January 2, 2009 - Donnell Rodeo Promotions (DRP) and the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association (WRRA) have announced an agreement for DRP to serve as a marketing and sponsorship representative for the WRRA.
WRRA features women-only teams competing in a series of ranch rodeos throughout the year, culminating in a national finals each October. Between eight and 12 teams compete at each rodeo. Each team has four contestants.
Ranch rodeos have long been popular in the West. The events, which require strong horsemanship skills as well as a knowledge of cattle, replicate those tasks still carried out on working ranches every day including roping, trailer loading, sorting cattle, doctoring and branding.
DRP, a rodeo and bull riding promotion firm headquartered in Pueblo, CO will be responsible for seeking sponsorships for the WRRA and for building awareness of the organization and of its sport.
For many years, women have competed on ranch rodeo teams along with men. In 2005, a group of these women decided to form their own women’s association to compete among themselves. “We are following the same path as women in other professional sports such as golf, tennis, soccer and basketball,” said Billie Franks an officer of the WRRA. “We enjoy competing against each other and we believe we have demonstrated that we have the skills required to excel at this sport. We want to alert more rodeo fans to our sport and our association and the fact that we will work hard to help sponsors enjoy a return on their investment with us.”
The 2009 WRRA schedule is currently being developed. There are normally 10 rodeos during the year plus a finals. Most are held in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The Association’s goal is to sanction even more rodeos in other states and invites any rodeo producer or committee that is interested to contact it.
More information is available at and at www.womensranchrodeo.com
