NHSRA Expresses Support for PRCA In It's Upcoming Proxy Battle

By National High School Rodeo Association
Posted Friday, September 19, 2008

Denver, Colorado - The National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) has expressed its support for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and its Board of Directors in advance of the upcoming proxy vote that will be conducted on September 29, 2008.

Recently, the PRCA announced that longtime Western industry leader Karl Stressman has agreed to join the Association as President and CEO of PRCA Properties and Interim CEO of the PRCA. Stressman has been involved in rodeo and the Western industry for more than twenty years. For the past twelve years, he has served as the D irector of Event Marketing for Wrangler Jeans and Shirts. In that capacity, Stressman has worked closely with the PRCA in promoting the sport of rodeo, including the "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" campaign, which Stressman co-founded as a result of his wife's successful battle with cancer.

"The Association is thrilled that Karl has accepted this position with the PRCA," said Chairman of the Board, Keith Martin. "He is a strong leader who knows our sport and has the respect of people throughout our industry. He has dedicated his career and life to the Western way of life and I am excited to work with Karl to continue the progress the PRCA has been making on behalf of our members."

“We fully support the PRCA, their board of directors, and their terrific decision to hire Karl Stressman,” says Kent L. Sturman, Executive Director of the NHSRA. “We hope the membership makes the right decision for the future of professional rodeo through their upcoming proxy vote. The NHSRA has enjoyed a great relationship with Karl Stressman and Wrangler throughout the years. Karl was a great friend to high school rodeo during his tenure at Wrangler. While we will miss working with him at Wrangler, we look forward to working with him in his new capacity at the PRCA. We appreciate the support of people like Karl, who understand the importance of youth rodeo associations as the future of our great sport. We fully support Karl Stressman and the PRCA Board of Directors as they try to move the PRCA forward and make professional rodeo stronger and more secure for the future.”

For more information on the PRCA’s proxy battle, please visit the official website, located at www.supporttheprca.org.

The NHSRA is one of the fastest growing youth organizations in the nation, with an annual membership of over 10,500 students from forty-one U .S. states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia. The Association sanctions over 1,100 rodeos on an annual basis. The NHSRA is governed by a national Board of Directors, which consists of one member from each state or province. A staff at the national headquarters in Denver, Colorado handles the day-to-day operations. For more information on the NHSRA, visit the Association’s official website located at www.nhsra.org.