The Eastern Chapter of the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (ECWPRA) is the oldest local chapter of our national association, the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). This non-profit organization covers the region known as the First Frontier Circuit, a fourteen state geographic region that extends from Maine through West Virginia. Our goal as an organization is to expand our membership and promote the sport of barrel racing in a positive and professional manner.

ECWPRA members consist of both WPRA national Card holders and national Permit holders. The members are grouped into two divisions,

Top Ten Division, comprised of WPRA Card holders

Permit Division, comprised of WPRA Permit holders

Members compete throughout the rodeo season within their respective division for points awarded at each WPRA sanctioned Rodeo and Divisional Tour. By dividing members into these two divisions, competition for year-end awards is more evenly matched.

Top Ten Division members are awarded money points equivalent to actual dollars won. For example, if a Top Ten Division member won first place at a WPRA Rodeo, which paid $500 for winning first place, that member would receive 500 money points. If Top Ten Division members do not win actual dollars at an WPRA Rodeo or Divisional Tour, they do not receive any money points. The number of places awarded money points is equivalent to the number of places paid by the WPRA Rodeo or Divisional Tour.

Permit Division members are awarded permit points equivalent to the actual dollars paid, according to their ranking among other ECWPRA Permit Division members competing in the event. For example, the Permit Division member who has the fastest time, compared with the other Permit Division members, will be awarded first place points. The amount of points she will receive will be equivalent to the actual dollar amount that was paid to the first place winner of the event. So, if the WPRA Rodeo paid $500 to the first place winner, than the first place Permit Division member would receive 500 permit points. Permit points are awarded regardless of whether actual dollars were won by the Permit Division member. The number of places awarded permit points is equivalent to the number of places paid by the WPRA Rodeo or Divisional Tour.

The ECWPRA holds fund-raising events, such as Open Jackpots and WPRA Divisional Tours, throughout the rodeo season, to fund the ECWPRA Finals and to purchase Year-end Awards.

The ECWPRA Finals is held in the Fall, following the regular ECWPRA season. The top 12 members in each division qualify to compete in the Finals.

The top 10 members in each division, determined after the ECWPRA Finals, will receive Year-end Awards.

The goals for the Year-end Awards, at a minimum, are:

2 Trophy Saddles (1 awarded to the Champion of each division)
20 Trophy Buckles (Awarded to the top 10 in each division)
20 Monogrammed Jackets (Awarded to the top 10 in each division)
BACKGROUND