WCRA AND NIRA ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION FOR 2024 COLLEGE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO AND OFFER A $10,000 CASH BONUS
September 7, 2023
FORT WORTH, Tex. – The NIRA (National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association) and WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) are proud to announce a partnership and a combined effort to provide additional opportunities for college rodeo athletes. The two rodeo organizations are teaming up to bring a $10,000 bonus to the 2024 College National Finals Rodeo next June.
"This is another huge step to growing the sport of rodeo among college athletes and giving them an opportunity to qualify for WCRA events,” said WCRA President Bobby Mote. “We are ecstatic to be the presenting sponsor of the Armband Ceremony and offer this $10,000 bonus opportunity to college athletes. We are anxious to see college rodeo athletes qualify for the chance to compete for the $1 Million Triple Crown of Rodeo Bonus.”
The “WCRA College Trifecta” will pay a $10,000 cash bonus to any NIRA athlete who wins their respective discipline in their region and wins at least one go-round of competition at the CNFR in the same discipline and completes the “Trifecta” by winning the World Championship in that discipline. The athlete must have nominated their ride or run with WCRA at the CNFR to be eligible for the bonus. The following NIRA disciplines are eligible: bareback riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, saddle bronc riding, heading, heeling, and bull riding. If more than one athlete completes the trifecta, then those athletes will split the bonus.
“NIRA is thrilled to announce its exciting partnership with WCRA, which promises to open new doors of opportunity for our college rodeo athletes,” said Jim Dewey Brown NIRA Commissioner. “WCRA's unwavering commitment to elevating the world of rodeo ensures that our athletes will continue to thrive in a realm of endless possibilities.”
Athletes can use code “COLLEGE24” when nominating and receive 25% off. The code is limited to four nominations and can be used to nominate any future event. The code is valid until May 2024.
Since launching in May of 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $15,700,000 in new money to rodeo athletes. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA, the VRQ, or how to nominate should be directed to WCRARODEO.com or download the WCRA app HERE.
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About WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance):
WCRA is a professional sport and entertainment entity, created to develop and advance the sport of rodeo by aligning all levels of competition. In association with the PBR, WCRA produces major rodeo events, developing additional opportunities for rodeo-industry competitors, stakeholders, and fans. To learn more, visit wcrarodeo.com. For athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) system, visit app.wcrarodeo.com.
About NIRA (National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association)
NIRA is a prestigious and nationally recognized organization that governs collegiate rodeo competitions in the United States. NIRA provides a platform for college students from across the country to compete in a wide range of rodeo events, showcasing their talent and dedication to the sport. With a rich history dating back to 1949, NIRA has been instrumental in shaping the careers of many professional rodeo athletes by offering them a competitive and structured environment at the college level. NIRA plays a pivotal role in promoting the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, and dedication while fostering the growth and development of rodeo athletes, both in and out of the arena.
Questions on how to fill out your membership application? We answer some of the most Frequently asked question as well as provide some additional instruction to help streamline the process. Check out the video here. There is also a link in the Downloads section at the top of the Membership Forms.
LIBERTY, Texas - Trinity Valley Expo in Liberty, TX is excited to announce the inaugural National Collegiate Champion Shootout, presented by TVE Fair and Rodeo and sanctioned by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. The event will take place on October 19-21, 2023, at the Trinity Valley Expo in Liberty, TX, and will feature top-performing collegiate rodeo athletes from each region in the country. The Collegiate Champion Shootout is an invitational style event that will award $100,000 in prize money. The event will feature the top 2 college athletes in each event from around the nation, by NIRA Region and will showcase action in the standard NIRA events including Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bull Riding, Tie-Down Roping, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing, and Goat Tying. "Here at Trinity Valley Exposition (TVE), we focus on building today's youth for tomorrow's future. What a better way to extend our mission than by providing young collegiate adults a stage to perform on in front of hometown rodeo fans for a chance to win a portion of the $100,000 prize money," said Cory Anderson, TVE Rodeo Vice President. "We are proud that our organization is getting the opportunity to work with the NIRA and its athletes to provide a unique one-of-a-kind competition format." The event structure will include Round One and a Shootout Round. Round one will feature two performances and one slack leading up to the Shootout. All 22 contestants will compete in Round 1 with the top 8 qualifying into the final Shootout Round. "We are thrilled to be partnering with TVE Fair and Rodeo to bring this exciting event to the rodeo fans in Liberty, TX," said Jim Dewey Brown, National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Commissioner. "The Collegiate Champion Shootout is an excellent opportunity to showcase the best of the best in collegiate rodeo, and we look forward to seeing the top-performing athletes compete in this exciting event." Details regarding qualifications, ground rules and entry process will be sent out directly to the NIRA schools for the 23-24 season. For more information about the National Collegiate Champion Shootout please visit www.tvefair.com.
