Wyoming, people still live for the rodeo lifestyle, and look
forward to it bringing people together.
Along with many other associations, the WRA is built on
a foundation of respect, pride and community. The WRA
has been an Association that cowboys and cowgirls can
commit to by improving their talents. Rodeo is a sport that
brings people from all states and countries together, a
sport that builds friendships, families and memories. To
most rodeo contestants, a rodeo isn’t something that they
just go to on the weekends, rather participating in rodeos
is a way of life, and it is cherished.
The State of Wyoming has been blessed to be a part of
the rodeo family. There is a reason it is nicknamed the
“Cowboy” State, from modern rodeo to farming and
ranching, Wyoming has embraced the cowboy logo from
the state’s license plate to the people’s attitude. Rodeo
runs in the blood of Wyomingites and that is why the
Wyoming Rodeo Association is working hard to be back
on the map for the 2018 summer rodeos. For those who
don’t know, the sport of rodeo has faced many conflicts in
the past and some issues that still cause opposition today.
These issues come from new regulations, views from
society and the economy. Contestants continue to fuel
their big rigs no matter the fuel prices and travel in
the summer months when the prices are sky
rocketing. Passion runs strong in the blood of
each contestant, and it takes a lot more than
regulations, political views and fuel prices
to stop them from competing. Not
only do they build friendships
through their travels, but
there isn’t anything
more
important to
cowboys and cowgirls than
their livestock. The horses live
and breathe for the sport just as much,
and maybe even more than their
cowgirl or cowboy. There is a special bond that the two
have, through hours of training to staying up all night
guaranteeing the animal’s health. It is truly a blessing, the
rodeo way of life.
The WRA wants to do everything possible to make the
rodeo community succeed in the State of Wyoming. Over
the years the WRA has become a little less talked about
throughout the State of Wyoming and its bordering states.
As many know, Wyoming is a big state filled with few
people, herds of wildlife and small towns that are hundreds
of miles apart. This is not always beneficial for the rodeo
community; typically rodeo contestants hit three to five
rodeos a weekend allowing them to ride in a morning or
afternoon performance and then travel to be at the next
rodeo by evening for the night performance. Unfortunately,
Wyoming lacks the convenience of close proximity and
because of that, the WRA takes a hit.
The WRA 2018 finals will be held in Torrington, WY on
September 22-23. Updates of Association rodeos are
offered in The Wrangler and online on the Wyoming Rodeo
Association’s website. WRA currently will host four
rodeos throughout the state; The 71st Annual Hulett
Rodeo, Encampment Woodchoppers Jamboree Rodeo,
Saratoga Rodeo and the Carbon County Stampede Rodeo.
Both Hulett and Encampment consist of approximately four
hundred people, a normal sized town for the State of
Wyoming. To have enough contestants entered to fill up a
Rodeo LIFE 140