Rodeos
PRCA launches innovative Heartland ProRodeo Series in October
By
Aug 7, 2008, 09:31

In its relentless efforts to grow the cowboy sport and increase prize money for contestants, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is launching an ambitious new enterprise with the start of the 2008 season in October – the Heartland ProRodeo Series.

The concept offers added support to the majority of PRCA rodeos, those with a total added committee purse of up to $30,000, by bringing them together in a series that concludes with a rich and prestigious championship event. The Heartland ProRodeo Series Championships in Waco, Texas, scheduled for Oct. 3-11, 2008, will have minimum prize money of $400,000 and as much as $500,000.

The PRCA Board of Directors pledged its unanimous support of the Heartland ProRodeo Series on Aug. 29. The first event is the Leesville Lions Club Rodeo in Leesville, La., just over a month from now, on Oct. 4-6, 2007. To date, 163 rodeos have pledged to take part in the series – including 14 in Canada – and PRCA officials are projecting 300 rodeos will be on board by the May 1 filing deadline. Rodeo committees may elect to join the series at the time of rodeo approval or by May 1, 2008, whichever comes first.

“Our goal is to improve this sport and all our great rodeos for everyone involved, rodeo committees to contestants, contract personnel to stock contractors,” said Keith Martin, Chairman of the PRCA Board of Directors and the PRCA’s interim Chief Executive Officer. “We believe the appeal of the season-ending championships will help Heartland ProRodeo Series rodeos draw bigger and better fields across the board, so it's a win-win situation. I think this series will be a huge hit with our fans, too, and pleasing the people who love this sport like we do is always a top priority.”

The Heartland ProRodeo Series Championships in Waco will become the fourth leg of the PRCA’s already abundant championship season, joining the $366,000 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho, the $1.62 million Ariat Playoffs of the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour and the $5.5 million Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

In order to qualify for that big season-ending payday at the Heartland ProRodeo Series Championships, cowboys will be required to participate in a minimum of 30 Heartland events. There will be no cap. Every Heartland rodeo a cowboy or cowgirl enters will count toward the series standings.

www.bridleandbit.com