PRCA, WPRA Katie Schrock PRCA, WPRA Katie Schrock

Dona Kay Rule Test Positive for COVID-19 and is OUT of the 2020 NFR

(December 3, 2020) - Rumors broke early Thursday morning of Round 1 of the National Finals Rodeo. Barrel Racer Dona Kay Rule, who enters the NFR sitting in third place, roughly $19,000 behind leader Britany Pozzi Tonozzi, tested positive for COVID-19 and, per the supposed PRCA restrictions, will not be allowed to compete. The number 16 barrel racer, Jessie Telford, will be stepping up to round out the class.

(December 3, 2020) - Rumors broke early Thursday morning of Round 1 of the National Finals Rodeo. Barrel Racer Dona Kay Rule, who enters the NFR sitting in third place, roughly $19,000 behind leader Britany Pozzi Tonozzi, tested positive for COVID-19 and, per the supposed PRCA restrictions, will not be allowed to compete.

Posted at 10:45 am PST on Dona Kay Rules official instagram. Click to see more comments.

Posted at 10:45 am PST on Dona Kay Rules official instagram. Click to see more comments.

In a post on Instagram, Dona thanks fans for their support and to let us know that she feels healthy with zero symptoms. Called up is Jessie Telford of Idaho who was sitting #16 in the world standings. Here’s a post she made around 8:49 PST on Instagram. Click the link below to see more of the commentary.

Here’s the rumors we know:

  • All the contestants were required to take a test.

  • It’s known that if they test positive, they are out for the remainder of the NFR.

  • Random athletes will be tested each day of the NFR.

This poses a number of questions in regards to what is happening in the WPRA and PRCA for the NFR. An inconsistency across the board and lack of transparency to fans could prove detrimental during an event so many hoped to see happen.


Featured
Ep. 135 - Razieme Iborra’s Journey from Rural Ohio to NYU: The Making of a Western Creative Director
Ep. 135 - Razieme Iborra’s Journey from Rural Ohio to NYU: The Making of a Western Creative Director

Razieme “Raj” Iborra joins That Western Life for a compelling conversation about Western creative direction, brand identity, horses, Hollywood, rodeo media, and the future of cowboy culture. From rural Ohio to NYU Tisch, national commercial campaigns, documentary filmmaking, and life with horses in Los Angeles, Raj offers a sharp perspective on how Western brands can evolve without losing authenticity. This episode explores why the American West is not just a place, but a feeling—and why the industry’s next era will belong to those who can translate its values with creativity, respect, and precision.

Read more →
Ep. 134 - Food Systems, Community Power, and the New Face of Agriculture with Rizpah Bellard
Ep. 134 - Food Systems, Community Power, and the New Face of Agriculture with Rizpah Bellard

Rizpah Bellard of Nova Farming joins That Western Life for a powerful conversation about agriculture as a tool for education, food access, community development, and generational change.

Raised on a Black Angus cattle ranch in Northern California, Rizpah now works at the intersection of beef production, agriculture education, public health, housing, youth development, and global food systems. Through Nova Farming, she brings hands-on agriculture education into Fresno schools, helping students understand where their food comes from and what opportunities exist inside the agriculture industry.

This episode explores Black ranching, intentional succession planning, food procurement, community leadership, agricultural representation, and why the future of the western industry depends on exposing more people to the possibilities within agriculture.

Read more →
Ep. 133 - **THAT WESTERN PULSE** We Came Back. Here’s What Actually Worked and How YOU Can Use It Today to See Change!
Ep. 133 - **THAT WESTERN PULSE** We Came Back. Here’s What Actually Worked and How YOU Can Use It Today to See Change!

That Western Life is officially back, but what actually worked?

Katie, Kaycie and Taylie unpack the first month of the Season 7 relaunch, including unexpected social growth, 17 new leads, the content that sparked conversation and the lessons western businesses can apply to their own marketing.

The biggest takeaway? Getting attention is only the beginning. The real challenge is turning it into an audience—and building a system capable of sustaining the growth.

From social growth and podcast downloads to content strategy, audience behavior and 17 new leads, the team shares what they learned about rebuilding a dormant brand, creating content that earns attention and building systems that can sustain growth. Plus, practical takeaways for rodeos, ranches, associations and western creators looking to strengthen their own digital presence.

Read more →
Ep. 132 - Cattle Science, Ruminant Nutrition, and the Economics of Curiosity in Modern Agriculture with Dr. Emily Melchior of Zoetis
Ep. 132 - Cattle Science, Ruminant Nutrition, and the Economics of Curiosity in Modern Agriculture with Dr. Emily Melchior of Zoetis

Dr. Emily Melchior joins That Western Life to connect the dots between cattle science, ruminant nutrition, animal health, applied research, sustainability, and the future of agriculture. From growing up as a horse girl outside of agriculture to earning her PhD and supporting global cattle research, Emily brings a practical, grounded perspective on why healthy animals, curious producers, strong data, and open-minded leadership matter for the next generation of the Western industry.

Read more →
Ep. 131 - Rebuilding a Western Legacy with Adam Trenk of Genuine Billy Cook Saddles
Ep. 131 - Rebuilding a Western Legacy with Adam Trenk of Genuine Billy Cook Saddles

Western heritage is easy to romanticize.

But behind every legacy brand is a much harder story: ownership decisions, supply chains, skilled labor, production timelines, cash flow, customer trust, and the pressure to protect the name while still moving the business forward.

That is what makes Adam Trenk’s role with Genuine Billy Cook Saddles so interesting.

Billy Cook is not just another saddle brand. It carries history, craftsmanship, and deep credibility in the western industry. For generations, the name has meant something to horsemen, ranchers, rodeo competitors, and working cowboys.

Then came the tornado.

In April 2024, the Billy Cook facility was destroyed, forcing the company into one of the most difficult tests a heritage manufacturer can face: how do you rebuild without losing what made the brand matter in the first place?

Rebuilding a western brand is not simply about reopening doors. It is about protecting craft knowledge, honoring the customer base, stabilizing production, retaining credibility, and proving that legacy is not just something you inherit. It is something you have to earn again.

Adam Trenk’s story is a reminder that the future of the western industry will not be built only by new startups or flashy ideas. It will also be built by the people willing to preserve, repair, modernize, and fight for the businesses that already carry the culture forward.

Read more →
Ep. 130 - Making Ag Policy Understandable with Tori Teegarden
Ep. 130 - Making Ag Policy Understandable with Tori Teegarden

Tori Teegarden joins That Western Life to make agriculture policy approachable for rodeo, ranching, and western lifestyle audiences. From the Farm Bill and public lands to food production, local advocacy, federal agencies, and why Washington, D.C., needs more rodeo, this episode explains why policy matters and how everyday people in agriculture can get involved.

Read more →
Ep. 129 - **THAT WESTERN PULSE** An Inside Scoop of our July Goals, Strategies, & Tips
Ep. 129 - **THAT WESTERN PULSE** An Inside Scoop of our July Goals, Strategies, & Tips

That Western Life did not disappear because the podcast failed. It went quiet partly because it worked. Now, a three-woman team is rebuilding the platform in public, publishing its goals, testing its assumptions and examining whether a dormant Western media brand can become a sustainable business.

Read more →
Ep. 128 - From Rodeo to Agriculture, The Future of the Western Industry with Alex Russell of Syngenta
Ep. 128 - From Rodeo to Agriculture, The Future of the Western Industry with Alex Russell of Syngenta

Alex Russell joins That Western Life to talk about growing up in rodeo, how FFA shaped her future, building a career in agriculture with Syngenta, the role of crop protection and soybean seed care, and why the western industry needs both tradition and innovation. This episode is a practical and personal look at agriculture careers, rodeo roots, mentorship, food production, and the future of the western way of life.

Read more →
Ep. 127 - Jessie Jarvis of Of The West, Part II
Ep. 127 - Jessie Jarvis of Of The West, Part II

Jessie Jarvis of Of The West joins That Western Life to talk about western industry careers, ranching identity, agriculture, AI in marketing, professionalism, rodeo jobs, and what it takes to build a business rooted in trust. This conversation is a practical look at where the western industry is headed and how job seekers, employers, and rural businesses can prepare for what comes next.

Read more →
Season 7 is Back: What to expect, stories to share, and more!
Season 7 is Back: What to expect, stories to share, and more!

That Western Life is back for Season 7 with a renewed focus on rodeo, agriculture, ranching, western business, country culture, policy, media, and the people shaping the modern western industry. In this season preview, host Katie Schrock shares why the podcast is returning, what listeners can expect, and why the western world is not just having a moment — it is entering a new era.

Read more →
Read More