WCRA DY is a year-long leaderboard race of rodeo events worldwide, culminating at the World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR). The 2024 World Finals event will have over $200,000 in added money and will take place in Guthrie, OK, at the Lazy E Arena July 23-27. The 2023 event paid out more than $407,000.

Athletes can qualify by nominating their rodeo efforts and earning points for the WCRA DY leaderboard positions using the VRQ (Virtual Rodeo Qualifier). Athletes can nominate their rodeo efforts until Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. to nominate and earn points. The top 16 on the leaderboard will qualify for the event with no entry fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What and Where is the Championship Event?

The July 23-27 event will have over $200,000 in added money and is open to any youth athlete ages 19 and under (as of the first day of competition) in the world competing in 11 disciplines which include โ€“ Bareback Riding, Ladies Breakaway Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping Heading, Team Roping Heeling, Tie-Down Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, Ladies Pole Bending, Ladies Goat Tying, and Bull Riding.

What Events are Before the WCJR?

DY Showcase Events

The 2023-24 Series will feature CEAT Specialty WCRA DY Showcase events in Mill Spring, North Carolina, and Fort Worth, Texas. Each event will pay $55,000 and feature the top eight from the Junior DY Leaderboard (19 and under) in each discipline. The 2024 series will feature showcase events at each WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo stop.

What is the Payout?

The 2023 Payout was $407,000

The 2024 World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR) will have over $200,000 in prize money and is open to any youth athlete ages 19 and under (as of the first day of competition)

World Champions will be crowned in all disciplines from both the Junior Leaderboard (ages 19 and under) and the Youth Leaderboard (age 13-15) with $10,000 being paid out per discipline in the Junior Division ($110,000 total) while the Youth Division will award $5,000 per discipline ($35,000 total).

How to Nominate

  1. DOWNLOAD THE WCRA APP IN THE APP STORE HERE
  2. HIT SIGN IN OR REGISTER
  3. SELECT NOMINATE
  4. ENTER EVENT NAME OR LOCATION
  5. SELECT DISCIPLINE
  6. SELECT THE DATE OF THE COMPETITION
  7. CONFIRM PAYMENT

Nomination Deadline

Athletes can nominate their rodeo efforts until Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. to earn points. Must be nominated before the official start time of the event.

Event Progression Chart

View 2024 Event Progression Below:


Eligible Athletes and Entry Fees

Timed Event:

Leaderboard No. 1 – 16 (Junior and Youth): Seeding into the semi-final round with no entry fees. 

Timed Event and Roughstock:

Leaderboard No. 1 (Junior and Youth):โ€“ seeded to the championship round with no entry fees.

If an athlete chooses, they can also buy into the qualifying rounds without losing their seeded position for prize money, World points, and AAC points.

Must be 13 years of age to participate in the VRQ.

Qualifier Series Generic Qualifications

Winning a DY Qualifier Series event is paramount for the athlete. For the 2024 DY season, there will be up to 12 QS events per discipline per leaderboard.

Complimentary entry fees & generic qualification to the Qualifying Rounds.

Leaderboard rank takes precedence for eligibility. Will not drop down to fill vacated QS spots.

(WCRA DY reserves the right to modify the number of qualifiers and events in the 2023 DY season)

Disciplines Eligible For Nominations

19 and Under Junior Classification Disciplines:

  • Bareback Riding
  • Saddle Bronc Riding
  • Bull Riding
  • Steer Wrestling
  • Tie Down Roping
  • Team Roping-Header
  • Team Roping-Heeler
  • Ladies Breakaway Roping
  • Ladies Barrel Racing
  • Ladies Poles Bending
  • Ladies Goat Tying

BB, SB, BR, SW โ€“ You must be a minimum of 15 years of age to nominate and must be 16 years of age on the start date of the competition.

13-15 Youth Classification Disciplines:

  • Tie-Down Roping
  • Team Roping-Header
  • Team Roping-Heeler
  • Ladies Breakaway Roping
  • Ladies Barrel Racing
  • Ladies Poles Bending
  • Ladies Goat Tying 
Tiered Leaderboard

WCRA implemented a tiered leaderboard system for DY beginning with the 2024 season. Athletes 13-19 years of age are eligible to nominate events toward the DY leaderboards. Maximum and minimum ages are based on the athlete’s age on the first day of the world championship event (July 25, 2023). 

  • Junior Classification โ€“ 19U (19 years of age to 13 years of age) 
  • Youth Classification โ€“ 13-15 (athletes 13 years of age up to 15 years of age). If an athlete between the ages of 13-15 prefers to participate in the Junior Division, they may opt-out of the Youth Division by contacting [email protected].
  • Athletes may only participate in one DY leaderboard. Youth athletes that wish to move to Junior Leaderboard must transfer all disciplines to that leaderboard.

With the separation of athlete competition at WCRA events, Junior & Youth athletes participating in the DY leaderboards will now be eligible to simultaneously participate in the WCRA TCR / WRWC open leaderboards. 

  • Open Disciplines – Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling: Must be a minimum of 15 years of age to nominate and must be 16 years of age to enter and compete at the event. 
  • Open Disciplines โ€“ Bull Riding: Must be a minimum of 18 years of age to nominate, enter and compete at the event per PBR membership rules. 
Open Entry
  • Enter the event as an Open Entry on APRIL 1 at 8 a.m. โ€“ athletes will start in the Qualifying Rounds
  • ENTRY FEES: Junior Division: $350 per entry / Youth Division: $250 per entry / JR Ironman Side Pot: $100
  • Payment Plan Information HERE

WCJR Entry Dates:

  • April 1, 2024 at 8:00am CT โ€“ WCJR OPEN Entry opens / Payment Plan Option Opens
  • May 10, 2024 at 11:59pm CT โ€“ Payment Plan Option closed
  • July 2, 2024 at 12:00pm CT โ€“ DY24 Leaderboard Entries Open
  • July 4, 2024, 2024 at 11:59pm CT โ€“ DY24 Leaderboard & OPEN Entries Close
  • July 5, 2024 – 12:00am CT – Late Entries open
  • July 10, 2024 – 12:00pm CT – Late Entries close
World Champions Bonus
  • World Champions will be crowned in all disciplines along with All-Around World Champions from both the 19 and under (19U) Junior Leaderboard and the 13-15 Youth Leaderboard. Each World Champion will be awarded a piece of the $56,000 in cash bonuses.
  • Athletes must have a minimum of fifteen (15) VRQ points on the DY23 leaderboard to be eligible to earn a World Championship.

WCJR and WCRA DY Cash Bonus details HERE.

Jr. Ironman Sidepot Details

The WCJR will also serve as a Jr. Ironman qualifier with the top five advancing to Jr. Ironman Championship held during the CINCH Timed Event Championship in March 2024. The Jr. Ironman Side Pot will have $5,000 added money with the mandatory disciplines: Steer Wrestling, Tie-Down Roping, Team Roping-Header, Team Roping-Heeler (must enter and participate in all four disciplines).

Event Ground rules

View 2023 Ground Rules HERE