For Immediate Release
Women's Professional Rodeo Association
October 29, 2024
Contact: Ann Bleiker - 719-330-4293
WPRA Announces 2024 Justin Best Footing Award Winners
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (October 29, 2024) – The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association is pleased to announce and congratulate the following rodeo committees who have gone above and beyond this past year to ensure safe ground for the animal athletes of rodeo, specifically the barrel racing horses. Every year since the early 1990s the WPRA and Justin Brands have honored rodeo committees in each of the 12 circuits with the Justin Best Footing Awards.
The Justin Best Footing Awards® program was created when Tom Feller, director of event marketing for Justin Brands, approached the WPRA about partnering on a program that would focus on the health and well-being of the animal athlete. Not only does the program keep animal athletes performing at the top level, but it also recognizes the hard work and time rodeo committees put into making their ground as safe as possible for the barrel horse and all rodeo livestock.
This award is determined by votes by the WPRA membership and Circuit Directors and represents our members’ voices saying “thank you” for a job well done. The WPRA recognizes the top three rodeo committees in all 12 circuits as well as the most improved ground committee in each circuit. Committee awards provided by Justin include cash bonuses (ranging from $400-$1,000), plaques and, at certain award levels, a pair of Justin exotic boots. In addition, names of each winner for each of the 12 circuits are put into a drawing for an additional $1,500 bonus from Justin. The following rodeo committees will be recognized at the WPRA Star Celebration in Las Vegas on Dec. 5 at the South Point Hotel and Casino.
Congratulations to the following rodeo committees being honored in 2024 and the WPRA thanks you for making your ground safe and consistent.
2024 Justin Best Footing Award Winners
Badlands Circuit
First – Killdeer (ND) Mountain Roundup Rodeo
Second – Range Days Rodeo – Rapid City, SD
Third – Black Hills Roundup – Belle Fourche, SD
Most Improved – Black Hills Roundup – Belle Fourche, SD
California Circuit
First – California Rodeo Salinas
Second – King City Stampede
Third – Lakeside Rodeo
Most Improved – Old Santa Ynez Days – Santa Ynez
Columbia River Circuit
First – Basin City (WA) Freedom Rodeo
Second – Eugene (OR) Pro Rodeo
Third – Ellensburg (WA) Rodeo
Most Improved – Molalla (OR) Buckeroo Rodeo
First Frontier Circuit
First –Painted Pony Championship Rodeo – Lake Luzerne, NY
Second – Goshen (CT) Stampede
Third – Gerry (NY) Volunteer Firemen’s Rodeo
Most Improved – Cumberland (ME) County Fair & Rodeo
Great Lakes Circuit
First – Pioneer City Pro Rodeo – Palestine, IL
Second – Buffalo (MN) Championship PRCA Rodeo
Third – Price County Rodeo – Phillips, WI
Most Improved – Stockton Lake PRCA Rodeo – Stockton, MO
Montana Circuit
First – Rosebud Treasure Co. Fair Rodeo, Forsyth
Second – Central Montana PRCA Rodeo - Lewistown
Third – Livington Roundup
Most Improved – Bear Paw Roundup - Chinook
Mountain States Circuit
First – Steamboat Springs (CO) Pro Rodeo Series
Second – Evanston (WY) Cowboy Days
Third – Greeley (CO) Stampede
Most Improved – Cheyenne (WY) Frontier Days
Prairie Circuit
First – Kansas Biggest Rodeo, Phillipsburg
Second – Longford (KS) Rodeo
Third – 101 Wild West Rodeo – Ponca City, OK
Most Improved – Great Plains Stampede & Rodeo – Altus, OK
Southeastern Circuit
First – Rotary Rodeo – Starkville, MS
Second – Old Fort Days Rodeo – Fort Smith, AR
Third – 4th Annual White County PRCA Rodeo – Searcy, AR
Most Improved – Imboden (AR) PRCA Rodeo
Texas Circuit
First – West Texas Fair & Rodeo - Abilene
Second – Cowboy Capital of the World, Stephenville
Third – Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and Rodeo - Mercedes
Most Improved – Waller County Fair & Rodeo - Hempstead
Turquoise Circuit
First – World’s Oldest Rodeo, Prescott, AZ
Second – Helzapoppin – Buckeye, AZ
Third – The West Most Western Rodeo – Scottsdale, AZ
Most Improved – Yuma (AZ) Jaycee’s Silver Spur Rodeo
Wilderness Circuit
First – Mountain Valley Stampede – Heber City, UT
Second – Gooding (ID) Pro Rodeo
Third – That Famous Preston (ID) Night Rodeo
Most Improved – Lehi (UT) Round Up Rodeo