Rodeo's Renegade Roses

With the start of World War II, the number of rodeos declined dramatically as did the number of female contestants. In 1942, there were 26 women who competed: between 1943-1946 there were 12, and most were paid performers.

During the summer and fall of 1942, contractors organized rodeos to entertain troops situated in various parts of the country. Since the men were off at war, rodeo was left to the women. Fay Kirkwood hosted the first successful all-girl "entertainment" rodeo in Bonham, Texas, June 26-29, 1942. The event was highly successful and more were scheduled to bolster the troops' spirits. However, those rodeos were never held. Kirkwood canceled the shows after deflecting unwanted advances from a Military officer,removing herself and her rodeo from the spotlight. Vaughn Krieg, the 1934 Madison Square Garden champion bronc rider, decided to pick up where Kirkwood left off. She formed her own rodeo company and set about the country entertaining troops with an all-girl rodeo. Despite the excellent reception and financial success, neither Krieg or Kirkwood’s dream for rodeo would survive WW II. With Tire and gas rationing rising, Krieg was forced to bring the curtain down on her show.

By early 1947, the Rodeo Cowboy's Association (RCA), sanctioned more than 1,000 rodeos annually and cowboys competed for more than $155,000, which was the largest purse ever. However, there was a strong faction within the RCA that didn't want women competing in rodeos. They felt that it was improper behavior for females. They believed they were better suited for Rodeo Queens. So for most of those early rodeos, the RCA offered sponsor or queen contests for the ladies. Only occasionally was there a bronc riding exhibition.

In 1947, Nancy Binford and Thena Mae Farr organized what would be the first ever competitive, all-girl rodeo, changing the course of women in Rodeo for good. Held September 23-26, 1947, the rodeo was a part of Amarillo's Tri-State Fair. When Binford and Farr approached town officials with their idea of an all-girl rodeo, they were initially met with skepticism and hostility. The pair presented enough know-how to get the project off the ground. With meticulous attention to detail, they planned their rodeo right down to the last aspect. Amarillo needed an event that would draw in large crowds and, to Binford and Farr, their rodeo was just the thing.

At San Angelo, Texas hotel, on February 28, 1948, 38 women gathered to form the very first rodeo association just for women, the Girls' Rodeo Association. The group's primary purpose was to give women legitimate, honest opportunities to compete in all-girl rodeos. There was also a desire to establish an alliance with the RCA to host women's events in conjunction with RCA-sanctioned rodeos. They drafted and approved rules and regulations, as well as enacting a point system to crown world champions. After the rules took effect in May, 1948, GRA board members went to work, persuading rodeo committees and producers to hold women's contests according to GRA rules. In 1981 GRA changed its name to the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.

The WPRA is always evolving but they always remember their roots. If it wasn't for women like Tad Lucas, Vaughn Krieg, Fox Hastings, Marge & Alice Greenough and the other pioneer ladies who went against the grain, there might never have been room in the chutes for women like me.