News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail, November 2
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price will be the keynote speaker at the 2020 PRCA Convention in Fort Worth, Texas.
The mayor will address convention attendees at the Fort Worth Convention Center on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 10:45 a.m. (CT). The gathering of PRCA members precedes the biggest event on ProRodeo’s annual calendar, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at nearby Globe Life Field, Dec. 3-12.
“We are honored that Mayor Price will keynote our convention,” said George Taylor, chief executive officer of the PRCA. “This is a woman who has successfully led through extraordinary change. She is helping to safely revive Fort Worth and was the leader in bringing the NFR to Texas, this year. We couldn’t have a better keynote speaker on the docket.”
The theme for this year’s convention is Challenge of Change, and Mayor Price will address attendees on the challenges that she has witnessed in her career and the positive change she is bringing to her community.
“Change has been at the center of 2020 and I’m so impressed with the way ProRodeo is navigating the challenges that we have all faced throughout this difficult year,” Price said. “I credit much of that to the cowboy spirit that permeates rodeo.”
Convention attendees will discuss what enabled ProRodeo to overcome the unexpected challenges of the 2020 season and the changes facing professional sports in the years ahead. Randy Bracher, of the Pendleton Rodeo Committee, will moderate a Fireside Chat to review the experiences of rodeo committees this season from across the country. As in prior years, the convention will feature the State of the PRCA address from Taylor as well as the PRCA Member Tradeshow.
The PRCA National Convention is the annual meeting of the organization’s members. It is the gathering to review the achievements of the prior year and lay out new strategic areas of improvement for the year ahead. The evenings are highlighted with fan favorites: the PRCA Welcome Reception and the PRCA Annual Awards Banquet to recognize the extraordinary achievements of PRCA members.
The 2020 PRCA National Convention will span two venues in Fort Worth, the Omni Fort Worth Hotel and Fort Worth Convention Center. Registration will be limited and is open for PRCA members and their guests at www.prcaconvention.com
The credential process for the 62nd annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is now open.
In an effort to make the media credential application process easier, the PRCA has created an online form. All credential applications are to be submitted through the form.
The deadline for submitting media credentials applications and mugshots is Nov. 15.
Credentials will be distributed to media from recognized daily newspapers, wire services, magazines that regularly cover rodeo, and national and local news networks (radio/TV).
Freelance writers and photographers will receive credentials if only on assignment (with verification) for a publication or media outlet that meets the criteria and is providing timely first-hand editorial coverage of the Wrangler NFR. The Wrangler NFR reserves the right to request proof of prior rodeo and Wrangler NFR coverage.
The link to complete media credential application forms is below:
2020 Wrangler NFR Media Credential Application
PRCA CEO George Taylor was featured on The Gauge podcast on Oct. 27, to talk all things ProRodeo.
The Gauge, a Western sports and lifestyle podcast that embodies, highlights and celebrates the Western way of life, can be found at thegaugepodcast.com.
The podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and TuneIn.
Other recent guests on The Gauge include ProRodeo Hall of Famer Cody Custer, reigning Tie-down Roping World Champion Haven Meged and six-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo-qualifying tie-down roper Marty Yates.
If you’re not going to be at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this year, you can still be there! Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, will play host to the most celebrated event on the rodeo calendar Dec. 3-12, 2020. Though not everyone will attend the NFR in person this year, they will be able to have their own personal 2D DoppelWrangler in their place!
Organizers are making it possible for fans to have a nearly life-size image seated for the rodeo and possibly even end up on TV! Now through Nov. 6, fans can order a 2D version of themselves (or a loved one) – known as DoppelWranglers – to be in attendance for the Wrangler NFR.
Other sporting events have used this approach to help fans to engage more deeply when they can’t attend in person. The PRCA and GLF are kicking it up a notch. Three different tiers of DoppelWranglers can be purchased, with varying benefits at each level and with the proceeds going to fund four great charities.
The Fan level DoppelWranglers will be placed randomly throughout the arena. This first option will sell for $100.
The Cowboy DoppelWranglers will allow a cowboy hat to be worn in the image and will be placed randomly. This option is available for $125.
The Gold Buckle DoppelWranglers may include a cowboy hat and will be placed in the most likely televised seating locations during the Wrangler NFR, which will air live on The Cowboy Channel. This option will be available for $200.
To reserve a DoppelWrangler for the 2020 Wrangler NFR, fans need to go to the same portal as for tickets at https://www.mlb.com/rangers/fans/national-finals-rodeo-fan-cutouts. DoppelWranglers must be ordered by Nov. 6. Proceeds from DoppelWrangler sales will benefit four nonprofit charities: Jr. Rodeo, Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy, and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.
Courtesy of PRCA