2015. He took time out of his day to give TheRodeoRoundUp.com and exclusive statement and here it is:

“Texas is rodeo country. We’re home to the best location for contestants, stock producers and for fans. From our cities and card-carrying PRCA cowboys to our elected officials in Austin I can tell you we’re working hard to show the PRCA our commitment to bringing the NFR back home to Texas”.
State Rep Cecil Bell Jr.

The stories are continuing to unfold and before long we will all have the answers we are so patiently waiting for. No matter what the PRCA decides to do we will have it covered right here for you on TheRodeoRoundUp.com!!

NFR in Texas May Be A Done Deal!!! At Least For Now!

January 12, 2014 By Jason Hetland

As folks wake up again this morning there is even more news coming out from the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association office that there is something huge happening on the horizon in the great state of Texas! There is nothing for sure announced yet but there are many hints and teasers being dropped already this morning.

PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman at the state capital in Texas

PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman and the Board of Directors were in the capital city of Austin meeting with the Governor and House Representatives as publicity photos were spreading around social media adding to the questions and hype surrounding why. This morning on the facebook page Support the PRCA an official press release gave a few more hints as to what the meeting was about. Here is the official press release to bring everyone up to speed as to what we all know so far:

Sorry for the delays in announcements, everyone has to be patient, the hecklers are just causing there selves embarrassment , just know that the state of Texas is the largest rodeo state in the country, with the largest number of rodeo athletes in the nation, and Governor Perry has deep route’s in the rodeo world along with many of the legislators in congress . There are confidentiality agreements that are in place and millions of dollars at stake. Just know that Texas and the PRCA , the governor, congressmen, and some bareback riders are working along with a large City group to put together the biggest 10 day rodeo in history. There is no “American, or Vegas or anything that can come close to it. Trust Texas, trust your board, trust the cowboys involved, and remember if you build it they will come! Oh and everyone of you rodeo fans ..it wont hurt for you to pray, this one is worth praying for…hecklers be patient, your board cannot talk right now, I assure you Governor Perry, Mr Stressman and everyone involved will be smiling when all is finished. Remember this cannot happen until 2015, there is plenty of time for the entire rodeo world to prepare and adjust. Thanks and relax the National Finals Rodeo and the PRCA are alive and well, with more interest than ever. – Jay Cannon

The Great Falls Tribune had the opportunity to talk with PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman via telephone and published their conversation this morning as well. You can read the entire conversation HERE and find out what he thinks about the situations and the aspect of social media behind it

Editors Note: Jay Cannon is a moderator for the Cuttin Up Radio facebook page and is closely involved with the talks happening at the state capital in Texas

Stay tuned for all the breaking news as it is released right here on The Rodeo Round Up!

The NFR in Texas?… the New Story Begins!

January 11, 2014 By Jason Hetland

When no one has heard anything from the Colorado Springs, CO based Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association or their defecting members for longer that three days obviously it is too long of a time.

Friday night a few social media outlets began reporting that the PRCA’s Commissioner, Karl Stressman, was in Texas talking about moving the associations “superbowl of rodeo” to that state starting in 2015 once the current contract with Las Vegas Events expires. I decided not to report anything until I had a little more proof and that proof came this morning.

Karl Stressman, PRCA Commissioner visited with Rick Perry, Governor of Texas and Cecil Bell Jr., Texas House Representative about moving the Wrangler NFR to Texas.

Saturday morning on Kirby Cannon’s facebook page, who is the brother of WNFR bareback rider Clint Cannon, pictures were released showing Stressman in Texas meeting with Governor Rick Perry and House Representative Cecil Bell. Now remember we all do not know exactly why or what these three talked about but it is kind of interesting that the PRCA’s Commissioner would be there when that camp has been very quiet since all the news has broke about the move and the defection. It is also funny that more pictures were taken that same day with PRCA and Texas bareback rider Heath Ford sitting in on a round table type looking discussion with the Texas Governor. This may all be staged for media publicity or it may actually be something that is happening that now one is being told about yet. It is safe to say that only time will tell!

PRCA bareback rider talks with Texas Governor Rick Perry about moving the WNFR to his home state of Texas

All this breaking news or rumor however you want to take it is just adding one more piece to the puzzle. Commissioner Karl Stressman, the Board of Directors and the PRCA home office in Colorado Springs, CO have not been doing much good to themselves over the last week or so and now this? I find it interesting that they are in hot water with a lot of people and then these pictures arise. I would think that if something big like this was going to happen that it would have been announced. It does not seem to me that PRCA office wants to tell anyone anything as their press release about the defecting members I wrote about is still nowhere to be found on ANY of their media outlets. Does the PRCA have a hidden agenda up their sleeve or are they running with their tails between their legs? This question and others are up to each one of you to decide and draw your won conclusions. I hope that you continue to enjoy the reports coming from therodeoroundup.com about this situation and others and please keep it classy going forward! God Bless each and every one of you!!

The Defecting Contestants Speak Out Again!

January 8, 2014 By Jason Hetland

Well friends it did not take long for the top cowboys and cowgirls to speak out once again after today’s statement from the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and its Board of Directors. There is so much bashing on either side of the issue that is expected when something like this is brought to a head. Folks, both contestants and fans, all have something to say about this and will, in time, form their own opinion if they have not already done so. Below is the newest statement brought forth by the united front of athletes explaining what was done and what they tried to do prior to the big blow up that has ensued on their facebook page Support Rodeo Contestants.

On behalf of the cowboys and cowgirls who issued yesterday’s statement, we want to thank everyone for their support. We understand that everyone would like further answers and details. We ask for your patience as we continue to move forward during this exciting time.

We also would like everyone to understand that our original plan was not to form a new organization. We put everything we had into working over the Christmas break to try and create some meaningful change within the PRCA structure that would have given the top contestants a direct voice on the PRCA board. We want to be more involved with the direction of our sport.

This new effort resulted only after our proposal to the PRCA Board was rejected. As a result we are still in the early stages of formation. Our purpose is to create a model that is better for the fans, committees and top contestants in the sport, but that also has a fair process for people to work their way to the top. Our group is committed to protecting the integrity of the sport of professional rodeo and the meaning of a gold buckle by making sure there is one, true championship.

Some people have expressed an opinion that the current National Finals Rodeo is “just a rodeo” and “it doesn’t really matter which cowboys you put out there.” We believe people that express that opinion do not understand the loyalty of true rodeo fans. We know that true rodeo fans respect the talent and drive it takes to make it to the top of this great sport. We ask you to step up, as we have, and let your voice be heard. It did not work when the NFL tried to have games with replacement players and while we respect every contestant who rodeos, we believe that fans deserve the right to see the very best cowboys and cowgirls compete for a true championship. We are equally committed to making sure that rodeo remains a true sport with a level playing field that allows advancement through the ranks.

Know that we are taking this effort seriously and have involved smart professionals with a strong background in both rodeo and professional sports. You would not see the names quoted in the release supporting this effort if we did not believe it was being done in a thoughtful and first-class way.

Also, we want to make clear that this is an effort that begins with the 2015 season. No one is talking about any disruption to the 2014 season. For that reason, we ask you to understand that rather than throw out details and get bogged down in an open debate on everything wrong with the sport of professional rodeo, we are working systematically to build a system that advances the sport and we look forward to working with everyone who wants to see the sport move to the next level.

Thank you again for your support, trust and patience and please join us in letting everyone know that the cowboys and cowgirls do matter.

The Organizing Top Cowboys and Cowgirls

As I stated in an earlier story I believe that these cowboys and cowgirls have the upper hand so far in this “battle of wills.” I think the the PRCA and the Board of Directors do not know what to do and are staying very tight-lipped about the situation and do not want to say too much. If these athletes continue to be open and available to the people that support them and the PRCA issues statements that do not really say anything it is going to be a long battle for them. In my mind people are going to have to make a decision on who to back and the more open one side is I think the easier it will be to make a decision when the time comes to do so!

Breaking News: PRCA Update and response

January 8, 2014 By Jason Hetland

Okay folks, remember me saying that I hope there was a response from the home office of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and its Board of Directors. Well our wishes came true, sort of, as the PRCA home office issued a statement late last night that I have just received a few minutes ago from the headquarters themselves. Once you read it you all can start to draw your own conclusions and start to take sides as more information starts to come out. As you may already expect the two sides are very far apart on what actually happened and what is being demanded. Here is the official statement from the headquarters of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and its Board of Directors:

PRCA Statement

January 7, 2014

A group of approximately 20 PRCA contestants called a meeting Jan. 3-4 in Waco, Texas, a day after requesting a special PRCA Board of Directors meeting. Upon 48 hours’ notice, the PRCA Board agreed to hold that special meeting via teleconference on Jan. 4. During the Jan. 4 Board meeting, the 11 contestants in attendance asked the PRCA Board to add and amend 18 bylaws related primarily to newly created contestant Board seats and contestant eligibility for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The contestants discussed their proposed bylaw changes at length with the Board. The PRCA Board expressed concerns about the contestant demand that all 18 bylaw changes be voted on that same day, within 48 hours of the notice of the meeting, as that timing did not allow for the necessary vetting and research to be done in order to make legally sound, informed business decisions greatly affecting the entire membership. The contestants stated that their urgency for immediate answers was based upon their belief that a deadline of Jan. 6 existed for negotiating the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo contract. However, the PRCA Board was never informed of any Jan. 6 deadline, and was at the very same time receiving a conflicting counter-offer deadline of Jan. 14 from multiple members of the Las Vegas Events Board. In the interest of serving all 6,000-plus PRCA members and the entire sport of professional rodeo, the PRCA Board requested additional time to research and carefully consider all requests from the contestant group, but the 11 contestants denied that request.

PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman and the PRCA Board of Directors at the 2013 WNFR

PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman and the PRCA Board of Directors, in my mind, leave a lot to be said after this so-called statement. As I said earlier I was expecting to see both sides have completely different views on the “meeting” but I was not expecting the response from the PRCA. It seems to me that the cowboys and cowgirls are not wanting to hide anything about what, why and how they went about this and the reasonings behind it. On the other hand, the PRCA statement is very short and sweet and still refuses to talk about everything in detail. I believe that the PRCA is trying to figure out what to do since there is a whole lot riding on what happens within the next few weeks as this all plays out. I hope that both sides will take the time to figure out the best way to go about things from here on out. All in all, to say the very least, this will be an extremely important and demanding year for all those involved in this drama. Make sure to stay tuned to www.therodeoroundup.com for all late breaking news regarding this and all other issues throughout the year!!

Top Rodeo Athletes Defecting From The PRCA On Their Terms!

January 7, 2014 By Jason Hetland

It was announced last night that some of the top rodeo athletes from the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association have banded together to leave that organization and start a new one on their own. Today there are more clues coming out as to why this has become such a hot issue within the top contestants and why they are so unhappy with the current situation and the Board of Directors that govern the organization.

Now remember folks that this is not the first time that cowboys and cowgirls have not been happy with certain “professional” organizations. If you remember years ago, 20 to be exact, that a group of bull riders were not happy with the situation they were in so twenty of them got together and each put $1,000 into a pot hoping that their dreams would soon become a reality, a bull riding organization run by the bull riders and for the bull riders. If you have not figured out what I am referring to yet it was the transformation into the biggest bull riding organization today, The Professional Bull Riders (PBR).

On Tuesday one of the well known names that are making a statement, NFR Steer Wrestling Qualifier K.C. Jones, confirmed the efforts to leave the PRCA and start a different rodeo cowboy organization. Once the facebook page was introduced on Monday, Support Rodeo Contestants, K.C. Jones issued this statement, “After an exhaustive effort of the top cowboys to help save the current structure, we now realize it’s time for a change and that there is a huge opportunity for the contestants of professional rodeo to work together to advance the sport”. This was a very round about way of saying something big was going to happen in the very near future.

NFR Steer Wrestling Qualifier K.C.Jones

While speaking out about why these cowboys and cowgirls are deciding to step away from the PRCA he also adds that he and the other athletes that have banded together to start talking to many of the rodeo committees and host cities about leaving the PRCA sponsored events and signing with the new organization they are forming. These same folks are very nervous about the path the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is traveling. There are huge rodeos such as Calgary and Houston that have decided to not sanction with the long standing organization and this is yet another reason why these rodeo stars are starting to step back and rethink a lot of things and figure out where exactly they stand on the importance level of a multi million dollar organization.

While we all wait for more information to be given through their website there is one thing that we do know. The cowboys and cowgirls feel that the PRCA Board of Directors do not listen to them as much as they should and these athletes feel like they do not have a voice at all within the organization. This is a big reason that all this is happening since one detail has been leaked so far. One of the points on the proposal that these folks sent to the Board of Directors is that they wanted two more contestants sitting on the board. As of now there are only four athletes on the board of nine. All these stars want is to have a bigger voice and a bigger say as to what actually happens in the behind the scenes activities of this world renowned organization. One of the biggest reasons why is the denial and hand fed decisions of what sponsors will be allowed to participate. This group says that if this was an organization that was actually working for the people and not for big money marketing things would be a lot different.

I fully expect the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association to have a statement about this situation available within the next few days and I hope that they do. I will keep you updated as to what their side says once all the facts are out on the table and will continue to be as unbiased in my reporting as I can with the facts and information that I have from day to day. Please keep checking back for any late breaking news regarding this issue from either side of the table!

What Are Your Thoughts??

PRCA Vs. Top Ranked Contestants … which side will win??!!

January 6, 2014 By Jason Hetland

Is the PRCA getting too greedy?? The Pro Rodeo board is bluffing with Las Vegas and Florida about the future of the National Finals Rodeo while leaving out the contestants? The top rodeo contestants being spurned by the PRCA board that says they are looking out for them?? The drama continues…

Editors note: This announcement has come from a group of contestants that have formed together to protect the sport of Professional Rodeo and its members. You can follow them at their facebook page Support Rodeo Contestants. I will have an exclusive story in the next couple of days with personal accounts as to what this will mean for the cowboys and cowgirls in the future.

January 6, 2014

A group of the top cowboys and cowgirls have been working diligently behind the scenes to try and protect the sport of professional rodeo. Much has been written lately about the challenging negotiations between the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association (PRCA) and Las Vegas, which has been the home of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) for the last 29 years.

As these negotiations occurred, a group of the top contestants in the sport of professional rodeo have come together to make sure that the integrity of their profession is not lost in the negotiations over the millions of dollars created each year by the fans who flock to the NFR to see the top cowboys and cowgirls compete for the world championship buckles.

Operating under a tight timeline the group recently proposed changes to the PRCA structure in exchange for the commitment of the cowboys to provide greater support to PRCA sanctioned rodeos.

A key member of the group is eleven-time world all-around champion, Trevor Brazile who has a record 19 gold buckles. “We went to the PRCA with a proposal supported by the top cowboys that would have strengthened the PRCA. Unfortunately, our proposal was not accepted,” said Brazile. “We appreciate what the PRCA has done for the sport in the past, but at this point, we feel the time has come for the top contestants to be more directly involved in the future of our sport.”

“We are forming a new organization to work together with committees and sponsors to make sure that the sport of professional rodeo continues to deliver the highest quality product to our great fans,” said Brazile.

“After an exhaustive effort of the top cowboys to help save the current structure, we now realize its time for a change and that there is a huge opportunity for the contestants of professional rodeo to work together to advance the sport,” said K.C. Jones, one of the leaders behind the new organization and a seven-time NFR steer wrestling qualifier. “We are extremely excited to showcase the best contestants at the best venues to give the fans the top quality action they want.”

“This is important to us because we are the cowboys that people come to see compete for the world championships,” said legendary tie-down roper Fred Whitfield, who has won eight world championships and qualified for 20 NFR’s. “What people need to understand is that we are also professional athletes who take the history and integrity of our sport extremely seriously. We have the greatest appreciation for our fans and we have come together to make sure that our fans continue to have a chance to see the top contestants in our sport battle it out every year for a real world championship.”

Four-time world champion bareback rider Bobby Mote, who has 13 NFR qualifications, said he became involved to protect the future of the sport. “We did everything we could to work the PRCA to create the change that we believe this sport needed to go forward. But now it is time for a new direction and this group of cowboys is focused on working with everyone who wants to see professional rodeo get to the next level, while still protecting the heritage of our sport,” said Mote.

“Ultimately this is an exciting time for our sport,” said Brazile. “It is an honor for me to wear a gold buckle and each time I put one on, I appreciate the weight and importance of the heritage of this sport. As the sport of professional rodeo enters a new era we want to make sure that the integrity of the gold buckle is never compromised and that we provide our contestants, fans, and sponsors with the greatest world championship rodeo possible.”

We will be following all breaking news from both sides of the fence concerning this issue. This will be a huge change in the way Professional Rodeo is treated no matter how this turns out. Make sure to stay tuned to www.therodeoroundup.com for all your updates from both sides in the following days, weeks and months!

A partial list of contestants already supporting the effort include:

Trevor Brazile
Fred Whitfield
Bobby Mote
K.C. Jones
Wes Stevenson
Ryan Motes
Charly Crawford
Martin Lucero
Casey Colletti
Bray Armes
Bradley Harter
Brittany Pozzi
Cesar de la Cruz
Sherry Cervi
Cory Petska
Travis Graves
Drew Horner
Buddy Hawkins
Kaycee Field
Christy Loflin
Caleb Bennett
Fallon Taylor
Jake Rinehart
Billy Bugenig
Seth Brockman
Jake Long
Trevor Knowles
Kevin Daniels
Jarod Smith
Jane Melby
Clint Cannon
Trula Churchill
Yvan Jayne
Jim Ross Cooper
Garrett Tonozzi
Chase Erickson
Lance Brooks
Dru Melvin
Kory Koontz
Justin Davis
Riley Duvall
Sabrina Ketcham
Taylor Jacob
Richmond Champion
Tyler Pearson
Jake Cooper
Coleman Proctor
Taylor Price
Jean Winters
Will Woodfin
Sean Mulligan
George Gillespie
Colby Lovell
Jade Corkill
Jacobs Crawley
Dakota Kirchenschlager
Chase Tryan
Blair Burk
Chad Ferley
Bryce Miller
Jeff Willert
Brandon Beers
Erich Rogers
Walt Woodard
Tilden Hooper
Cade Swor
Olin Hannum
Cory Soloman
Jake Hannum
Hunter Herrin
Clint Robinson
Rich Skelton
David Motes
Lisa Lockhart
Adam Gray
Kollin VonAhn
Nick Sartain
Clint Cooper
Kaleb Driggers
Luke Brown
Shada Brazile
Hunter Cure
Chad Masters
Tuf Cooper
Stran Smith
Matt Shiozawa
Stetson Vest
Will Lowe
Shane Hanchey
Josh Peek
JR Vezain
Justin Maass
Scott Kormos
Matt Reeves
Michele McLeod
Jacob Shofner
Ben Shofner
Cooper Shofner
Cole Edge
Matt Kasner
Ryan Jarrett
Mickey Gee
Chet Johnson
Clayton Hass
Jason Thomas
Ty Erickson
Bryce Miller
Sterling Crawley
Taos Muncy
Isaac Diaz
Jesse Bail
Cort Scheer
Tyler Corrington
Sam Spreadborough
Cody Taton
Jake Wright
Jesse Wright
Cody Wright
Cole Elshere
Wade Sundell
Todd Suhn

Cody Ohl
Patrick Smith
Luke Branquinho
Jessy Davis
Brock Hansen
Charmayne James
Casey Martin
Stan Branco
Cody DeMers
Wade Sumpter
Ryan Gray
Steven Dent
Dugan Kelly
Justin McDaniel
Paul Eaves
Sammi Bessert
Dakota Eldridge
Speed Willams
Dean Gorsuch

Update to the WNFR speculation

December 17, 2013 By Jason Hetland

As so many folks are talking about the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo moving from Las Vegas after the 2014 season I hope folks take time to fully understand what is happening and what is not.

Here is a link to one of the most unbiased articles that I have seen thus far and explains everything that has happened so far and what is still on the table. This article has points of view from both sides of the table and explains everything as good as it can be up to this point.

I credit both sides for answering questions for the same article so people can see what is actually going on between the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Las Vegas Events.

Take time to read up on the situation before you cast judgement either way. I understand that all of us will have our own opinions but we all need to be educated on what is actually happening before we cast our own judgements.

http://m.lvsun.com/blogs/kats-report/2013/dec/16/vegas-ready-sweep-out-wnfr-prca-says-hang-there-co/#.UrBmUYZ8Xx4.facebook

Feel free to follow up as I will post anything I might find useful in the future regarding this ongoing story line that is unfolding.

Vegas offer to Continue to Host WNFR on the Table

December 10, 2013 By Admin

At today’s press conference PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman gushed about the new television deal that will bring the WNFR to CBS sports network starting in 2014. But turned stern faced when asked why they are still in negotiations with Las Vegas Events to keep the WNFR in Las Vegas beyond 2014.

Even after 18 months of negotiations, he dodged a direct answer as to why no contract for something that seems pretty obvious to anyone outside the board room of the PRCA. Vegas loves the rodeo and the rodeo fans and contestants love Las Vegas. Everyone is making money and happy.

That begs the question; Where else would you seriously go that could possible do the NFR better Las Vegas??

Read: Las Vegas Events has a contract waiting their approval

Tough Enough to Wear Pink

December 9, 2013 By Admin

Wrangler® Tough Enough to Wear Pink™ Founder Terry Wheatley formally announced Monday, December 9, 2013 in Las Vegas NV at Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (Wrangler NFR) in Las Vegas, the grassroots cowboy crusade called Tough Enough To Wear Pink has reached the $17 million fundraising mark to fight breast cancer. The benchmark, achieved over the past nine years of time since the campaign’s inception in 2004, was accomplished through the complex work of regional rodeos & western events across the country. The monies raised stay locally to benefit community breast cancer charities – which is the strength of the campaign’s success according to Wheatley.

“This is the ninth anniversary of Wrangler Tough Enough to Wear Pink at the Wrangler NFR & the crusade continues to gain momentum. Nobody could have imagined in that together we would raise millions of dollars for the cause,” asserted Terry Wheatley. A breast cancer survivor herself, Wheatley is an entrepreneur, wife & mother to professional rodeo competitors. She founded Wrangler Tough Enough to Wear Pink in 2004 with Karl Stressman, former director of special events for Wrangler & now commissioner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PCRA). Wrangler has-been involved since the beginning & continues to be the title sponsor of Wrangler Tough Enough to Wear Pink. Lacey Wheatley, Terry Wheatley’s daughter-in-law, is the director of Wrangler Tough Enough to Wear Pink & coordinates with rodeos & other non-rodeo organizations to create the pink-themed fundraisers. Her daughter Katie supports the social media outreach for the campaign.

Hats Off to the Top Five Wrangler TETWP Rodeo Fundraisers in 2013

Gunnison Cattlemen’s Days Rodeo, Gunnison, Colo.
Missoula Stampede, Missoula, Mont.
Minot Y’s Men’s Rodeo/Badlands Circuit Finals, Minot, N.D.
Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo, Rapid City, S.D.
Crosby Fair & Rodeo, Crosby, Texas

About Wrangler® Tough Enough To Wear Pink?™ (TETWP™)

Wrangler® TETWP™ was created by entrepreneur & breast cancer survivor Terry Wheatley to bring the sport of professional rodeo & the western community together to rally against breast cancer. Since its inception in 2004, Wrangler TETWP has empowered rodeos in the U.S. & Canada to focus attention on the need for a cure. To date, the crusade has raised $17 million for breast cancer charities, most of which stays right in the local communities. The grassroots movement has inspired other sports communities to mount their own Wrangler TETWP campaigns, spreading a message of hope & support in that reaches beyond the rodeo arena to competitors, families & fans across America. For more information on how to help, visit www.toughenoughtowearpink.com.