In 2026 Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) celebrates its 82nd year in professional rodeo & continues to grow in size and scale, with regional communities and groups across QLD, NSW, VIC, SA & TAS.
The Association oversees professional rodeo in Australia and serves as the national governing body alongside committees that run 100+ affiliated events annually, across six regional circuits around Australia. APRA-affiliated rodeos continue to increase, alongside the Association’s permanent member-base and competitor & spectator numbers.
The professional season ends at the Association’s pinnacle event, the annual APRA ARIAT National Finals Rodeo & in 2026 will be held at White Park, Scone NSW 29-31 October.
The event will host the BEST in Australian Rodeo, with four rounds over three days, live-streamed & broadcasted. Plus on-site traders with leading local & national country retailers, after party ENTERTAINMENT featuring Australia’s top country music, bar & catering AND so much more!!
How will you be involved?
Email: apra@prorodeo.com.au
Organiser: Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA)
Event: APRA 2026 ARIAT National Finals Rodeo (NFR)
Location: White Park Equine Complex
Address: Kingdon Street, Scone, NSW
Date: 29-31 October 2026
Tickets: Coming mid-2026
Camping: On Site Camping available mid-2026
Camping passes are purchased as a site (not per person) separately through White Park’s booking platform. Please ensure when booking camping to select the event as: Australian Professional Rodeo – National Finals – Spectator Camping (27/11/2025-30/11/2025). Camping at White Park for the Ariat NFR is subject to the Upper Hunter Shire Council White Park Camping Terms and Conditions, which you will find here.
Partner with the best in professional rodeo for the APRA 2026 Ariat National Finals Rodeo!
APRA Partnerships offer opportunities for businesses to:
*Align your business with an elite rural sporting event
*Highlight your brand and increase visibility
*Connect with an engaged rural and regional audience of competitors and rodeo fans.
Interested? For more information or to chat about sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to Abbie Smith: abbie@prorodeo.com.au
Please submit the form below for consideration, including your quote. If you’re interested in the Back Number Ceremony as well, please quote that as a separate line item.
Please note, we require all APRA 2026 Ariat NFR Media to be APRA-Accredited, so if you aren’t already, you must be willing to do so before the Ariat National Finals Rodeo.
APRA 2025 Ariat National Finals Rodeo, White Park Equine Complex, Scone 29-31 October, 2026.
The APRA 2025 Ariat NFR is the pinnacle event of the rodeo calendar hosted by APRA each year, to determine the Australian Champions. This will involve a team of photographers and videographers, to highlight and promote the event, during and post event across digital and traditional platforms.
Licensing requirements
APRA requires all photography and final video files to be shared with APRA via Dropbox within the agreed timeframes.
APRA also requires a selection of NFR imagery and video to have an extended license, quantity to be discussed based on position. The extended license is to allow APRA to share selected imagery/video with sponsors within the scope of sponsorship agreements. APRA is open to discuss the usage requirements to share imagery/video with sponsors, including no additional editing, providing credits for use and similar.
Output requirements
The below is an overview of the outputs anticipated from the APRA 2026 Ariat NFR, to be captured across the media team.
SOCIAL OUTPUTS
-Wednesday – Back Number Ceremony:
-1 x carousel post
-2-3 x reels/TT (1 being a wrap up and 1 x Buckles) and great if we can get;
-a few stories in the mix too.
-Thursday:
-1 x carousel post
-2-3 x reels/TT (1 being a daily wrap up) and great if we can get
-a few stories in the mix too.
Also an opportunity to capture content for sharing Friday/Saturday/after the event.
-Friday:
-1 x carousel post
-4-6 x reels/TT (1 being a daily wrap up)
-5-10 non-reshare stories with a mix of images and video.
-Saturday:
-1 x carousel post,
-8-9 x reels/TT (1 being a daily wrap up, 1 about traders and 1 being the evening grand entry)
-5-10 non-reshare stories with a mix of images and video.
-1 x Post for Saturday Night Australian Champion Presentation.
NFR Media Team Roles
BACK NUMBER CEREMONY Photographer/Videographer
Coverage of the Wednesday evening Back Number Ceremony, including:
-Approx. 40 x images of the Buckles and Saddles being given out
– Approx. 120 x individual shots of competitors receiving back numbers
-Rookie and Pro Tour Champions with their Buckles/Saddles for Rookie Cowboy and Cowgirl of the Year
-Families, friends and groups wanting photographs
Our aim is that this will be an add on role for one of our main event team.
ARENA ACTION Photographer
Coverage of shots of each competitor (where possible) in each round of the NFR.
Minimum Photography needed:
–1 to 3 x every competitor in every event, of all 4 rounds of NFR (where possible) (min. 480 images)
– Approx. 10 x officials/judges/event committee members
–Approx. 10 x crowds viewing/gathering
-Approx. 3 x each competitor when doing a victory hotlap.
-Coverage of Saturday night Australian Champion Presentation
Additional/more specific shots:
-1 x every champion trophy saddle
-10-20 x Grand Entry/day
-3 to 5 x Ariat branding (flag, clothing label/branding, competitors/athletes wearing Ariat)
-3 to 5 x Circle L branding (flag, hat labels/branding, competitors/athletes wearing Circle L)
-1 x arena reference for signage/branding
-1 x each official group – Judges, Arena Team, Stock Team, NFR Committee etc
BTS/SOCIAL MEDIA Photographer/Videographer
Covering a mix of BTS, and general event photography across the 3 days, to show the NFR as a whole event on social media
Will work closely with myself and the other media teamsters on having social content going out during the event, in addition to capturing for future use.
Photography:
-100ish – BTS moments with competitors across all rodeo events preparing to compete, hanging out, stock contractors, all the BTS goodness
-30-50ish Crowd, smaller groups or individuals having a great time at the event – watching rodeo, shopping, hanging out with mates/partying, cute family moments etc
-20-30ish Grand Entry
-Coverage of Saturday night Australian Champion Presentation
-20ish Afterparty – Saturday night
-Any great event moments!
Video:
-Short Clips sharing BTS of athletes preparing to compete
-Short Interviews: would love some quick, fun voxpop type -interviews with competitors, personnel and similar.
-Short Clips of the crowd, smaller groups or individuals having a great time at the event – watching rodeo, shopping, hanging out with mates/partying, cute family moments
Additional/more specific shots:
-1 x every buckle
– A range of shots of the Grand Entry
– Approx. 10 x Ariat branding (flag, clothing label/branding, competitors/athletes wearing Ariat)
-Approx. 10 x Circle L branding (flag, hat labels/branding, competitors/athletes wearing Circle L)
-Approx. 10 x photos of the Aus Champ Prizes, grouped and individual shots for sponsors
-1 x each official group – Judges, Arena Team, Stock Team and NFR Committee- Before Round 1 on Thursday
-1 x event/competitor group photo for each rodeo event – Before Round 1 on Thursday
EVENT VIDEOGRAPHER
Arena Action Minimum Video:
-Multiple clips of great rides for each of the 8 rodeo events
-Aiming to capture 1-2 of the winning rides each round to go live during event
-Grand Entry
Colour Video:
-A few short clips of Trophy saddles and Champion Buckles
-A nice range of crowds, smaller groups of individuals having a great time inc. watching the show, shopping, hanging out with mates/partying and cute family moments.
-A few clips from the Saturday afterparty
-A few clips from the food/trade areas. A few of the traders may also be sponsors so will provide that list prior to event.
BTS Video:
Competitors Video: A range of short clips 3-10+ seconds of each rodeo event behind the scenes
This could look like: Behind the chutes preparing, stretching, tacking up, moments with the horse, checking horse boots, mounting, prepping rope or tie, mounting, putting on chaps, tying boots on, putting helmet on, preparing bull rope, preparing rigging, bronc saddle or headstall, practicing with bronc saddle.
Longer form interviews:
-With the Australian Champions
DEADLINES, SUPPLY + PROCESS
During event
–Minimum of 1 image of each round winner for each event for all four rounds to be posted on Facebook after each round acknowledging sponsors of that event.
-Agreed upon general event and colour images and video for socials plan each day
Within 24 hours of event finish
–Presentation/Australian Champion images required within 12 hours for APRA to use for promotional purposes
-Start to receive Aus Champs interviews – 1-2 at a time would be fine, but would want to strike while the iron is hot.
Post Event
–All images to be supplied in high res digitally via Dropbox within 2 weeks.
-All agreed upon video files to be supplied in high res digitally via Dropbox within 3 weeks.
CONDITIONS OF USE
-APRA to receive license for usage of image and video across digital and traditional platforms.
-APRA to receive extended licensing for a selection of images and video to share with sponsors – quantity to be discussed with each position and remuneration to reflect.
–APRA retains the right to not publish or utilise images that do not comply with APRA guidelines or compromise the integrity of the sport and/or the reputation of the APRA and associated partner/sponsor brands
–APRA retains the right to request the photographer remove from public view, on any media platforms, any images they deem non-compliant with APRA guidelines or compromise the integrity of the sport and/or the reputation of the APRA and associated partner/sponsor brands
SPONSORS + PARTNERS
APRA and the NFR event have a range of sponsors, that are to be reflected throughout the event. A final list will be provided in the lead up to the event.
Corporate and NFR Sponsors
– Ariat – Corporate partner and NFR event naming-rights partner. Also ‘official footwear & apparel of the APRA
– Circle L – Corporate Partner, Pro Tour Sponsor and official headwear of the APRA
– Branded Vision – Official eyewear of the APRA
APRA TO PROVIDE
Please submit an EOI with quote to Abbie Smith – abbie@prorodeo.com.au by 15th March.
Quoting on the following security requirements (subject to amendments):
-3 x Security and 2 x RSA Marshalls Thursday evening – 4:00pm to 12:00am
-1 x Security Thursday Night 12:00am – 8am Friday Morning
-3 x Security and 3 x RSA Marshalls Friday evening – 4:00pm to 12:00am
-1 x Friday Night 12:00am – 8am Saturday Morning
-3 x security the whole time, 3x RSA Marshalls the whole time, add in 2 more security 5pm-1am for Saturday 10am to 1am
-1 x Sunday Morning 1:00am – 8am Sunday Morning
Plus Travel and Accommodation as required. There is camping available on site, booked through White Park
The Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) is excited to announce a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the provision of National Champion Prize Saddles for the upcoming 2026 National Finals Rodeo. We are seeking quality suppliers to contribute to this prestigious event, ensuring our champions are rewarded with exceptional saddles that reflect their outstanding accomplishments.
Important Note: All saddles must be fully functional and suitable for use, not merely decorative “trophy” saddles.
All saddles must be delivered by no later than 2nd October 2026. Timely delivery is crucial to ensure all preparations are in place for the National Finals Rodeo.
This is a unique chance to gain exposure and recognition within the rodeo community and beyond.
Please note, Trophy saddle tenders and sponsorship are treated as separate agreements. If you’re interested in Sponsorship, please see Sponsorship Opportunities dropdown above.
Submission of Interest
Interested parties should submit their Expression of Interest, detailing their capability to fulfill the requirements. Please include information on your experience, craftsmanship, and any previous involvement in similar events.
We look forward to receiving your submissions and working together to honour our rodeo champions with the best possible prize saddles.
For further information or to submit your Tender by 1st March, please contact the APRA NFR Coordinator – Abbie Smith abbie@prorodeo.com.au
Let’s celebrate the spirit of rodeo with excellence and tradition!
