RODEO CONTESTANTS TO WATCH MONDAY, JULY 22, THIRD PERFORMANCE

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding
The notion that winners surround themselves with other winners is evident in today’s bareback riding. Rodeo contestants travel in buddy groups to share expenses, have companionship and maybe most importantly critique each other’s rides, help each other at the event and keep them on top of their mental game.

Four of today’s bareback riders have done just that and all but one of them is ranked in the top 10 in the PRCA world standings. Leader of the pack is second generation world champion Kaycee Feild. He has won four world titles in the bareback riding following in his father Lewis Feild’s footsteps. Lewis was the world all-around champion from 1985 – 1987 who passed his love of riding bucking horses on to Kaycee. While Kaycee specializes in bareback riding, Lewis also rode saddle bronc horses and earned the all-around title in Cheyenne in 1982.

Kaycee is leading the world standings right now and is looking for his fifth gold buckle. If he accomplishes that he will tie the record for bareback world championships with Joe Alexander. Kaycee is traveling with the newlywed (June 3) Richmond Champion who was the champion here in 2014 and Caleb Bennett. Champion is fourth in the world and Bennett is close behind at 7th. The fourth member of their crew is two-time NFR qualifier Mason Clements.

There are plenty of opportunities for today’s bull riders. With only three qualified rides in the first two performances, if more than six ride in any of the remaining performances, they will fill up the empty spots. Clayton Sellars rode here last year for the first time and narrowly missed qualifying for his first NFR. He’s not going to miss it this year. He is currently fifth in the world standings. Another rider that is working hard towards his first trip to Las Vegas is Lon Danley who is 14th. While Danley’s focus is on bull riding, he has also competed in tie-down roping and is a rodeo fan. He doesn’t have to haul and care for a horse and only has to pack a rigging bag instead of a trailer full of equipment.

Steve Woolsey’s bull riding career started in 2005. In 2008, he won the Cheyenne Frontier Days championship and now the veteran is mentoring the rookies. He has been traveling with Sellars and two-time NFR qualifier Boudreaux Campbell. If Woolsey is healthy, he is a tough guy to get on the ground. With bulls from Stace Smith and Harper Morgan Rodeo Companies, expect to see some great rides and big scores.

Our entertainer, Rider Kiesner, is going to want to take a break from his trick roping, gun slinging, whip-cracking show during the saddle bronc riding. His younger brother Roper Kiesner, who has helped Rider here, will be competing in the saddle bronc riding. These guys have a lot of fans across the country that will be hoping to see Rider advance to the semifinals.

Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down and Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing

Adding breakaway roping to the contest list has given another college champion an opportunity to compete here that she wouldn’t have imagined when she won her first national title. Kimberlyn Fitch won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association championship in 2013 while rodeoing for Idaho State University.

That has been one of her favorite rodeo moments for a long time. A win here would certainly be among her favorites as well.

Tie-down roper Shad Mayfield is competing at Cheyenne for the first time as an 18-year-old. His father Sylvester Mayfield competed here on numerous occasions. Sylvester was always known for his horsemanship and the great horses that he rode. Those are things that he has passed on to Shad is 27th in the world standings and it is just a matter of time before he is in the top 15 that make the trip to Las Vegas to compete for world titles.

Trey Yates is another contestant that grew up watching his dad, J.D., rope and train horses. J.D. Yates has won the steer roping and the all-around championship here. This year Trey is hoping it is his turn. He will be heeling for Dustin Bird. Trey’s aunt, Kelly Yates is competing in the barrel racing today also. She is riding a young mare that is a sister to Firewater Fiesta, the great barrel racing horse that took Kelly to several NFR qualifications.

Caden Camp has already secured a spot in CFD’s Championship Finals in the steer wrestling after his success in that event during the first two performances. Today, he will be heading for Wyoming’s Jayden Johnson making Camp eligible for the prestigious all-around award here.

He hasn’t always called Wyoming home, but Beau Clark found his way here and is quickly making the Cowboy State his own. He and his family moved to Cheyenne so he could coach the rodeo team at Laramie County Community College here in Cheyenne. Then when he got the opportunity, he moved to Laramie to take the same position for the University of Wyoming.

Clark will be putting his coaching to work on his own behalf today as he hopes to earn money and have a chance to add the CFD champions package to his trophy case.