WPRA Announces 2019 Justin Best Footing Award Winners

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. 5 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 Circuit

First – Roughrider Days Rodeo, Dickinson, ND

Second – Range Days Rodeo, Rapid City, SD

Third – BHSU Rally Rodeo & Bullfights- Spearfish, SD

Most Improved – Deadwood (SD) Days of 76 Rodeo

California Circuit

First – California Rodeo Salinas

Second – 76th Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, Santa Maria

Third – Norco Mounted Posse PRCA Rodeo – Norco

Most Improved – Red Bluff Round-Up

Columbia River Circuit

First – Farm-City Pro Rodeo, Hermiston, OR

Second – Canby (OR) Rodeo

Third – St. Paul (OR) Rodeo

Most Improved – Crooked River Roundup- Prineville, OR

First Frontier Circuit

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

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

Third – Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, Lake Luzerne, NY

Most Improved – no recipient

Great Lakes Circuit

First – Mid-Western Rodeo, Manawa, WI

Second – American Royal ProRodeo, Kansas City, MO

Third – Heart of the North Rodeo – Spooner, WI

Most Improved – Jackson County Pro Rodeo – Bellevue, IA

Montana Circuit

First – Northeast Montana Fair & Rodeo – Glasgow

Second – Fallon County Fair & Rodeo – Baker

Third – Eastern Montana Fair & Rodeo – Miles City

Most Improved – Yellowstone River Roundup – Billings

Mountain States Circuit

First – Cody (WY) Stampede Rodeo

Second – Steamboat Springs (CO) Pro Rodeo Series

Third – Greeley (CO) Stampede

Most Improved – Earl Anderson Memorial Rodeo – Grover, CO

Prairie Circuit

First – Elk City (OK) Rodeo of Champions

Second – Lawton (OK) Rangers Rodeo

Third – Oregon Trail Rodeo – Hastings, NE

Most Improved – Eureka (KS) Pro Rodeo

Southeastern Circuit

First – Rotary Rodeo – Starkville, MS

Second – Lowry’s 4L Ranch Rodeo – Summerville, GA

Third – Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo, Bonifay, FL

Most Improved – Pasco County Fair Championship Rodeo – Dade City, FL

Texas Circuit

First – Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo, Stephenville

Second – Sandhills Stock Show Rodeo – Odessa

Third – Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, Fort Worth

Most Improved – Los Fresnos Rodeo

Turquoise Circuit

First – Socorro (NM) Pro Rodeo

Second – Roots N’ Boots Queen Creek (AZ) Pro Rodeo

Third – Flagstaff (AZ) Pro Rodeo

Most Improved – Gary Hardt Memorial Rodeo – Payson, AZ

Wilderness Circuit

First – War Bonnet Round Up-Idaho’s Oldest Rodeo – Idaho Falls, ID

Second – Spanish Fork (UT) Fiesta Days Rodeo

Third – Gooding (ID) Pro Rodeo

Most Improved – Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo, Blackfoot, ID

Courtesy of WPRA