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Barrel Racing

The Complete List of WPRA Resistol Rookie of the Year Barrel Racers

Makenzie Mayes ProRodeo barrel racing
BarrelRacing.comJul 7, 2025

Meet the entire roster of Resistol Rookie of the year award recipients in the barrel racing in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.

The prestigious Resistol Rookie of the Year title is awarded at the close of the WPRA season and presented during the National Finals Rodeo to the barrel racer who wins the most money that year and is a first-year cardholder in the WPRA.

WPRA Resistol Rookie of the Year winners

2025: Makenzie Mayes

Makenzie Mayes gets the win at Kennewick, WA. | Roseanna Sales Photo
Makenzie Mayes gets the win at Kennewick, WA. | Roseanna Sales Photo

2024: Oceane Veilleux

Oceane Veilleux barrel racing
Oceane Veilleux | Phil Kitts/Avid Visual Imagery

2023: Kalli McCall

Kalli McCall competing in barrel racing in Cowtown Coliseum.
Kalli McCall and “Mohawk,” winning the Resistol Rookie Roundup in 2023. Image by Roseanna Sales.

2022 Bayleigh Choate

Choate qualified for the 2022 NFR and broke the rookie season earnings record with $182,970.62 on the year.

Bayleigh Choate turns a barrel at the 2022 NFR.
2022 Resistol Rookie of the Year Bayleigh Choate at the 2022 NFR. Image b Ric Andersen/CBarC Photography.

2021 Kylee Scribner

Kylee Scribner at Woodward okahoma barrel racing
Kylee Scribner | Phil Kitts/Avid Visual Imagery


2020 Paige Jones

Paige Jones Barrel Racing
Paige Jones. Phil Kitts/Avid Visual Imagery.


2019 Carly Taylor
2018 Jimmie Smith

Jimmie Smith barrel racing in Denver.
Jimmie Smith-Tew got the win at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in 2022. Image by Ric Andersen/CBarC Photography.


2017 Taci Bettis
2016 Cayla (Melby) Small

Cayla Melby Small at the NFR
Cayla Melby Small | Hubbell Rodeo Photos

2015 Jackie Ganter

Jackie Ganter barrel racing on her horse Tycoon in Fort Worth.
Jackie Ganter wins the 2023 FWSSR with a 16.30-second run on Howes A Tycoon. FWSSR photo by James Phifer.


2014 Sarah Rose McDonald

Barrel racer in a pink shirt and white cowboy hat turns a roan horse tightly around a Coors barrel in an indoor arena

2013 Taylor Jacob

Not only is Jacob (Hanchey) a former Resistol Rookie of the Year and NFR qualifying barrel racer, Jacob (now Hanchey) is the first and only woman who also qualified for the National Finals of Breakaway Roping and has made multiple trips.

Taylor Jacob Hanchey Barrel Racing
Hubbell Rodeo Photos

Taylor Jacob Hanchey breakaway roping
Robert Rosales Photography


2012 Emily Efurd

Emily Efurd barrel racing
Emily Efurd now stays focused on the futurity realm, rather than rodeo. She and Hyper By Design won the second round and aggregate at the 2023 Ruby Buckle West Race. Image by Lexi Smith Media.


2011 Lee Ann Rust
2010 Lindsey Ewing
2009 Kelli Tolbert
2008 Sydni Blanchard

Sydni Blanchard barrel racing
Sydni Blanchard. Hubbell Rodeo Photos


2007 Julie Erkamaa
2006 Audrey Ridgeway

2005 Chani Payne
2004 Sabrina Lay

2003 Brittany Pozzi

Brittany Pozzi (now Tonozzi) is in the history books as the first and only barrel racer to enter the National Finals Rodeo in the No. 1 position as a barrel racing rookie in the WPRA in 2003.

Brittany Pozzi and Duke
Brittany Pozzi and the great Yeah Hes Firen. Hubbell Rodeo Images.

2002 Jill Besplug
2001 Connie Morris

2000 Gloria Freeman

1999 Jodi Hollingworth

1998 Shelle Shaw

1997 Peyton Raney
1996 Trula Truitt
1995 Ramona Scott
1994 Mindy Schueneman

1993 JoAnn Middleton

1992 Sharon Smith

1991 Donna Kennedy
1990 Melody Smith
1989 Charlotte Schmidt

1988 Vana Beissinger


1987 Lana Merrick-Hemsted

1986 Laura Farley

1985 Tacy Cates-Johnson

1984 Charmayne James

Charmayne James and Scamper
Charmayne James sporting the No. 1 back number at the 1987 NFR. | Courtesy WPRA by Springer Photography

1983 Sherry Elms
1982 Kathy Spears
1981 Lee Ann Guilkey

1980 Wanda Cagliari
1979 Lynn Manning-Flynn

1978 Carol Goostree

1977 Jackie Jo Perrin

1976 Darla Higgins

1975 Lynne Mayes

1974 Colette Graves-Baier

1973 Cheryl Luman

1972 Jann Kremling

1971 Martha Tompkins- Wright
1970 Joleen Hurst Steiner

1969 Lee Natalie
1968 Ann Lewis


1967 Patti Mack-Prather

This article was originally published on BarrelRacing.com — Athletes. View original article →

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