PRORODEO Sports News | January 24, 2025

PRORODEO SYSTEM

HISTORY OF THE PRCA CIRCUIT SYSTEM The circuit system is an integral part of the association. Every PRCA contestant belongs to a circuit and has an opportunity to advance to a national championship in the multimillion-dollar arm of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. It affords opportunities to cowboys who may not have the circumstances that allow them to be on the road for thousands of miles a year. But these cowboys are as good as they come. They also make up the majority of the PRCA’s membership. In 1975, the PRCA created a system that breaks up the United States into 12 circuits. The circuits include as few as one state, such as the California, Texas and Montana circuits, to as many as 13 – such as the First Frontier Circuit in the northeastern part of the country. In 1987, the National Circuit Finals Rodeo was incorporated, and Dodge became the title sponsor of all 12 circuit finals rodeos and the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo. In 2010, the Dodge brand rodeo initiative went to the RAM Truck division of the Chrysler Group. RAM had title sponsorship of all 12 U.S. PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeos and the National Circuit Finals Rodeo through 2024. In 2018, the PRCA expanded the circuit system to 13 by welcoming Canada as the Maple Leaf

1975 ORIGIN

The issue of the Rodeo Sports News – now known as the ProRodeo Sports News – had big news in its July 15, 1975, issue with the following article about the inception of the PRCA’s Circuit System:

The Circuit System, in which the continental United States has been divided up into 14 districts, is now in effect. The circuits have been laid out on a national

scale according to flow patterns of cowboys’ runs in the past using state line boundaries. The number of states in a circuit depends upon the density of rodeos in the area. A cowboy is eligible for awards and standings only in the circuit where he lives, and only points earned in the rodeos located in the circuit will count toward his standing in his circuit. This does not affect in any way the cowboy’s standing in the PRCA, nor his eligibility to compete anywhere he wants for PRCA points. Awards in each circuit will be derived from sponsors. Both local and regional or national sponsorships are available, with varying amounts of cash or merchandise fees. Various benefits corresponding with the amount sponsored are available and include recognition in the Rodeo Sports News. Anyone interested in a local sponsorship should contact the circuit secretary in the area he wishes to sponsor. National sponsors should contact the PRCA office in Denver. Cowboys who have questions may also contact their circuit secretaries. The Sports News will carry circuit standings and lists of sponsors. The sponsors will be listed on the first of each month and circuit standings in each fifteenth of the month issue. The circuit system has been designed to produce three major benefits to PRCA rodeo: 1. Bridge the communication gap between the association and its membership 2. Give the membership greater identity on the local level through increased media coverage 3. Give the cowboy additional financial benefits from both local and national sponsorship. Below are the initial 14 circuits from 1975:

CURRENT CIRCUIT SYSTEM

Circuit. This was in cooperation with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. The Maple Leaf Circuit debuted at the 2020 RAM NCFR. As the regular season ends, top competitors from each event qualify to compete at their circuit finals rodeos. Champions from those rodeos, as well as the overall year-end winners from each circuit are then invited to vie for RAM NCFR championships. Each contestant can compete in and out of his circuit throughout the year, but only the points they earn within the circuit they designate at the beginning of the season are applied in the circuit standings. Nonetheless, everything a contestant wins – in any circuit – is applied in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings. So, while most circuit contestants rodeo close to home, there is still opportunity for them to earn enough money to get to the National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. In October of 2021, the PRCA announced some changes. The name of the rodeo was changed to the NFR Open beginning in 2022 and was hosted by the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, July 13-16 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The NCFR had been in Kissimmee, Fla. The inaugural NFR Open powered by RAM, was one of the biggest rodeos of the 2022 PRORODEO season with $1 million in payouts to contestants, livestock and other PRCA members. The NFR Open, formerly titled the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, is the most prestigious rodeo under the PRCA circuit system and features two contestants in each event from each of the 12 U.S. circuits, plus Canada, bringing more than 200 contestants to the Norris-Penrose Event Center for five competition rounds over the four days. In June of 2024, the PRCA, the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo (PPOBR) signed a seven-year extension to keep the NFR Open in Colorado Springs. “The NFR Open is one of the most significant PRORODEO s every year,” said Tom Glause, CEO of the PRCA. “Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and the Colorado Springs community check all the boxes needed for an event like this. A great rodeo, with a lot of community support and the NFR Open has been a tremendous success since moving to Colorado Springs in 2022. The NFR Open and the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo are a great fit.” The 2025 NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo will take place July 8-12 at the Norris Penrose Event Center.

Murray left his mark on the Texas Circuit winning the year-end title in all around, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. “I was really fortunate as a rookie. I got to (travel with) the best in the business,” Murray said. “You know, I got to get in with Cody Lambert, Jim Sharp, and Lane Frost. I look back at what a lucky time that was for me, because those are transformational years for people, 17,18, 19, years old and, I was hardcore. I had my goal set from a young age, and I just looked back at that time, and I was with the guys who didn’t whine. They didn’t make excuses. They didn’t blame. They expected to win. And you know, who you hang out with rubs off on you.” Jacobs Crawley, a native of Stephenville, Texas, beams with pride when talking about his success in the Texas Circuit. Crawley has captured a Texas Circuit record 11 saddle bronc riding year-end championships (2012-14; and 2016-23). “First and foremost, I just love rodeo like I love it. I mean, there’s nothing better than warm summer night getting on a bucking horse at a rodeo,” Crawley said. “So, growing up, soon as I hit 18, I bought my card. I was ready to rodeo, and I have just been getting on a bunch of horses ever since then. The Texas Circuit was really where I got my start, just rodeoing around here in Texas. I’m big into goal setting. So, I would set my goals each year to be in the running for winning the circuit at the end of the year and making the NFR. Those are my two goals. That would usually set you up for the next year.” Crawley also appreciates the high-level of rodeo talent in the Texas Circuit. “I love the (Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo) in Waco and I always had fun at the end of the year. So, if you’re going to do it, you might as well try and win it,” Crawley said. “It’s kind of always been my thing to set the goal to win it, and if you don’t, well next year, try harder. “I’m such a diehard. And you said it as far as Texas is Texas. I think that really embodies it, like it’s just in me to be a diehard Texan, a proud Texan, as proud as it gets, from the people to the lifestyles to the culture. I just love Texas, and so I just love representing Texas any chance I can, and the Texas Circuit allows me that opportunity.” Dudley Barker photo Legendary cowboy Ty Murray competes on Rafter G’s bareback horse Classic Wrangler at the Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in 1989 in Fort Worth. Murray left his mark on the Texas Circuit winning the year-end title in all around, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. FROM PAGE 39

• Montana Sumer • Badlands

• Turquoise • Citrus

• Prairie • Sierra • Desert • Columbia • Oil • Lone Star

• Great Lakes • Northeastern Seaboard • Southeastern • Mountain States

PRCA ProRodeo file photo Bareback rider Keenan Hayes won back-to-back NFR Open titles with this 89-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Uncapped during the finals on July 13, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Hayes’ success at the NFR Open helped him qualify for back-to-back National Finals Rodeos presented by Teton Ridge.

ProRodeo Sports News 1/24/2025

ProRodeo Sports News 1/24/2025

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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