Danielle Porteur wanted more for women ropers in California. So, she built it.
The Hollister, CA, native grew up working cattle on her family’s ranch and roping alongside her older brother, David Porteur. In 2015, after years of competing and hosting clinics with rodeo icon Jackie Hobbs-Crawford, the pair launched California’s Riche$t All Girl Roping—a breakaway and team roping event built to give West Coast women the opportunities they deserved.
Breakaway roping has surged in popularity over the last decade, with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) designating 2019 the “Year of the Breakaway.” But when California’s Riche$t began, high-payout, high-profile women’s ropings were rare.
What started with 43 entries and a handful of sponsors has grown into one of the most competitive and respected all-girl ropings in the country. Today, Jackie has stepped back, and Danielle leads it on her own, still committed to the same values that built it.
WLJ: This year marks the tenth anniversary of California’s Riche$t. When you think back to 2015, how did it all begin?
Danielle Porteur: Jackie Hobbs-Crawford and I crossed paths and formed a friendship that quickly turned into a mentorship. I admired her in and out of the arena. She’s a class act. She agreed to come to California and do some clinics, and after a few successful years, we were both seeing the same gap: girls in Texas and Oklahoma had breakaway ropings around every corner. Out here, we didn’t have anything like that. We wanted to give the women in California the opportunities those girls had.
That’s how California’s Riche$t was born. I called sponsors and raised about $6,000, which felt like a fortune at the time. Our goal was 40 ropers. And when 43 entered, I remember thinking, “This is going to be something special.”
WLJ: How did you decide on the event’s structure to ensure its lasting success?
DP: We wanted California’s Riche$t to be prestigious, something women would circle on their calendars every year. So, we did one entry per competitor, with a $350 entry fee, 80% payback and added money. Most jackpots are set up for competitors to enter multiple times with a cheaper entry fee for a small payout.
The one-entry rule keeps the playing field fair. No one with more money can out-enter someone else for better odds. One shot. One chance. That’s what makes earning the title of California’s Riche$t Champion feel special.
When breakaway roping really started pushing into the PRCA, Jackie handed me the reins to California’s Riche$t to focus on her rodeo career and her family, and she told me, “You’ve got this. Keep doing what we built, don’t change the foundation.”
That foundation was important to both of us. We believed the women deserved an arena set up to showcase real horsemanship.
WLJ: What has been your biggest challenge in producing California’s Richest over the years?
DP: Cattle. They make or break a roping. That’s why they’re over one-quarter of my budget now. My cattle costs have grown 80% since the beginning. I understand it. The cattle shortage is affecting everyone. But I’m not willing to use poor-quality cattle just to save money.
I’ve worked with different contractors over the years, and they have all been great. But getting enough of the right cattle is hard, especially in August when a lot of contractors have already shipped theirs for the season.
We do everything we can to ensure great cattle. I get a group together and we run through every calf and steer before the day of the event to ensure they run right and are even with the rest. I want cattle that girls can go win on.
WLJ: That attention to detail shows in the event’s reputation. How do you balance it all?
DP: It’s a lot. I work full-time in special education, and I do everything leading up to the event myself—sponsors, social media, the website, insurance, cattle, awards, entries, all of it. Every January feels like planning a $40,000 wedding.
But I’ve been lucky to have amazing sponsors. Some have been with me since day one. Sponsor fatigue is real, but they keep showing up because they believe in this event. I am grateful for every one of them.
WLJ: How has California’s Riche$t grown over the years?
DP: Our entries have more than doubled … and so has our budget. We have partnered with the Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC) and the American Rodeo. The WRWC Finals offer a $60,000 payout, and the American gives the opportunity to go for $1 million. You can qualify at California’s Riche$t with one run. That’s huge for women who can’t travel all year.
And in 2025, California’s Riche$t aired live on national television with the Cowboy Channel. That was a big moment. It was emotional for me and for the contestants. That kind of visibility matters.
WLJ: Breakaway has grown, but it’s not a part of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). What are your thoughts on that omission?
DP: I’d love to see breakaway take the main stage at the NFR. That’s what everybody in the industry wants to see. It’s unfortunate it’s not there yet, but I think if we stay positive, keep pushing and stay grateful for how far it’s come, there’s a real possibility we’ll see it on that stage soon.
WLJ: You’ve produced this event for 10 years now. What keeps you going?
DP: It’s grown beyond anything I could’ve imagined. There are times I wonder how I’ll pull it all together, but I have built so many great relationships with people in the industry. They keep me going. I do it for the contestants and the women. I have faith in God and believe in this event. And I know this is the legacy He wants me to leave behind for the next generation.
California’s Riche$t will return to Tres Pinos, CA, on Aug. 2, 2026. For updates, entry details and highlights, follow along on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, visit californiasrichest.com or email danielle@californiasrichest.com.
