The Breakaway Roping Journal is delighted to announce the Coulee City, Washington, PRCA Last Stand Rodeo as a first-year recipient of the Cowgirl Catalyst Awards—a series of Women in Rodeo Month awards designed to recognize the people and organizations that support Women in Rodeo.
The PRCA Last Stand Rodeo is the chosen recipient of the Boss Moves Cowgirl Catalyst Award. Inspired by Mane ‘n Tail’s “Boss of Gloss” Ultimate Gloss Shampoo, the Boss Moves Award recognizes the person or entity with the tenacity and gumption to be a first-ever kind of leader for Women in Rodeo.
In 2017, the PRCA Last Stand Rodeo went down in the history books as the first rodeo to not only add breakaway to the rodeo lineup, but also to give them equal pay. The year marked a significant shift in the landscape for breakaway—the BFI added breakaway to its lineup that year and even Ellensburg and Pendleton added limited breakaway events—but the Last Stand was the only PRCA rodeo to give breakaway ropers full access and fair pay.
The addition was the direct result of Columbia River Circuit’s Jennifer Casey—recognized as one of 10 Breakaway Benefactors by The Breakaway Roping Journal in 2020—and her advocating for the sport.
“These committees up here were willing to take a chance on us,” Casey told author Julie Mankin. “And we’re an easy add. I mean, look at the sponsorship opportunities with another women’s event! Sponsors love female-owned organizations. The return on investment for breakaway is a really easy marketing sell for the committee.”
Now, in 2023, it’s easy to see that Casey was right but, in 2017, the Last Stand Rodeo didn’t have the benefit of hindsight to know they were making the right call, but they did have an unproven opportunity to enhance their rodeo.
For The Breakaway Roping Journal, that the committee seized that opportunity and also decided to give breakaway ropers an equal shake from the get-go with equal pay is what makes the PRCA Last Stand Rodeo the very deserving recipient of the Boss Moves Cowgirl Catalyst Award.
To the PRCA Last Stand Rodeo, we congratulate you and thank you, sincerely.
About the Cowgirl Catalyst Awards:
Women in Rodeo Month 2023 marks the introduction of The Breakaway Roping Journal’s Cowgirl Catalyst Awards. Throughout the month, we will be announcing a total of five Cowgirl Catalyst Awards and their recipients. The awards are inspired by the Women in Rodeo Month sponsors—R. Watson Boots, Mane ‘n Tail and Resistol—who make it possible for The Breakaway Roping Journal, BarrelRacing.com, The Team Roping Journal and CalfRoping.com to dedicate a full month of coverage to the people and organizations behind the expansive growth in women’s rodeo and the Western industry.
About The Breakaway Roping Journal:
The Breakaway Roping Journal provides professional coverage of the athletes, horses, gear and events driving the exponential growth in the sport of breakaway. It is home to “The Breakaway Breakdown” podcast and a sister brand to The Team Roping Journal, BarrelRacing.com, CalfRoping.com, Roping.com and more under the ownership of Equine Network, which provides the equine community with best-in-class competitions, content, products and services.
About PRCA Last Stand Rodeo:
In 2023, PRCA Last Stand Rodeo hosted its 71st annual event, held Memorial Day Weekend in Coulee City, Washington. They operate within the Columbia River Circuit which, in 2014 and 2019, awarded Last Stand their Small Rodeo of the Year Award. Beginning in 2017, the PRCA has also recognized Last Stand as a Top 5 Finalist for PRCA Committee of the Year in the Small Rodeo Category on four occasions—2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
