Polaris RANGER became a national sponsor of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2015, establishing a relationship between one of the leading utility UTV brands and the largest professional rodeo sanctioning organization in the United States.
What began as a new national sponsorship developed into a long-running relationship spanning major rodeos, championship prizes, athlete partnerships and a continuing presence at the National Finals Rodeo.
Polaris RANGER Becomes a PRCA Sponsor in 2015
Polaris and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announced their national partnership on March 4, 2015. Under the original agreement, Polaris RANGER became the official UTV of the PRCA, the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
The partnership also gave Polaris prominent placement at the National Finals Rodeo, which was billed that season as the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER.
PRCA world champions and RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo champions were scheduled to receive Polaris RANGER vehicles. The partnership also included support for the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and the PRCA’s Remuda Awards.
The agreement was a natural fit for RANGER. Professional rodeo has deep connections to farming, ranching and livestock management—the same environments where utility side-by-sides are commonly used for hauling equipment, checking property, feeding animals and completing everyday chores.
Polaris maintains a visible presence at major PRCA rodeos across the country. Photo: Polaris
A Partnership That Continued Beyond the Original Announcement
The 2015 announcement was not a short-term promotional arrangement. Polaris continued building its presence in professional rodeo over the following decade.
By 2024, the company was supporting a national rodeo tour that included events such as the Reno Rodeo, Prescott Frontier Days, NFR Open, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Pendleton Round-Up and the National Finals Rodeo. Polaris RANGER vehicles were also awarded to winners at the NFR Open and National Finals Rodeo.
In 2025, Polaris announced that it had renewed its PRCA relationship through another multi-year agreement. That renewal expanded the program to include sponsorship of the skilled horsemen responsible for assisting roughstock competitors and managing animals in the arena. The group became known as the Polaris Pickup Men at selected PRCA events.
Team Polaris Rodeo Athletes
Polaris has also supported individual rodeo competitors through Team Polaris. The company’s 2026 athlete roster includes:
- Stetson Wright
- Ryder Wright
- Rusty Wright
- Statler Wright
- Lisa Lockhart
- Shad Mayfield
The athlete program extends the partnership beyond arena signage and vehicle displays. Polaris uses the team to connect RANGER with competitors whose livelihoods, families and communities frequently overlap with ranching and rural land management.
Polaris and the National Finals Rodeo
Polaris remains a long-standing PRCA partner and the official utility vehicle of the National Finals Rodeo. Its rodeo program now includes vehicle displays, fan activities, athlete appearances and support at several prominent events throughout the season.
The company’s continuing involvement demonstrates how the original 2015 sponsorship grew into a broader relationship with the rodeo community. Although the program has evolved, RANGER remains central to it because of the vehicle’s association with ranch work and rural property ownership.
Why the Partnership Matters to RANGER
The PRCA relationship helped reinforce the working side of the RANGER identity during a period when the model family was expanding rapidly.
In 2015, Polaris offered RANGER models with gas, diesel and electric powertrains and seating for as many as six people. The modern lineup has grown to include midsize machines, full-size RANGER 1000 and XP 1000 models, enclosed NorthStar editions, the electric XP Kinetic and the heavy-duty RANGER XD 1500.
Despite that evolution, the core use case remains familiar: transporting people, tools and supplies across farms, ranches and other large properties. That continuing emphasis helps explain why the relationship between Polaris and professional rodeo has lasted for more than a decade.
For more background on the platform, see our complete history of the Polaris RANGER. Current models, prices and recent updates are covered in our 2027 Polaris RANGER lineup guide.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in March 2015 to report the beginning of Polaris RANGER’s national PRCA sponsorship. It has been updated to document how the partnership has continued and evolved.
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