In the earliest days of the then-Girls Rodeo Association, the ladies competed in many different events: they ran barrels to be sure but most also roped, some rode bulls or broncs, others competed in the cutting. "All girl" rodeos were just as popular with contestants as the then-Rodeo Cowboys Association events.

The NutraLix Barrel Daze event held June 12-13 in Miles City, Mont., is a throwback to those days. It's retro. Offering huge prize money in the barrel race, the event combines the best the WPRA has to offer with sanctioned breakaway roping, junior barrel racing, and futurity competitions.

The event also awarded Pro Elite Sire Incentive money to the tune of $2,000 to contestants riding PESI eligible horses in the open 4D and futurity barrel racing. And new in 2010, WPRA national sponsor Wrangler stepped to the plate to honor the permit and breakaway roping members with $500 bonus money paid as well.

"NutraLix Barrel Daze was a smashing success," says producer and founder Lana Tibbetts, the WPRA's Montana Director. With over $22K in total payout, contestants came from five states and Canada to compete over two days.

With all the WPRA's programs represented, it is fitting that the weekend's high money earner is a WPRA breakaway roper and barrel racer. Michelle Alley of Whitewood, S.D., is a two time WPRA World Finals qualifier, competing in 2007 and 2009. Alley was the WPRA Wrangler Bonus winner in the breakaway roping and collected checks on two horses in the barrel racing, including a fifth place finish on Saturday. All counted, she stuffed nearly $1,500 in her Wranglers.

Alley is a little retro herself: like the founders of the WPRA, she made the two and half hour trek to Miles City in part because she could rope and run barrels, particularly in a WPRA co-approved event. Alley also seized upon the opportunity to compete on a standard pattern before the rodeo season gets in full swing in the Badlands and Montana Circuits.

A member of the South Dakota Rodeo Association, Northwest Ranch Cowboys Association, and National Barrel Horse Association along with the WPRA, Alley is a qualifier to the College National Finals Rodeo and earns her living training and selling rope and barrel horses.

Alley gives credit to her family for her profession, though she didn't start roping until high school.

"My dad, Bob, was a great roper and he was the one who showed me how to rope as well as taking me to a Marty Jones roping school," she explains. "He introduced me to [17 time WPRA World Champion] JJ Hampton who gave me pointers on my roping and goat tying." Alley says her mom, Linda, still rides and helps out while brother JJ ropes, steer wrestles, and rides bareback horses.

Alley recently picked up tie down roping, an event she says she loves because it combines breakaway with goat tying, though breakaway is still her favorite. She is currently ranked amongst the leaders in the WPRA world standings for the tie down roping.

While roping might be higher on her list, Alley more than holds her own in the barrel race. She raised her horse, Sign on Slew, but sold him as a yearling. After spending two years on the track, Alley bought the gelding back as a four year old and trained him to run barrels. Along with her other Barrel Daze money winner, RF Three Tiny Bars, Alley campaigned at the futurities a year ago and is now seasoning the six year olds to rodeo competition.

"They won a good amount at the barrel futurities," she says, "and now I am trying to get them prepared for the rodeos."

Nothing prepares you as quick as competing against the best. WPRA NFR qualifiers dominated the 1D on both days with Rayne [Prewitt] Rice winning Saturday's race aboard Chucky while Shelly Anzick improved a third place on Saturday by winning the race Sunday on Soda. Anzick received the grand prize, a Ritch Rand Custom Hat.

Another NFR qualifier Shelley Murphy took home the PESI bonus money for the futurity aboard her horse, Mis Lucki Kelly; the pair was second on Saturday behind Raelene Konzak, and first on Sunday in the WPRA futurity sidepots.

The PESI bonus for the 4D went to Deena Grieves. The Wrangler Bonus money in the permit sidepot went to Carrie Murnion. The youth race winner was won by Paige Moore.

Sponsors of the NutraLix Barrel Daze include NutraLix, Wrangler, Plains Horizon Equine Insurance, Horizon Implement, Steadman's Ace Hardware, Dally O, Montana Silversmiths, Bill Champion, TownPump, US Bank, Murdoch's West Feeds, Comfort Inn, Solaris Feeders, Miles City Saddlery, Farm Bureau Insurance, Bart and Misty Meged, Riverside Marine and Cycle, and Tibbettsranch.com.

For complete results, visit www.NutraLix.com.