JULY 22, 2025: COWBOYS TO WATCH

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

If yesterday’s bull riding was any indication of what is in store for today, look out. We had 18 contestants and 12 of them got scores. The six high scores advance to the Semi Finals, and the rest of the field is trying to score high enough today to secure their spots. Hayes Weight, the number four man in the PRCA’s world standings, was at the top of the board with an 87. Last year’s bull riding champion here, TJ Gray, had an 82 yesterday and that was not high enough to advance. He is hoping to be among the top six today.

These bull riders are all pulling double duty as they are competing in Cheyenne Frontier Days’ first-ever Xtreme Bulls Monday and Tuesday night. Someone could go down in history as champion at both events.

In 2023, there was a three-way tie for the bareback riding champion, and fans got to see Kade Sonnier, Cole Reiner and Clayton Biglow share the stage. Today, Kade and Cole are both in the field. The win at Frontier Park helped all three of these men qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo that year. It would certainly help them in their quest to be in Las Vegas in December again this year. Kade is 12th in the world standings and Cole is 24th. Winning at Frontier Park was especially gratifying for Cole who is a native Wyoming cowboy.

That was also the year that Ryder Sanford set a new saddle bronc riding record at Frontier Park with a 92.5-point ride. That score got him the championship saddle and winner’s package and helped him qualify for his first NFR. Sanford will be here today hoping for a repeat, but he has a bunch of Canadians who also want to be at the top of the leaderboard. Of the 12 riders here today, seven are neighbors from north of the border. That list includes several NFR qualifiers and one Canadian with Wyoming ties. James Perrin, from Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, won the saddle bronc riding at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) representing Casper College.

The 2024 CNFR champion Gus Gaillard is 16th in the saddle bronc riding world standings. A year ago, Gaillard was competing for Tarleton State University. Now, he’s hoping to do well enough to advance to the Semi Finals here, earn a big check and move inside the top 15 in the world standings. If that happens, he will be competing at his first NFR.

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

Nobody has had more success in this arena in team roping than heeler Jade Corkill. The event has been a regular part of the rodeo competition since 2001, and Corkill has earned titles here three times with three different headers. His first title here came in 2009 with Chad Masters. Then he won in 2013 with Clay Tryan and in 2021 with Clay Smith. This year he advanced out of the Qualifier with Clint Summers doing the heading. Jade took a break from rodeoing but is back big time. He and Clint recently won the Cody (Wyoming) Stampede and are currently ninth in the world standings.

Hayes Smith knows about winning in this arena and his memories are very fresh. He won the rodeo last year heading for Justin Davis. This year, Hayes has Jason Duby as his heeler. Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nunes Nogueira are always crowd favorites and that should be true in Cheyenne today. Kaleb and Junior have won two gold buckles together, and fans love it when this duo does their thing together. Junior is known to lay back on his horse when he ropes well, and he has never had the opportunity to do that in front of a crowd in Frontier Park.

Eli Lord knows how to win at Frontier Park, and he is looking good for an all-around title here this year. He won the steer wrestling in 2019 then came back and did it again in 2023. It was no fluke for the South Dakota talent. This year, he placed second in the steer wrestling Qualifier and has already earned over $4,000. Along with the steer wrestling, Lord is also heading in the team roping for Jason James today.

Anything can happen in the steer wrestling here and often does. A lot of first-time contestants are hoping to add their names to the Semi-Finals qualifiers, and several of them have the opportunity today, including, Cinch Painter, who competed at the CNFR in June and Traver Johnson, who is leading the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings.

Sue Smith won this rodeo two years ago and is back ready for another title. Currently 30th in the world standings, if she has another run here like she did in 2023, she could move up in the standings and have the opportunity to compete at the NFR in December. Smith is a cancer survivor who is known for her grittiness, work ethic and ability to uplift others. LaTricia Duke and Halyn Lide both qualified for the NFR last year and would like to be there again. LaTricia is 16th in the world standings. Halyn has more ground to make up at 41st.

Shelby Boisjoli-Meged made history in breakaway roping as the first winner at the Calgary Stampede. She is hoping to keep that momentum going and add a CFD title to her resume. She currently leads the world standings and is in contention for her second world title. She will be competing today with Wyoming cowgirl Haiden Thompson who has had a very successful college career. She tied for first place in the breakaway roping qualifier with a time of 4.2 seconds. Thompson’s younger sister Hadley just won the breakaway, goat tying and women’s all-around titles at the National High School Finals Rodeo.

Not only are contestants hoping to be among the top fifteen in the world standings that qualify for the NFR, but many of them are also trying to be inside the top 40 so they can compete at limited-entry building rodeos next winter. Having a good winter can jump start a contestant’s season and give them momentum before they ever get to Cheyenne to compete at the “Daddy of ’em All.”