Mandan was recognized in first place and most improved in the Badlands Circuit.
Mandan, ND — The Mandan Rodeo was honored by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) as the top spot in the 2023 Justin Best Footing Award Winners in the Badlands Circuit. Mandan Rodeo Days was also selected as the Most Improved in the award.
The award is determined by votes from WPRA membership and Circuit Directors. The WPRA is the oldest women’s sports organization in the country. The Mandan Rodeo barrel racing competition event was won by Ivy Saebens, one of the final contestants to compete during Slack on Sunday, July 1.
The awards come after the inaugural Mandan Rodeo at the new Dale Pahlke Arena in Mandan, a world-class rodeo arena that welcomed many of both the WPRA’s and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s (PRCA) best contestants for the first time in 2023.
“We’re incredibly honored that the WPRA acknowledged our rodeo for providing a safe and level playing field for barrel racing,” Heather Jacobson-Bauer, Chairwoman of Mandan Rodeo Days said. “It’s a testament to the hard work our committee members have put into making our permanent facility one of the best in the sport.”
The Mandan Rodeo will be recognized during the 2023 WPRA Star Celebration in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 7.
The Justin Best Footing Awards® program was created when Tom Feller, director of event marketing for Justin Brands, approached the WPRA about partnering on a program that would focus on the health and well being of the animal athlete. Not only does the program keep animal athletes performing at the top level, but it also recognizes the hard work and time rodeo committees put into making their ground as safe as possible for the barrel horse and all rodeo livestock.
Rodeos across the country are continuing to step up and either provided a hand rake or a tractor drag halfway through during their performances. As a result, there continues to be arena records set with the improved ground conditions allowing the horsepower in the WPRA to run at an elite level.
To read the full release, you can visit the official WPRA website here: https://www.wpra.com/wpra-announces-2023-justin-best-footing-award-winners/
