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History of the PRCA

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) was created almost by accident in 1936 when a group of cowboys walked out of a rodeo at the Boston Gardens 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.

The cowboys chose that name because, while they were slow to organize, when push finally came to shove, they weren't afraid to stick their necks out to get what they wanted.

In 1945, the Turtles changed their name to the Rodeo Cowboys Association, and in 1975, the organization became the PRCA.

The PRCA staff consists of about 70 full-time employees, but grows to nearly 100 during the peak rodeo season.

Offical PRCA site ProRodeo.org

PRCA News:
Troy Ellerman had a much better National Finals Rodeo in December of 2005.

Not so the previous year. At the NFR in 2004, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association - the largest governing body for professional rodeo - was a mess.

The commissioner, Steven J. Hatchell, had resigned during the NFR and a very fractured PRCA was $3.6 million in debt.

"Last year (2004), it was a chaotic NFR,'' said Ellerman, who took over as PRCA commissioner.

Ellerman previously served as chairman for the PRCA board of directors.

Not long after the NFR finished in Las Vegas, the PRCA temporarily closed the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., creating another public relations firestorm.

"I don't want history to repeat itself,'' said Ellerman of a turbulent 2005. "I don't think I can pass that test again.''

Upon taking the helm, Ellerman immediately began implementing plans - some welcome, some not - to bring the PRCA back to the black side of the ledger and bring direction to a far-flung organization that had to work for both the full-time rodeo superstar and those who compete just on weekends.

In the two biggest moves, the PRCA has sold off the sponsorship and licensing of both the Wrangler ProRodeo Tours and the Xtreme Bulls Tour.

"We're not liable for any of the cost,'' Ellerman said.

According to Ellerman, as of September of 2005, the PRCA was $500,000 ahead.

"And it projects to be better,'' he said. "We had to control the expense side of the ledger.''

PRCA Career Earnings Leaders (Through 2004)
1. Joe Beaver (TD, TR, SR), $2,541,637
2. Fred Whitfield (TD, SR), $2,325,681
3. Dan Mortensen (SB, BR) $2,282,243
4. Billy Etbauer (SB) $2,168,213
5. Tee Woolman (TR, SR) $2,113,000