Not all ProRodeo circuits are created equal, but with just six weeks left for WPRA barrel racers to secure their position in one of 13 circuit finals, we put our calculators to work to find out which circuit is offering cowgirls the most bang for their buck in 2023.

Athletes have to run at a minimum number of rodeos to qualify for their respective circuit finals (see 40% rule), not just win the most money in their circuit, so each contestant that commits to qualifying for a circuit finals, and ultimately a chance to head to the all-circuit finals, currently the NFR Open in Colorado Springs.

But it begs the question: are the circuits proving to be profitable for cowgirls? And if so, which circuits are offering barrel racers the highest return on investment?

Texas Circuit: The Mowry Effect

The circuit that came in No. 1 for average money earned per rodeo was the Texas Circuit, with $135,839.31 earned by the top 12 in the standings as of August 16, 2023 across 274 rodeo entries, or an average of $754.53 per rodeo. It’s not the star-studded lineup of barrel racers in the standings, or an excessive amount of money added to many of the circuit’s rodeos that may have helped raise the numbers, however: it’s Kassie Mowry.

Mowry is currently seated No. 2 in the circuit with $26,201.82 earned across just five rodeos, giving her an average of $5,240.36 per rodeo. The next highest in the list is world champion Lindsay Sears, who is seated No. 6 with $15,374.37 earned across nine rodeos, or an average of $1,708.26. The remaining cowgirls in the circuit range from $304.02 per rodeo, to $965.17.

First Frontier Plight

The First Frontier Circuit is running at a relative disadvantage in 2023, with their highest-money added rodeo of the year—The Allegheny Mountain Championship Rodeo in Kellettville, Pennsylvania— boasting added money of $2,500. That’s a drop in the well compared to circuits like the Mountain States, which includes the Cheyenne Frontier Days, or Wilderness Circuit, which just boasted rodeos like the Snake River Stampede. In the Northeastern territory of the United States, the top 12 barrel racers accumulated $38,064.06 so far on the regular season with 157 rodeo entries, giving them an average of just $242.45 per rodeo. The No. 2 cowgirl, Brooke Klinger boasts the highest average earnings per rodeo in the top 12, with $4,915.27 earned across 11 rodeos, or an average of $446.84 per run, while No. 11 lady, Dawn Powell has the lowest average earnings with $1,731.60 won between 11 rodeos, or $157.42 on average.

Here’s how the dollars are stacking up in all 13 circuits.

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WPRA Rulebook Spotlight: The 40% 15 Rule

8.8.2. Forty Percent (40%) 15 Rule

8.8.2.1. In order to satisfy the 40%/15 rule, a contestant must comply with the following:
1.) If the contestant’s principal place of residence is within her designated circuit, said contestant must compete in either 40% of the rodeos within that circuit (based on the total number of rodeos during the previous rodeo year which held the particular event for which the contestant seeks to become a CR contestant) or 15 rodeos with that event within the circuit, whichever is less or;

2.) If the contestant’s principal place of residence is not within her designated circuit, said contestant must compete in either 40% of the rodeos within the circuit (based on the total number of rodeos during the previous year which held the particular event for which the contestant seeks to become a CR contestant) or 15 rodeos with that event within the circuit, whichever is greater (pro- vided that, if there are less that 15 rodeos with a particu- lar event in a circuit during a rodeo year a nonresident must satisfy this rule if she competes in 100% of the rodeos with that particular event in the circuit during that rodeo year). At a Director’s discretion it may go up to 60%.

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Badlands

Total money earned: $98,631.16

Total rodeos: 150

Average earnings per rodeo: $657.54

	Athlete	Hometown	Earnings	# of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Jessica Routier	Buffalo, SD	$16,973.48	13	$1,305.65
2	Hallie Fulton	Miller, SD	$14,304.44	17	$841.44
3	Lisa Lockhart (G)	Oelrichs, SD	$9,859.22	8	$1,232.40
4	Lakken Bice	Killdeer, ND	$9,483.92	17	$557.88
5	Taylor Hanson	St Onge, SD	$7,096.80	14	$506.91
6	Nicole Bice	Killdeer, ND	$6,907.55	17	$406.33
7	Fonda Melby	Backus, MN	$6,839.57	10	$683.96
8	Molly Otto	Grand Forks, ND	$6,443.96	10	$644.40
9	Allene Nelson	Grassy Butte, ND	$5,350.48	9	$594.50
10	McKenzie Jendersee	Box Elder, SD	$5,295.21	9	$588.36
11	Bobbi Olson	Sheyenne, ND	$5,071.00	11	$461.00
12	Alyssa Gabrielson	Gary, SD	$5,005.53	15	$333.70

California

Total money earned: $135,997.30

Total rodeos: 203

Average earnings per rodeo: $669.94

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Kathy Petska (G)	Turlock, CA	$25,650.34	18	$1,425.02
2	Payton Schoeppach	Lincoln, CA	$18,516.27	11	$1,683.30
3	Hayle Gibson	Redcrest, CA	$15,561.35	11	$1,414.67
4	Tonia Forsberg	Fillmore, CA	$12,723.19	24	$530.13
5	Shelby Bates	Loomis, CA	$12,513.28	21	$595.87
6	Shelley Holman (G)	Brentwood, CA	$10,068.73	17	$592.28
7	Miley Bravos (R)	Red Bluff, CA	$8,325.49	12	$693.79
8	Kaillee Hamre	Gerber, CA	$8,146.10	22	$370.28
9	Sheena Robbins	Fresno, CA	$7,660.15	18	$425.56
10	Kay Cochran	Lincoln, CA	$5,841.95	9	$649.11
11	Taylor Arakelian	Clovis, CA	$5,682.90	21	$270.61
12	Maren Powers (R)	Occidental, CA	$5,307.55	19	$279.34

Columbia River

Total money earned: $115,524.37

Total rodeos: 176

Average earnings per rodeo: $656.39

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Pamela Capper-Coker	Cheney, WA	$14,498.79	21	$690.42
2	Rachelle Riggers	Lewiston, ID	$14,322.31	11	$1,302.03
3	Megan McLeod-Sprague	Marsing, ID	$13,502.16	11	$1,227.47
4	Lindsey Ham	Cheney, WA	$12,191.57	21	$580.55
5	Sharon Gow	Roseburg, OR	$10,313.28	13	$793.33
6	Mary Shae Thomas	Hermiston, OR	$8,909.64	12	$742.47
7	Kacey Gartner	Walla Walla, WA	$8,829.83	14	$630.70
8	Julia Johnson (R)	Tenino, WA	$8,463.68	16	$528.98
9	Cheyenne Allan	Mabton, WA	$6,928.70	17	$407.57
10	Kaycie Kayser	Ellensburg, WA	$6,400.26	17	$376.49
11	Karen Gleason	Touchet, WA	$5,669.38	18	$314.97
12	Jimi Jones	Toppenish, WA	$5,494.77	5	$1,098.95

First Frontier

Total money earned: $38,064.06

Total rodeos: 157

Average earnings per rodeo: $242.45

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Jodi Lyn Colton	Uniontown, PA	$7,338.61	21	$349.46
2	Brooke Klinger	Andover, NJ	$4,915.27	11	$446.84
3	Jaime Fowler	Henderson, MD	$4,334.53	12	$361.21
4	Ali Montgomery (R)	Linwood, NJ	$3,929.18	20	$196.46
5	Madison Ann Iager	Woodbine, MD	$3,122.31	15	$208.15
6	Kerri Frazier	South Easton, MA	$2,705.19	13	$208.09
7	April Masterson	Lincoln, VT	$2,674.48	8	$334.31
8	Karissa Landis (R)	Middleburg, PA	$2,022.98	18	$112.39
9	Samantha Vallone	Balltson Spa, NY	$1,848.74	12	$154.06
10	Beth Ann Borowy (G)	Walnut Bottom, PA	$1,758.68	11	$159.88
11	Dawn Powell	Dansville, NY	$1,731.60	11	$157.42
12	Christina Mulford	Franklinville, NJ	$1,682.49	5	$336.50

Great Lakes

Total money earned: $103,199.15

Total rodeos: 212

Average earnings per rodeo: $486.79

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Lacinda Rose	Willard, MO	$14,150.33	16	$884.40
2	Kricket Gintner	Eau Claire, WI	$12,601.46	17	$741.26
3	Jamie Lenzner	Wausau, WI	$12,184.56	23	$529.76
4	Ronda Casey	Plymouth, IN	$11,019.40	20	$550.97
5	Austyn Tobey	Bemidji, MN	$9,518.00	13	$732.15
6	Ashley Peterson	Birnamwood, WI	$7,732.43	6	$1,288.74
7	Caitlyn Clair	Carlisle, IA	$6,572.66	21	$312.98
8	Tasia Behnke (R)	Muscatine, IA	$6,182.95	14	$441.64
9	Katie Sowada (R)	Avon, MN	$6,136.57	27	$227.28
10	Nikki Singler	Ashland, WI	$6,090.67	16	$380.67
11	Sissy Warren	Glenwood, IA	$5,717.03	21	$272.24
12	Lucy Ferch (R)	Hamlet, IN	$5,293.09	18	$294.06

Maple Leaf

Total money earned: $84,003.86

Total rodeos: 179

Average earnings per rodeo: $469.30

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Lynette Brodoway	Brooks, AB	$14,011.29	18	$778.41
2	Brooke Wills	Arras, BC	$10,737.22	16	$671.08
3	Bertina Olafson	Hudson Bay, SK	$7,614.06	10	$761.41
4	Traci MacDonald	Erskine, AB	$6,720.61	16	$420.04
5	Kirby Penttila	Calgary, AB	$6,201.78	8	$775.22
6	Lakota Bird	Nanton, AB	$5,998.94	19	$315.73
7	Kyla Simmons	Airdrie, AB	$5,668.41	19	$298.34
8	Jennifer Neudorf	Bluffton, AB	$5,645.55	10	$564.56
9	Taylor Manning	Yellowhead County, AB	$5,612.27	17	$330.13
10	Karli Cowie (R)	Mankota, SK	$5,326.15	13	$409.70
11	Shelby Spielman	Ponoka, AB	$5,316.28	16	$332.27
12	Bradi Whiteside	Longview, AB	$5,151.30	17	$303.02

Montana

Total money earned: $102,458.82

Total rodeos: 156

Average earnings per rodeo: $656.79

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Tayla Moeykens	Three Forks, MT	$12,542.07	17	$737.77
2	Ashley Day	Volborg, MT	$12,239.80	12	$1,019.98
3	Hailey Garrison	Glen, MT	$12,128.34	19	$638.33
4	Abigail Knight	Charlo, MT	$11,029.75	14	$787.84
5	Hannah Sharon	Dillon, MT	$8,877.05	10	$887.71
6	Heather Crowley	Poplar, MT	$8,546.10	13	$657.39
7	Brittney Sporer	Stephenville, TX	$8,455.95	17	$497.41
8	Tammy Carpenter	Kalispell, MT	$8,234.31	14	$588.17
9	Allie Novotny	Helena, MT	$7,957.28	10	$795.73
10	Sabra O’Quinn (G)	Bozeman, MT	$4,440.55	7	$634.36
11	Casey Wagner	Park City, MT	$4,172.98	12	$347.75
12	Tia Murphy	Cut Bank, MT	$3,834.64	11	$348.60

Mountain States

Total money earned: $106,675.07

Total rodeos: 205

Average earnings per rodeo: $520.37

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi	Lampasas, TX	$27,510.98	16	$1,719.44
2	Kelly Yates (G)	Pueblo, CO	$10,220.61	16	$638.79
3	Sage Kohr (R)	Laramie, WY	$9,941.48	18	$552.30
4	Shali Lord	Lamar, CO	$9,552.27	20	$477.61
5	Kim Schulze	Larkspur, CO	$8,332.30	13	$640.95
6	Karson Bradley	Big Piney, WY	$6,919.12	13	$532.24
7	Chris Gibson (G)	Windsor, CO	$6,746.74	23	$293.34
8	Sydni Blanchard	Pueblo, CO	$6,374.89	10	$637.49
9	Heidi Tillard	Douglas, WY	$5,657.32	24	$235.72
10	Taryn Boxleitner	Loveland, CO	$5,507.14	23	$239.44
11	Nicole Waggoner-Ludwick	Pueblo West, CO	$5,033.12	14	$359.51
12	Andrea Busby	Millsap, TX	$4,879.10	15	$325.27

Prairie

Total money earned: $91,398.51

Total rodeos: 162

Average earnings per rodeo: $564.19

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Emily Beisel	Weatherford, OK	$12,302.43	14	$878.75
2	Wenda Johnson	Pawhuska, OK	$11,280.46	7	$1,611.49
3	Ivy Hurst	Springer, OK	$8,793.87	15	$586.26
4	Leslie Smalygo	Skiatook, OK	$8,296.48	10	$829.65
5	Ivy Saebens	Nowata, OK	$7,942.56	12	$661.88
6	Tracy Nowlin	Nowata, OK	$7,724.58	13	$594.20
7	Emily Griffin	Saint George, KS	$7,376.70	15	$491.78
8	Paige Jones	Wayne, OK	$6,757.96	8	$844.75
9	Andrea Haden	Bentonville, AR	$5,540.58	20	$277.03
10	Michelle Darling	Medford, OK	$5,383.24	16	$336.45
11	Emma Charleston	Reeds, MO	$5,354.76	18	$297.49
12	Timber Allenbrand	Paola, KS	$4,644.89	14	$331.78

Southeastern

Total money earned: $135,839.31

Total rodeos: 245

Average earnings per rodeo: $554.45

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Margo Crowther	North Fort Myers, FL	$16,878.98	11	$1,534.45
2	Nicole Love	Morton, MS	$16,443.25	14	$1,174.52
3	Erin Wetzel	Plant City, FL	$14,499.92	31	$467.74
4	Taylor Carver	Broxton, GA	$12,991.50	15	$866.10
5	Kristin Hanchey	Okeechobee, FL	$12,389.04	18	$688.28
6	Chloe Gray	Yatesville, GA	$11,537.12	17	$678.65
7	Ashley Parks	Dania Beach, FL	$11,460.64	29	$395.19
8	Sarah Rose Waguespack	Gonzales, LA	$9,210.47	14	$657.89
9	Cindy Patrick	Brooksville, FL	$8,642.25	13	$664.79
10	Dallas Sawczak	Southwest Ranches, FL	$7,988.24	40	$199.71
11	Ashley Rogers	Amite, LA	$7,692.42	19	$404.86
12	Emilee Jackson	Newberry, FL	$6,105.48	24	$254.40

Texas

Total money earned: $206,742.55

Total rodeos: 274

Average earnings per rodeo: $754.53

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Kelly Allen	Stephenville, TX	$30,791.05	38	$810.29
2	Kassie Mowry	Dublin, TX	$26,201.82	5	$5,240.36
3	Jimmie Smith	McDade, TX	$22,640.73	28	$808.60
4	Keyla Costa	Tolar, TX	$18,433.81	33	$558.60
5	Stephanie Fryar	Waco, TX	$17,921.01	27	$663.74
6	Lindsay Sears	Lipan, TX	$15,374.37	9	$1,708.26
7	Hailey Kinsel	Cotulla, TX	$14,477.53	15	$965.17
8	Ilyssa Riley	Hico, TX	$13,788.73	21	$656.61
9	Jackie Ganter	Abilene, TX	$13,310.68	16	$831.92
10	Natalie Bland	Boyd, TX	$13,290.76	34	$390.90
11	Jamie Olsen	Brock, TX	$10,640.77	35	$304.02
12	Sydney Graham	Abilene, TX	$9,871.29	13	$759.33

Turquoise

Total money earned: $75,316.79

Total rodeos: 106

Average earnings per rodeo: $710.54

Athlete	Hometown	Hometown	Earnings	No. of rodeos entered	Average earnings per rodeo
1	Tara Seaton	Winslow, AZ	$16,452.93	14	$1,175.21
2	Doskie Edwards	Casa Grande, AZ	$10,410.46	12	$867.54
3	Casey Mathis	Queen Creek, AZ	$9,535.80	8	$1,191.98
4	Sarah Kieckhefer (G)	Prescott, AZ	$7,249.26	10	$724.93
5	Cindy Smith (G)	Lovington, NM	$6,191.48	11	$562.86
6	Sabrina Ketcham (G)	Yeso, NM	$4,904.90	6	$817.48
7	Lisa Anderson (G)	Tularosa, NM	$4,188.73	12	$349.06
8	Madison Bean	Lubbock, TX	$3,828.52	7	$546.93
9	Jordan Kircher	Dewey, AZ	$3,767.15	5	$753.43
10	Kortni McConnell	Los Alamos, NM	$3,356.37	10	$335.64
11	Halle DeWitt	Rio Rico, AZ	$2,752.95	8	$344.12
12	Quincy Sullivan (R)	Peralta, NM	$2,678.24	3	$892.75

Wilderness

Total money earned: $135,559.91

Total rodeos: 190

Average earnings per rodeo: $713.47

1	Sue Smith (G)	Blackfoot, ID	$45,199.75	18	$2,511.10
2	Meka Farr	Honeyville, UT	$13,147.67	14	$939.12
3	Haylee Moosman Woodward	Morgan, UT	$9,805.59	17	$576.80
4	Marcie Wilson	Lake Shore, UT	$9,288.13	16	$580.51
5	Lauren Butler	Payson, UT	$8,903.62	20	$445.18
6	Savannah Bennett	Salmon, ID	$8,750.17	15	$583.34
7	Amanda Butler	Payson, UT	$7,220.72	19	$380.04
8	Italy Sheehan	Shoshone, ID	$6,899.40	15	$459.96
9	Terri Wood Gates (G)	West Jordan, UT	$6,894.56	14	$492.47
10	Jennifer Kalafatic	Caldwell, ID	$6,710.47	13	$516.19
11	Macee McAllister	St. George, UT	$6,535.23	16	$408.45
12	Abby Phillips	Marshall, TX	$6,204.60	13	$477.28