The Circuit System

While full-time rodeo cowboys win most of the glory in the arena, most PRCA members are circuit cowboys. For the circuit cowboy, rodeo is something that follows a 40-hour work week. When the weekend hits, he loads up his horses or equipment and heads down the road, usually no more than a few hundred miles to a rodeo.

That's not to say these competitors are any less serious about their sport than their marquee counterparts. But their families or professional obligations require them to stick close to home most of the time.

In 1975, the PRCA recognized a need for an award system for these cowboys who might never make it to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport's year-end championship. To fill the void, the Association created the Circuit System, which is composed of 12 geographic regions encompassing as few as one state, such as the Texas, Montana or Sierra circuits, to as many as 13 states, as in the First Frontier Circuit.

Circuit-system cowboys compete for points throughout the year and those points earned within their circuit count toward their place in their circuit standings and their place in the world standings. But points accrued at rodeos outside their circuit count only toward world standings.

Each circuit's top cowboys in each event qualify for that circuit's "finals" rodeo at season's end. After all 12 circuit finals, the top regular-season cowboys in each event and the winners of the circuit finals rodeos qualify for one of the PRCA's most prestigious events -- the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo held each March in Pocatello, Idaho.

All PRCA cowboys are eligible to compete at the circuit level, and circuit-level cowboys are eligible to compete nationally.

The Beef Empire Days P.R.C.A. Rodeo is a proud member of the Prairie Circuit. This P.R.C.A. Rodeo Circuit is comprised of the rodeos in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. The Beef Empire Days P.R.C.A. Rodeo was honored by the Prairie Circuit in 1996 and 1998 for having the "Most Improved Rodeo" as well as "Best Rodeo" in our outdoor classification. The two plaques will be proudly displayed by each of our many major sponsors. In 1999 we received the WPRA's :Best Foot Foreword" award. These awards were voted on by the Pro Rodeo Cowboys themselves and prove that the hard work and dedication of the Rodeo Committee has not gone unnoticed. We look foreword to an even bigger and better rodeo in 1997.

PRCA Circuit Information

Rodeo Sports Marketing of Amarillo, Texas maintains a web site of all PRCA circuit results, Press Releases and Current Standings at the following links:For Results       For Press Releases               For Circuit Standings