Texas High School Rodeo (THSRA) and WCRA DY (World Champions Rodeo Alliance Division Youth) are proud to announce a partnership and a combined effort to raise the youth rodeo bar. The two rodeo organizations are teaming up to bring a $20,000 bonus to the 2023 THSRA State Finals next June and a direct path to the over $200,000 added Cinch World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR) at the Lazy E Arena in July 2023.
“This is another huge step to growing the sport of rodeo among youth athletes and giving them an opportunity to qualify for a world championship event,” said WCRA President Bobby Mote. “We are ecstatic to offer this $20,000 bonus opportunity to the THSRA athletes and are anxious to watch them battle it out for a berth to the 2023 WCJR.”
The “WCRA DY Texas Trifecta” will pay a $20,000 cash bonus to any THSRA athlete who wins their respective discipline; first in their region and also wins at least one go round of competition at the THSRA State Finals in the same discipline and completes the “Trifecta” by winning the THSRA State Championship in that discipline. The following THSRA disciplines are eligible; bareback, steer wrestling, barrel racing, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, saddle bronc, goat tying, heading, heeling, pole bending, and bull riding.
In the event no THSRA athlete completes the WCRA Texas Trifecta, the $20,000 cash bonus will be split evenly between all 11 discipline’s THSRA State Champions. If more than one athlete completes the trifecta, then those athletes will split the bonus.
In addition to the cash bonus, the highest placing nominated athletes will earn an invite to the 2023 WCJR held in Guthrie, Oklahoma July 25-29. The 2023 WCRA Division Youth (DY) event will have over $200,000 in added prize money and is open to any youth athlete ages 19 and under. The WCJR is one of the largest annual purses in youth rodeo and paid out more than $270,000 in 2022, while crowning new Youth World Champions.
“The partnership with WCRA will increase the excitement and buzz of the THSRA Finals as we start with a field of 110 contestants on the board and through each round we watch to see who stays in the hunt for the $20,000 WCRA DY Texas Trifecta.,” said THSRA Marketing Director Holly DeLaune. “WCRA will also be coming on as a corporate sponsor of TJHRA, where they are excited to support youth as they begin their journey in the sport of rodeo.”
Since launching in May of 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $12,600,000 in new money to rodeo athletes. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA DY, the VRQ, or event format and payout details should be directed to dy.rodeo or download the WCRA DY app HERE.
