CPRA Header, Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association
Thursday July 24, 2008  
About the CPRA


THE COWBOYS PROFESSIONAL RODEO ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED IN 1992 BY A HANDFUL OF PRODUCERS AND CONTESTANTS. THE ASSOCIATION HELD ITS FIRST FINALS IN LUFKIN TEXAS AND CONTRIBUTED $25,000 IN ADDED MONEY TO ITS FIRST FINALS.

IN 1993 , THE ASSOCIATION GREW LARGER IN MEMBERSHIP, FINISHING OUT THE YEAR WITH 938 COMPETING MEMBERS FROM TEXAS, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA, AND MEXICO. AGAIN THE ASSOCIATION ADDED $25,000 TO THE FINALS HELD IN BAY CITY, TEXAS ALONG WITH MANY AWARDS TO OUR CONTESTANTS AND PRODUCERS.

IN 1994 , THE ASSOCIATION STARTED THE YEAR WITH 530 MEMBERS, THE LARGEST BEGINNING MEMBERSHIP IN ITS HISTORY. THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP EXCEEDED 900 MEMBERS. THE PRODUCER LIST EXPANDED, WITH THE TOP STOCK PRODUCERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE FINALS WERE HELD IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY EXPOSITION CENTER.

IN 1995 , THE ASSOCIATION GREW STRONGER AND GAINED THE TITLE OF "THE LARGEST RODEO ASSOCIATION IN TEXAS" WITH OVER 60 RODEOS THIS YEAR. THE FINALS RETURNED TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY EXPO CENTER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

IN 1996 , THE C.P.R.A. EXCEEDED ALL MEMBERSHIP RECORDS, WITH OVER 1,000 MEMBERS AND THE HIGHEST PAYING RODEOS IN THE STATE. THE FINALS WERE HELD IN GIDDINGS, TEXAS AT THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF POSSE ARENA. 1996 PROVED TO BE A HUGE SUCCESS, WITH RECORD PAYOFF'S TO THE CONTESTANTS AND RECORD CROWDS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE FINALS.

IN 1997 , C.P.R.A. BROKE ALL RECORDS WHEN THE MEMBERSHIP SOARED TO 1,186. THE FINALS RETURNED TO GIDDINGS, TEXAS AT THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF POSSE ARENA. THE ASSOCIATION BOOSTED THE ADDED MONEY TO $30,000 PROVING TO BE THE LARGEST YEAR EVER.

1998 WAS BRILLIANT, THE ASSOCIATION AGAIN BOOSTED THE ADDED MONEY FOR THE CONTESTANTS TO A WHOPPING $36,000 AND REWARDED THEM WITH OVER 125,000 IN AWARDS AND PRIZE MONEY. THE FINALS WERE HELD AT THE NACOGDOCHES COUNTY EXPO CENTER IN NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS. AFTER ONLY SEVEN SHORT YEARS IN EXISTENCE THE C.P.R.A. HAS SOARED PAST ALL EXPECTATIONS. THE 1998 FINALS WERE HELD AT THE GREAT SOUTHWEST EQUESTRIAN CENTER IN KATY, TEXAS. THE FINALS PROVED TO BE A GREAT SUCCESS WITH WONDERFUL CROWDS, VENDORS AND CONTESTANTS. AGAIN THE C.P.R.A. MAINTAINED THE $36,000 ADDED MONEY AND MANY WONDERFUL AWARDS FOR CONTESTANTS AND PRODUCERS ALIKE.

THE MILLENNIUM FINALS WERE HELD IN GIDDINGS, TEXAS AT THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFFS POSSE ARENA, AND SHATTERED THE PAYOUT RECORDED WITH A WHOPPING $50,000 ADDED MONEY FOR THE TOP CONTESTANTS. THE FINALS HOSTED THE TOP STOCK FROM SIX OF THE BEST STOCK PRODUCERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THIS WAS A RODEO THAT COULD NOT BE MISSED> WHAT A WAY TO START THE NEW CENTURY.

PROVING THE C.P.R.A. ENTERTAINS SOME OF THE TOUGHEST CONTESTANTS ANYWHERE, IT NOW BOAST THAT 26 OF THE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO QUALIFIERS OF 1999 ARE CURRENT OR PAST MEMBERS OF THE C.P.R.A. WHO HAVE WORKED THERE WAY TO THE HIGHEST RANKS IN THE WORLD.

THE 2001 FINALS RETURNED TO GIDIDNGS, TEXAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LEE COUNTY "GO TEXAS DAYS", AND PROVED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST.  THEN IN 2002 THE CPRA FINALS MOVED THE LONE STAR CONVENTION CENTER IN CONROE, TEXAS FOR PERFORMANCES ON NOVEMBER 22, 23 & 24.  ADDED MONEY FOR THE CONTESTANTS WAS RAISED TO $55,000 AND THE FINALS WERE A HUGH SUCCESS FOR EVERYONE FROM CONTESTANTS TO VENDORS.

2003 & 2004 FINALS WERE HELD IN KINDER, LOUISIANA, HOSTED BY THE GRAND CASINO COUSHATTA.  THE ADDED MONEY TOPPED ALL RECORDS AT $63,000 WITH  AWARDS TOTALING OVER $150,000 FOR THE CPRA FINALIST.

IN 2005, THE CPRA RETURNED TO TEXAS.  THE FINALS WERE HELD IN LIBERTY ON THE HEELS OF THE TRINITY VALLEY FAIR AND RODEO.  ONCE AGAIN, THE ADDED MONEY AND PAYOFF EXCEEDED $150,000 AND THE QUALITY OF THE CONTESTANTS AND STOCK WAS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.

ANGLETON, TEXAS WATCHED AS THE CPRA FINALIST, FAMILIES & FANS ROLLED INTO THEIR TOWN FOR THE 2006 FINALS HELD OCTOBER 12, 13 & 14.  HOSTED BY THE BRAZORIA COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION THE FINALS PROVED TO BE EASILY DESCRIBED AS "THE BEST EVER".  THE CONTESTANTS, SPURRED ON BY THE HUGH AND ELECTRIC CROWDS, PROVIDED EXCITEMENT AS NEVER BEFORE, AND THE STOCK PROVIDED BY THE TOP PRODUCERS IN THE STATE WERE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.  AND YES, AGAIN ADDED MONEY AND AWARDS TOTALED OVER $150,000.

AND IN 2007, WITH PERFORMANCES SCEHDULED OCTOBER 12, 13 & 14, CPRA IS HEADED BACK TO ANGLETON.