NRCHA Board of Directors Make Major Increases to Payouts, Finals Berths in 2022

ville, Georgia.

Robert A. “Bob” Funk was raised in Duvall, Washington where he grew up working on a family-owned dairy farm. The dairy is what started his love for farming and livestock. However, when he tried purchasing the dairy, his family encouraged him to attend college and pursue a career off the farm.

Funk graduated from Seattle Pacific University (SPU) with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and theology. He continued his graduate studies at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and received his master’s degree in business administration and theology from SPU. He holds three honorary degrees: an honorary doctor of public service from his alma mater Seattle Pacific University awarded in 1995; an honorary doctor of law presented by Oklahoma Baptist University in 2000; and an honorary doctor of law presented by Southern Nazarene University in 2001.

Following college, Funk started at ACME Personnel, a Washington-based staffing company where he was then transferred to Oklahoma. He climbed to rank of first vice president of that firm before co-founding Express Employment Professionals in 1983. During his time in Oklahoma, his love for cattle persisted as he purchased his first herd in the late ‘80s.

Fast forward to 1996, Funk and Jarold Callahan purchased their first Angus herd which impacted the trajectory of Express Ranches, with locations in Oklahoma and New Mexico. Twenty-five years later, Funk has built one of the largest seedstock operations in the United States while simultaneously being involved in all other facets of the beef production business.

Funk is actively involved in the community and gives back in a big way. He currently serves on several committees and previously served as chairman of the board of directors for the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum where he personally contributed $5 million. He is a Board member of the American Staffing Association, former chairman of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and current chairman of the Oklahoma Youth Expo. He named the Rodeo Gallery at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and has personally contributed $6.5 million to the Oklahoma Youth Expo; Express Ranches has contributed more than $4 million in scholarships to OYE.

Funk is also a strong supporter of America’s Sport – Rodeo. He has sponsored nationally saddle bronc (and now bull) riding families like the Etbauers of Oklahoma and the Wrights of Utah. The competitive spirit of these folks have made the Express Ranches the most visible of sponsors on the rodeo trail.

Beyond the cattle business, Funk strongly believes in the next generation of agriculturists. This prompted the creation of the Express Scholarship Program where over $3 million have been awarded to America’s youth.

Bob‘s favorite quote: “You are only as successful as the last person you helped.” ▫

NRCHA Board of Directors Makes Major Increases to Payouts, Finals Berths in 2022

Following a highly successful year where membership and participation in reined cow horse increased exponentially, the National Reined Cow Horse Association Board of Directors voted to increase 2022 premier event payouts and offer more finals event berths for competitors.

The 2022 premier event shows start off with the Kalpowar Quarter Horses Celebration of Champions, where the Hashtags’ / Western Bloodstock LTD. World’s Greatest Horseman event shines a light on the versatility of NRCHA riders and all-around bridle horses. The champion’s purse doubles to $100,000 in 2022, with the addition of support from Western Bloodstock. On top of this, a more-than matching commitment of an additional $62,000 added from the NRCHA Board of Directors ensures a bigger payout for finalists from reserve on. Additionally, instead of the Top 10 being brought back for the ticketed World’s Greatest Horseman Finals, the Top 15 will ride for the prize. With the added purse, the NRCHA Board commits that those finishing 11th through 15th will earn at least $7,500. On top of this, the Tres Osos Cow Horse Derby will pay $30,000 to the Open champion.

At the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes, held March 25-April 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Derby event will pay $50,000 to the Open champion in 2022, and the finalists riding for that prize increase from Top 20 to Top 25, plus ties, with places 21-25 earning at least $2,500. Also at the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes, the Non Pro Derby purse will pay $10,000 to the winner, an increase over the 2021 purse of approximately $8,000, with a $3,000 prize for the Level 1 Non Pro Derby winner (formerly the Amateur division).

When the action begins at the DT Horses Western Derby June 1-12 in Scottsdale, Arizona, competitors in the Open Derby will ride for $50,000, a $10,000 increase over the 2021 purse. Instead of 20 riders, now there will be 25 finalists for that limited age event. Like the Stakes, the finalists placing 21st25th will earn at least $2,500. The Non Pro Derby purse will pay $10,000 to the winner, with a $3,000 prize for the Level 1 Non Pro Derby winner.

The ever-growing and youngest premier event, the Dom Conicelli Memorial Eastern Derby, presented by Mars Equestrian™, will also see an increase in the limited age event purses that reflects the growth in entries at the show. The Open Derby will now pay $20,000 for the champion and the last four horse and rider teams placing in the Open Derby will earn at least $1,750. The Non Pro Derby will pay $5,000 to the champion, an increase over the 2021 purse, which paid approximately $3,300.

The near-record high entries in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity®, presented by Metallic Cat, proved that the reined cow horse industry is still on a positive upward swing. In 2022 the NRCHA Board has committed that the purse for the Open champion will increase from $125,000 to $200,000, with the increase to 30 finalists plus ties implemented at the 2021 event still in place. In 2022 the bottom placing horse and rider Open finalist teams are now guaranteed $10,000 in the limited age event. The Board has also emphasized the importance of NRCHA’s Non Pro riders, and in 2022 the Non Pro Futurity champion will earn $40,000 with the bottom placing finalists earning at least $2,000; the Level 1 Non Pro Futurity will pay at least $7,500 and the Non Pro Boxing Futurity (formerly Non Pro Limited) will pay at least $7,500 to the winner. ▫