Upcoming events:
MSU Top of the West Horse Sale & Derby, May 3-5. And new this year, the 1st Annual Copper Spring Classic Barrel Race, June 2-3. WPRA sidepot, $6,200 added, Charity Fundraiser. Visit
copperspringranch.com
Advertise your business while supporting the Montana WPRA by linking to montanawpra.com
with your logo and web address for $75 per year or $10 per month. New for 2012, square double-size ads (see the Fulton Ranch) are available for $125 per year.
Also list horses, trailers or tack for sale, FREE for 1 month and $10 for 2nd month.
To advertise contact us at
email@montanawpra.com.
CIRCUIT MEMBER
MAY BIRTHDAYS
Joeleen Ottun—May 3
Dede Mikowski—May 4
Danna Jo Whitford—May 5
Maddie Matelli—May 9
Becky Halverson—May 9
Carolyn Metcalfe—May 16
Shelby Blixt—May 18
Darcy Mapston—May 20
Tanya Getten—May 22
Ali MacCarty—May 27
Lauren Viles—May 30
CIRCUIT DIRECTOR
Tannis Kobold
PO Box 50661
Billings MT 59105
(406) 671-4619
tanniskobold@yahoo.com
SPOKESWOMEN
Jill Ferdina-Miller
Donna Johnson
Theresa Walter
Deena Moeykens
Rayna Rice
Darcy Mapston
CIRCUIT FINALS
BARREL RACING DIRECTOR
Maria Gee Taylor
The JAM (Joyce Arms Memorial) Barrel Race was held March 31 and April 1 in Helena, Montana. The Thompson and Arms families produced the event to honor Joyce who died April 4, 2009, while barrel racing (her life’s passion). Tom Whalen of Whalen Tires donated the custom trophy Cactus Saddle to the Open 1D Average winner, Ashley Ouzts (above left with Tammy Thompson, Joyce's daughter). Ashlee and her great horse, KTS Scrap Iron, also won the $300 added WPRA Sidepots Saturday and Sunday. Dee and Gary Hoovestall donated the use of their beautiful Hooves and Stalls Arena indoor arena for the weekend (Gary is shown receiving a framed photo of Joyce and her favorite poem from Tammy). Casey and Ross Wagner (shown with Tammy) named the JAM a UBRC tour stop and Ross was the announcer extraordinaire. Other generous sponsors of added money, average and go-round winner prizes include Copper Spring Ranch, Summit Financial, AZ Butte, Steele’s Furniture, Montana Bean & Cream, Garrett Family & Colleen Smith Family, Silver Bow Pizza, Bev and Archie HIll, Jori and Geno Liva, Ben Arms, Judy Archer, Safeway, Wingate by Wyndham, Town Pump, American Federal, Shirlee and Tim Kaczmarek, Novotny Land and Cattle, Casey and Ross Wagner, Murdoch's of Butte and Bozeman, Montana Club, Headwaters Country Jam, and Butte GM. Many thanks to all the contestants and Joyce's fellow WPRA members who turned out to honor our dear friend and have a fun weekend of barrel racing.
Hello WPRA Members.
There have been a lot of rumors going on about Calgary and I just want to keep everyone informed and updated as we negotiate and push forward in this endeavor. I would like everyone to keep in mind that Calgary came to us wanting the WPRA to be part of their rodeo,which is a great and amazing honor, especially in light with what is going on with the PRCA today.
The WPRA’s contract that guarantees our association with the PRCA at rodeos, as noted in the lawsuit, will expire in the year 2019 and it is unknown if the WPRA will be left to stand on its own at that point.
The WPRA, as an organization, recognizes that we need to start making decisions and creating relationships with rodeo committees to secure our future interest with them. This was one reason we decided to participate with Houston this year and now with Calgary. It is important for us to be a standalone organization and quit riding on the shirttails of the PRCA.
At this point the ball is in the WPRA's court and here is what the committee of Calgary would like to see for their 2013 year, and here is what the WPRA is asking for:
The WPRA would like to create a WPRA Tour idea. It is just one concept that would open up the manner for qualifying into Calgary beyond what has been discussed so far. With the limits for Calgary being set at 20, this idea would provide an opportunity to a much wider part of our membership base to qualify beyond the usual current and prior year standings. (read more)
