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Yep, you read it right. Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) may seem like just another cowboy organization, but this one is specifically created for the working ranch cowboys.
WRCA was originally the dream of several cowboys and cowgirls here in the U.S. All of these dreamers had a background in ranches, either currently or in their pasts. They looked around and noted that other professions had support groups and saw the need for a group of their own. The WRCA is not a union, but a group speaking out and defending the dying legend of working cowboys and cowgirls. A total of 200 Founding members joined together in Amarillo in March of 1995 to create the WRCA. These individuals were ranch owners, foremen and actually ranch cowboys that still believed and supported the working cowboy’s dream--a dream fast disappearing in the growing populations of the metropolitan areas. The perception of WRCA is a belief in the ideals and work ethic of the working ranch cowboy and striving towards maintaining this western heritage alive for future generations. From these basic concepts, WRCA’s online home page denotes these strong commitments: ·Preserving the heritage and Life-style of the Working Ranch Cowboy ·Promoting Ranching on a National and International Level ·Producing a World Championship Ranch Rodeo ·Providing Assistance to Cowboys and their families in times of need through the WRCA Scholarship Fund and the WRCA Crisis Fund Ranch Rodeos are located all across the United States and Canada. In order to participate in these WRCA sanctioned events have rules and regulations just as strict as the PRCA. First and most important rule is all participants must make their living from a ranch. A “working ranch” is defined as any ranch which has a minimum of 300 head cow/calf operation or runs at least 500 yearlings for a minimum of 6 months of the year. “Making a Living” is defined as deriving at least 90% of one’s income taking care of cattle on a ranch or someone who owns/leases and operates a ranch no smaller than described above or someone employed full-time by a qualifying ranch. (The previous paragraph was excerpted from WRA web site, and you can read the rules and regs in their entirety at: http://www.wrca.org/srules.html) The rules continue on and on, but the bottom line is the cowboys that compete must be honest-to-goodness working ranch cowboys in order to even make it past the chutes at these Ranch Rodeos. Again, we go back to the WRCA’s mission--to promote ranching and cowboying while educating the public. Unlike the PRCA sanctioned rodeos, the competition at WRCA rodeos is secondary. Still, there are stiff penalties for failure to follow the guidelines for a WRCA Sanctioned Ranch Rodeo.
The copyright of the article Working Ranch Cowboys Association in Rodeo Culture is owned by Diana Rowe Martinez. Permission to republish Working Ranch Cowboys Association in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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