Beauty and the Beast

Under the umbrella of the WPRA, the Professional Women's Rodeo Association (roughstock) has more than 120 members and sanctions more than twenty complete all-women rodeos, and seventy approved events each year. At these all-women events, contestants compete in bareback and bull riding, breakway and tiedown calf roping, and team roping. The PWRA National Finals held each year pays out more than $50,000. In 2000, the Women's Finals was held in November at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.

Prize money in women's rodeos is significantly less than in men's rodeos. Right now, barrel racing is the only rodeo event where women can earn a living. Reigning world champion Sherry Cervi of Marana, Arizona is second in 2000 world standings with $97,974, won $245.369 last year including $114,373 in the Finals. Other rodeo event contestants might net year end totals of $3,000 or $4,000.

From the beginning, rodeo has not been an easy life. Participants had to travel great distances to compete, and still do. Cowboys and cowgirls were expected to pay their own expenses with their meager earnings. Although times have changed somewhat, especially for the cowboys, the ladies still struggle to do what they love--rodeo.

Women's Professional Rodeo Association (Barrel Racing) http://www.wpra.com/ Professional Women's Rodeo Association (All Women's Rodeo) http://www.wpra.com/pwra1.html PWRA Events descriptions at: http://www.wpra.com/pwra1.html for details. Upcoming WPRA FULL rodeos: http://www.wpra.com/pwraevents.html

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