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On the Road Again…The Circuit Cowboy - Page 2

Page 2

Apr 25, 2000

The DNCFR, the championship event of the PRCA's Circuit System, was established as a national competition and held their first rodeo in 1987. The prize money was a modest $100,000 that year, but a tradition was born. Now, the DNCFR ranks behind only the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in the category of committee-generated prize money.

Once in Pocatello's DNCFR, all qualification points are erased, so all competitors start on the same playing field. This is an exciting rodeo that exhibits both talented ranch cowboys and well-known rodeo stars competing from ground scratch. This weeds out the men from the boys and the cowboys from the wannabes in tournament style competition. The field is narrowed to four finalists visa two preliminary rounds and an eight-man semi-final. The winners of the sudden-death Wrangler Round earn the DNCFR National Circuit titles.

Even at its beginnings, DNCFR attracted rodeo heavyweights. Competing in the first DNCFR (1987) were such highly recognized names as: 1990-91 World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Robert Etbauer; 1990 World Champion Calf Roper, Troy Pruitt; 3-time World Champion Bull Rider Tuff Hedeman; 4-time World Champion Steer Wrestler Ote Berry; 10-time World Champion Barrel Racer Charmayne James; 2-time NFR qualifying Bareback Rider Phil Smith; and 7-time World Champion Team Ropers Jake Barnes and Clay O'Brien Cooper. Not even mentioning the soon to be up-and-comers in the draw as well.

PRCA created a fabulous opportunity for those cowboys that could not go on the road like their professional counterparts. Using the Circuit System and working their way toward the DNCFR, circuit cowboys have inched their way through the system provided by PRCA and many have become successful full-time professional, crowd-drawing rodeo cowboys.

Here are some web sites related to the Circuit System:

PRCA Circuit Competition http://rodeo.about.com/sports/rodeo/libr...

Current Circuit Standings (map) http://www.prorodeo.com/html/2.5.circuit...

The Circuit System htttp://www.beefempiredaysrodeo/rodeocmp.html

Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo (DNCFR) http://www.dncfr.com/homepage.cfm

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2. May 1, 2000 7:28 AM
Hello--
Thanks for asking!
The life of the circuit cowboy article's information was taken from various sources. One of them is a book I have by Michael Allen "Rodeo Cowboys in the North American Im ...

-- posted by Diana_Rowe

1. May 1, 2000 6:18 AM
from whom did you get your information?

-- posted by moxie1

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