Ciara and Spunky 2001

It was another day at the rodeos, an Amateur rodeo in Washington State to be exact, back in 1958, where sat a group of ladies visiting amongst each other in the stands while there husbands competed. In those days the rodeos consisted of all the regular cowboy events, roping, bronc riding, and bulls, no barrel racing. If you were a lady rodeo contestant anywhere you were probably a member of the G.R.A., Girls Rodeo Association, and you were also probably riding broncs and or roping. But as this particular group of ladies visited, it was the event of barrel racing that they loved to do, and with their great minds thinking a like, they came up with the same question, why not have barrel races in the rodeos so we can compete to? They thought, after all, we are here every weekend with them, they are doing what they love, so, we should to.

In 1959 these ladies decided to form their own club, it was called the W.B. R. A., Washington Barrel Racing Association. It started out in Peirce County, in Western Washington with just a few of them, but soon the word grew across the whole state of Washington and anyone who wanted to barrel race , joined as well. They now had their club, and it had to be introduced to the rodeos. This same group of ladies took their now formally formed club to the rodeo committee and simply asked if they could compete in their own event in the rodeos, their answer was yes.

The WBRA was in full swing and started to grow, with their members filling the barrel racing event at all the Amateur rodeos in Washington State. The members then approached Joe Kelsey, of Kelsey and Son, P.R.C.A Stock Contractor, Eddie Longfellow was his secretary at the time. They asked if they would consider co- approving their rodeos with WBRA, so that WBRA barrel racers could compete in these pro rodeos, the answer was yes. From 1959 for many years up until around 1992 or so, if you were a WBRA member in Washington State you could enter a pro rodeo, you did not have to be a member of WPRA or PRCA to enter. To this day you can enter all co-approved Amateur rodeos on your WBRA card. The WBRA girls played a significant role in getting barrel racers into rodeo up in the Northwest.

For many years to follow the WBRA girls soon grew a reputation of being the toughest barrel racers in the country. Many pro rodeo gals would come to the Northwest to compete, leaving with the same feeling "man those WBRA girls are tough". WBRA also co-approved with all Cotton Rosser's PRCA indoor rodeos . Cotton Rosser would come up to Washington and put on a winter series of rodeos, they were indoor rodeos held in Spokane, Yakima, Tacoma and even the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. These ladies were solely responsible for introducing the event of barrel racing to the Amateur and Professional Rodeos of Washington State. Of corse times have changed for woman in rodeo they weren't padding their pockets back then, as Wynette Dale, one of the founders herself puts it, "My very first rodeo check was for 4th place at the Parkland Roundup in 1968, it was for a whole $4.60, and back then, that was a lot" she chuckles.

In 1959 WBRA awarded their first champion ever, Syd Sheppard from Spanaway, WA, she won a whip, a pair of chaps and a buckle. In the 1970s WBRA awarded their champion a 2 horse trailer and Terri Norwick of Walla Walla, WA won that championship three years in a row 1969, 1970 and 1971 holding the record for that many wins until Jolene Douglas of Grand Coulee, WA won the WBRA Championship for three years in a row in 1995, 1996 and 1997. WBRA has prided themselves on being a non-profit organization, giving 100% back to it's members. They have rewarded their members every year with over $25,000 in awards, including saddles, buckles, blankets, pads and even specialty awards. They have also put on mini series, which will have awards and cash prizes. This year all champions received an Ed Wright elite saddle, including the junior and youth winners. WBRA has also produced specialty awards honoring their mounts, every year there is a horse of the year recognized. In 1973 out of the top five open girls, four girls, Kathryn (Bach) Anderson, Darcy Mast, Jan Studebaker and Wynette Dale all were mounted on horses bred by the great Coke Waggoner race horse. He was a 1945 model that Art Drexler brought up to the Northwest from Vernon Texas, from the Waggoner Ranch.

The WBRA consisted of open girls, for that was what the rodeos had to offer and that was what the club was founded on, it was all based on the rodeo format. Soon WBRA races were popping up all over the state, not just rodeos but the girls promoted their club and races at Quarter Horse shows, game shows and all girl rodeos, even some members would put races on personally at their homes or neighbor's arenas..It was growing big, bold and tough.

In 1970 the club got together and decided to form their own Novice division for the gals that had new and young horses coming along in the sport of barrel racing. Again, you could season your novice horse for rodeos by actually entering a rodeo, they even would have a novice race during the rodeo performance once in awhile. WBRA would share the use of the arenas and have WBRA open and novice races after the rodeo performances, there was a strong working relationship between WBRA and rodeo committees. The first novice class was $100, after your horse won $100 you were in the open. But as the club grew, the purses grew and it soon wasn't long for a horse to come out of that novice class and into the open, they then formed another division which was the $500. From there it grew as the years and members came, and today they have a Youth, Junior, $100 $250, $500, $1000, $2000, Open Jackpot and Open classes with year end standings and awards for the Youth, Junior, $2000, $500 and Open.

WBRA has produced several NFR qualifiers and horses and is the last state that has a recognized club, all the others have gone away. WBRA member Pat Heckart, from Cheney, WA joined in 1959 and is still competing as a WBRA member at the young age of 70 today. WBRA has a lot to be proud of, in this competitive times of the changing world of barrel racing. They seem to still go back to their roots and remember where it all started. That small group of woman sitting in the stands visiting amongst themselves about what they love to do best and coming up with a great idea for a club to do It in. Their voices are still heard today amongst the current board of directors and long time members of novice and rodeo girls that want to keep the spirit of their club alive. With lots of clubs shutting down, and bigger and better taking over, there are those that still like the old way and will fight to keep what they love alive and available. Where else would you find that kind of dedication other than a barrel racer? Here's to you WBRA, congratulations on your 50th year and still going strong your founding members would be proud.