There’s a lot to be said for a rodeo organization that is actively working to not only improve the life of rodeo contestants but also improve rodeo as a whole. Today, I am excited to dive a little deeper into what the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) is doing for the western industry. After all, we are all here to make a difference in our community right? Let’s dig in!
One of the ways they are enhancing the sport of rodeo is through the Triple Crown of Rodeo. Sounds exciting right? It absolutely is! The Triple Crown of Rodeo (TCR) is a game-changing opportunity for athletes to potentially win an annual bonus of a $1,000,000 cash award for winning first place in any three consecutive WCRA Major Rodeos. This opportunity can apply to any one athlete or collection of athletes who qualify. Interested in who’s eligible for 2021? Take a look below!
The next opportunity the above athletes have to qualify for the TCR is at Rodeo Corpus Christi, May 6-9, 2021. This event is being put on in partnership with the WCRA and Buc Days (Rodeo Corpus Christi) and is expected to pay out over $500,000! This partnership event is a win-win for everyone involved.
“Buc Days – Rodeo Corpus Christi is proud to partner with WCRA and PBR,” said Buccaneer Commission President & CEO Johnny Philipello. “This innovative approach to Rodeo will allow us to grow prize money for rodeo athletes, showcase the city of Corpus Christi, and ultimately return more dollars toward scholarships for students in South Texas.”
If the above statement doesn’t completely describe what the rodeo community is all about, I’m not sure what does. If this one event can raise that much for athletes and give that much back to the host community, imagine what several of these events could do? The amazing thing about the WCRA is that anyone can get involved. Whether you are an athlete or a rodeo committee, there is a way for you to be a part of this organization. A common misconception with the WCRA is that it’s just for the pros and that is the farthest thing from the truth. It’s designed for the underdogs to have the fairest chance. If you feel like you have the ability to compete against the pros but can’t afford to commit to a full year of travel, the WCRA is made for you. The WCRA has awarded more than $8.5 million to athletes in a little more than two years and that number is only going to grow as more and more as the word starts to get out about what the WCRA is doing for rodeo.
Additionally, in order to help to promote the youth of rodeo, the World Champions Rodeo Alliance has created an entire youth division dedicated to rodeo athletes between the ages of 13-18. Along with their adult counterparts, youth contestants will have an opportunity to compete in the $500,000 Rodeo Corpus Christi and a $21,000 DY incentive. Outside of the Corpus Christi event, any youth competitors that want to earn additional points towards a major WCRA event can nominate any youth rodeo event which has publicly verifiable results. Points are then awarded for the top ten paid places from the event.
Another exciting aspect of what the WCRA is achieving is seeing high-profile rodeo athletes becoming involved and sharing the potential of what this organization has to offer. A few athletes that you might recognize include, Richmond Champion, Tim O’Connell, Luke Branquinho, Charly and Jackie Crawford, Bobby Mote, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Shad Mayfield, Haven Meged, Jose Vitor Leme and so many more. What you’ll notice is that these athletes come from different playing fields, but the WCRA is creating an equal playing field of opportunity. I personally can’t wait to see what the future holds for the WCRA and rodeo as a whole, so stay tuned for more updates and make sure to check out the WCRA on Facebook and Instagram for any new event updates.
“Passion and creativity promotes opportunity and that’s what the WCRA has done for Rodeo.” – Richmond Champion
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