WPRA Announces 2018 Justin Best Footing Award Winners

By Ann Bleiker

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Every year since the early 1990s the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and Justin Brands have honored rodeo committees in each of the 12 circuits that have went above and beyond to ensure safe ground for the animal athletes of rodeo, specifically the barrel racing horses.

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.

Each year the WPRA membership recognizes the top three rodeo committees in all 12 circuits as well as the most improved ground committee in each circuit, which puts forth the extra effort to ensure their rodeo has the safest most consistent ground possible for barrel racing. Committee awards provided by Justin include cash bonuses (ranging from $350-$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 addition $1,500 bonus from Justin. The following rodeo committees will be recognized at the WPRA Star Celebration in Las Vegas on Dec. 6 at the South Point Hotel and Casino.

Congratulations to the following rodeo committees and the WPRA thanks you for making your ground safe and consistent.

Badlands

First – Black Hills Round Roundup, Bell Fourche, SD

Second – Sitting Bull Stampede, Mobridge, SD

Third – Crystal Springs Rodeo, Clear Lake, SD

Most Improved – Mandan Rodeo Days, Mandan, ND

California

First – 75th Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, Santa Maria, CA

Second – California Rodeo Salinas, Salinas, CA

Third – Redding Rodeo, Redding, CA

Most Improved – Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo, Oakdale, CA

Columbia River

First – Farm-City Pro Rodeo, Hermiston, OR

Second – Ellensburg Rodeo, Ellensburg, WA

Third – Moses Lake Round Up Rodeo, Moses Lake, WA

Most Improved – Toppenish Rodeo, Toppenish, WA

First Frontier

First – Coy Lutz Memorial Rodeo, Centre Hall, PA

Second – Allegheny Mountain Championship Rodeo, Kellettville (Tionesta), PA

Third – Cecil County Fair Pro Rodeo, Fair Hill, MD

Most Improved – Goshen Stampede, Goshen, CT

Great Lakes

First – American Royal ProRodeo, Kansas City, MO

Second – Mid-Western Rodeo, Manawa, WI

Third – Carson Community Rodeo, Carson, IA

Most Improved – Cattleman Days Rodeo, Ashland, MO

Montana

First – Big Sky Pro Rodeo, Great Falls, MT

Second – Livingston Roundup, Livingston, MT

Third – White Sulphur Springs Labor Day Rodeo, White Sulphur Springs , MT

Most Improved – (tie) – Home of Champions Rodeo, Red Lodge, MT & ascade Pro Rodeo, Cascade, MT

Mountain States

First – Rooftop Rodeo, Estes Park, CO

Second – Larimer County Fair and Rodeo, Loveland, CO

Third – Douglas County Fair & Rodeo, Castle Rock, CO

Most Improved – A Tribute to the Great American Cowboy, Casper, WY

Prairie

First – Kaw Valley Rodeo, Manhattan, KS

Second – Flint Hills Rodeo, Strong City, KS

Third – PRCA Championship Rodeo, Park City, KS

Most Improved – 101 Wild West Rodeo, Ponca City, OK

Southeastern

First – Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo, Bonifay, FL

Second – Weekley Brothers Davie Pro Rodeo, Davie, FL

Third – Rodeo of the Ozarks, Springdale, AR

Most Improved – Homestead Championship Rodeo, Homestead, FL

Texas

First – Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo, Stephenville, TX

Second – Walker County Fair & Rodeo, Huntsville, TX

Third – Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, Fort Worth, TX

Most Improved – Trinity Valley Exposition Fair& Rodeo, Liberty, TX

Turquoise

First – Annual World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo, Payson, AZ

Second – Cave Creek Rodeo Days, Cave Creek, AZ

Third – Helzapoppin, Buckeye, AZ

Most Improved – Parada DelSol, Scottsdale, AZ

Wilderness

First – Golden Spike Rodeo, Tremonton, UT

Second – Mountain Valley Stampede, Heber City, UT

Third – Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo, Blackfoot, ID

Most Improved – Ogden Pioneer Days, Ogden, UT

Courtesy of WPRA