WELCOME TO THE WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO It’s that time of year again, where the world’s best cowboys and cowgirls come together to compete head on for the World Champion Title. In barrel racing, this year is no different with four new Wrangler National Finals faces, plus several past world champions competing against each other. Titles are anyone’s for the taking.
Not only do the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association barrel racers have to focus on the competition, but also public appearances, meetings, interviews, practice sessions, autographs signings and more. For complete profiles on each contestant make sure you check out the WPRA website. Plus over the next two weeks, I’ll be bringing you all the ‘Behind the Scenes’ stories with exclusive interviews and information you may not have known about the WNFR and the WPRA.
To meet and greet the contestants, there will be an autograph session at the Excalibur Hotel on December 2nd from 12pm to 2pm. Also each day a different qualifier will be at the WPRA Booth at Cowboy Christmas for an hour to sign autographs, so make sure you get to those locations to meet your favorite stars.
This year the WPRA Booth at Cowboy Christmas has also changed up a little, so make sure if you in Las Vegas you head on down to check it out. Otherwise later on this week I’ll be writing an exclusive article on the new and improve WPRA Booth.
MEET YOUR PRESIDENT After first joining the WPRA in 1974 and buying her card, current president, Jimmie Munroe, returned to the position this year with 16 previous years’ experience under her belt. Being on both sides on the fence, as official and as a competitor, Jimmie brings her extensive knowledge of the sport she loves.
Currently based in Valley Mills, Texas, where she also grew up, Jimmie has been in the saddle for as long as she can remember. “I was probably three years old when I first rode a horse by myself, but was always sitting up in the saddle with mom and dad before then,” smiles Jimmie. Competing in horse shows when she was five years old, Jimmie did everything from reining and cutting to pleasure riding. “When I was nine years old I started barrel racing and by the time I was 11 years old I was really getting into roping and competing in some junior rodeos.”
Although there weren’t many high school rodeos at that time, Jimmie mainly competed in American Junior Rodeo Association events. “There were a few high school rodeos but back then they mainly had one big state rodeo to qualify for the Nationals and I qualified three out of the four years.” Following high school, Jimmie attended the Sam Houston State University on a rodeo scholarship studying education, before getting her WPRA card in 1974. “I rodeod professionally full time until 1988 before I had my daughter, Tassie, and joined the WPRA Board of Directors in 1976 for two years followed by president for 16 years.”
Not only does Jimmie have experience on the board of the WPRA, but she also qualified for the NFR 11 times, won the world title in 1975, the All-Around twice in 1976 and 1977 and the All-Around Championship title in the WPRA (when they had all women’s rodeos). “It’s something that you never forget, something you will always remember. To have a horse that is that exceptional is a once in a lifetime experience and I was lucky enough to have four different horses that took me there,” smiled Jimmie.
After serving as president of the WPRA for 16 years, Jimmie felt it was time to step down as her daughter was getting older and more involved in school. “I was really fortunate with the people on the Board of Directors at that time, good things were happening to the association, but I wasn’t rodeoing full time anymore and Tassie was getting more involved in school.” However, after being approached to run for president again in 2011, Jimmie gave it some thought and ran for the position, although she didn’t think she’d be elected. “I don’t think I’d take it without hoping I’d be able to contribute to the WPRA. One of the reasons you serve that long is if you think you can give something back and the people who asked me to run for the position I really respected.”
With the goal of growing the WPRA even more this year, Jimmie, along with the Board of Directors, have been working hard since the New Year. “We’ve been working hard with sponsors and hopefully we’ll be able to bring in new sponsors, for events like out Tour Finales. Were also trying to increase our communication with members and can always do a better job and the World Finals is a great event and we are always working to improve that. Also improving the grounds in something were always striving to do and the round table meetings at the WNFR are centered around the guidelines for good grounds, how to improve them etc.”
When not riding or working with the WPRA, Jimmie loves reading books and spending time with her husband of 31 years, Bud, who is also a 12 times WNFR qualifier and World Champion and their daughter. “Tassie just graduated from the Texas Christian University and is now working for the Justin Boot Company. She does a little barrel racing but was on the Womens NCAA Equestrian Team competing in English and Jumping,” smiles Jimmie.
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