JULY 19, 2025: COWBOYS TO WATCH

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

World champions and former CFD champions are going head-to-head today to see who will rise to the top. There are five bareback riders in the field who have ridden for gold buckles, and one of those is wearing his. Dean Thompson was the best in the world in 2024 and is trying to earn his second world championship. Cooper Cook qualified for his first NFR last December and just had the biggest win of his career at Calgary. Also in the mix is the very flamboyant Rocker Steiner, who made his debut at Frontier Park in the mini bareback riding as a teenager. Steiner is currently leading the world standings and finished as the reserve world champion last year.

Stetson Wright has won more CFD titles than any of this year’s competitors. He was the all-around champion in 2019, 2021 and 2023, the bull riding champ in 2019 and 2023 and saddle bronc in 2021 and 2022. Wright was injured for all of 2024, and his comeback has him leading the PRCA’s world all-around standings and second in the bull riding. That’s the event we will see him in today. Also, look for the 2016 CFD champion Roscoe Jarboe to make some moves in section one. Colten Fritzlan also is a comeback kid and NFR qualifier in the second section.

Wyoming’s own Brody Cress will be among the saddle bronc riders today. Cress won three consecutive titles here from 2017 – 2019. However, last year’s CFD was likely his favorite. He and his wife Sierra welcomed baby boy Roweler to the family, and the 2024 Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo was Roweler’s first. They have travelled this year as a family and love making new memories. Hopefully, they will include winning more here.

Lefty Holman might have the winningest smile in rodeo, and he’s had a lot to smile about too. He has qualified for the NFR four times and finished as the reserve world champion in 2022. He has never won Cheyenne, but his grandfather John “Witch” Holman was the rookie champion here in 1947. Lefty and his wife, Hailey welcomed a daughter to their family, and one of the traditions they keep is taking time to pray together before Lefty gets on a bucking horse.

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

To say that today’s barrel racing is stacked might be an understatement with four NFR qualifiers and three former CFD champions. Leading the pack is Hailey Kinsel and her great mare, DM Sissy Hayday, aka “Sister” who won the qualifying round here with a blazing time of 17.18 seconds. They have already earned over $7,000. They are joined by 2015 champion and fan favorite, Lisa Lockhart as well as Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, who was the champion in 2007. Also in the mix is Wenda Johnson, who is looking for her first title here.

Tie-down roper Marcos Costa loves this rodeo. When he first came to the United States from his native country of Brazil, this was one of the first big rodeos he earned a major check at. Then he went on and became the first Brazilian to earn an individual world championship. Marcos has been waiting to win this rodeo since he became a member of the PRCA over 10 years ago.

Watch for Cory Solomon to be going for the green today. Cory wears green, the color of money, and he hopes to earn his share here. The 2024 tie-down roping champion here is 18th in the world standings and needs to move inside the top 15 to qualify for his 11th NFR. A big win here would certainly help.

Billy Bob Brown had the biggest win of his career in Frontier Park in 2023 when he got to make the victory lap as the champion header. He has a new roping partner in Blaine Vick this year, and the duo has similar mindsets and goals. The ranch-raised cowboy loves the big open feel of Cheyenne’s arena and would like nothing more than to rope for a second title here this year.

Chad Masters and Cory Petska have both won this rodeo, but if they repeat this year, it will feel like new. Chad won it as the header in 2009 and again in 2018. Cory won it the year before that in 2017. They both have gold buckles to their credit and are among the legends of the heading and heeling. They have been friends for a long time and roped together before, but this is the first time at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Breakaway roper Coralee Anderson’s family is very well-known among Wyoming’s rodeo elite. Her maiden name is Spratt, and her grandfather Bill Spratt won the steer roping here in 1976. Coralee is the sixth generation to be on that ranch, and she sure would like to add her name to the rodeo legacy.

Kenzie Kelton is another cowgirl adding to her family’s legacy. Her father Chance Kelton was the steer roping champion here in 2010 and has qualified for the NFR in the heading. Kenzie, like Coralee, was raised on a ranch and riding and roping have been part of their lives from the get-go.