Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

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The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is the largest American rodeo organization in the world. As of 2018, It sanctions rodeos in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Its championship event is the National Finals Rodeo. The PRCA is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States.

History[edit]

The organization was created in 1936 when a group of cowboys walked out of a rodeo at Boston Garden to protest the actions of rodeo promoter W.T. Johnson, who refused to add the cowboys’ entry fees to the rodeo’s total purse. Johnson finally gave in to the cowboys’ demands, and the successful “strike” led to the formation of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association. That name was chosen because, while they were slow to organize, when required they were unafraid to stick out their necks to get what they wanted, like turtles might do. Among the organizers was a woman, a four-time national bronc champion, Alice Greenough Orr. In 1945, the Turtles changed their name to the Rodeo Cowboys Association, and in 1975, the organization became the PRCA.[1] The PRCA staff consists of about 70 full-time employees, but grows to nearly 100 during the peak rodeo season. The PRCA headquarters, established in 1979 in Colorado Springs, also houses the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy.[1]For a list of inductees, see the List of ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductees.