JULY 24, 2025: COWBOYS TO WATCH

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

We expect the saddle bronc riding to be very exciting today. It’s hard to imagine that Zeke Thurston has never been interviewed as the champion here in that event. He has won four world titles and earlier this month won the Calgary Stampede for the fourth time. He is currently fifth in the world standings. He is nearly assured an 11th trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), and he would like to go to Las Vegas in December with the Cheyenne title on his rodeo resume. His father, Skeeter Thurston, won the Rookie Bronc Riding here in 1982.

Fellow Canadian, Dawson Hay is currently 2nd in the world standings and like Zeke, has never won a title here. Dawson’s father, Rod Hay, won the saddle bronc riding in 2000, and Dawson would love to add his name to the champions list at Frontier Park. The third Canadian in this set is another NFR qualifier, Kolby Wanchuck who is 13th in the world standings.

The final Wright to make an appearance in the saddle bronc riding is the oldest of Cody’s boys, Rusty Wright. He has struggled with injuries and hasn’t qualified for the NFR since 2020. He is currently 21st in the world standings and is hoping to move into the top 15 and ride against his three brothers in Las Vegas. Any money he wins here will help him achieve that goal.

Tim O’Connell knows exactly how hard it is to win a championship in this arena. He’s done that three times, in 2017, 2021 and 2022. The three-time world champion has struggled with injuries and is currently unranked in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings. A win here could change that and set him up for success in 2026.

Jacek Frost just won the NFR open in Colorado Springs’ Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, the first national title of his career. The first year that Jacek competed here, he was also competing at the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2022. He has momentum on his side now and will be ready to show the fans here his winning ways.

They rode eight bulls yesterday, and the best six punched their tickets to the Semi-Finals. The remainder are trying to add their names to that list today, including Ruger Piva who was the champion here in 2018.

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

We have seen fast breakaway roping at Frontier Park already this year, and today’s field promises to add to that. National Finals Rodeo barrel racer Kassidy Dennison won the breakaway roping at the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2010 before she started running barrels in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. Dennison advanced out of the Qualifier and is one of three women from the Navajo Nation in today’s field. That list also includes National Finals Breakaway Roping qualifier Danielle Lowman and Bailey Bates.

Suzanne Williams was raised on ranches in Nevada, was twice the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association women’s all-around champion, and now is a rodeo coach at Lassen College in Susanville, California. She is the youngest of six children and the only girl in her family, so growing up, she did everything she could to keep up with her brothers. That serves her well in the rodeo arena and in raising a family.

Since Shad Mayfield won the tie-down roping at Frontier Park last year, he went on to earn the most prestigious title in all of rodeo – world champion all-around cowboy. That was his second gold buckle. He also won the tie-down roping in 2020. He won the Calgary Stampede and is at the top of the world standings. His goal is to get back to the NFR in Las Vegas, have a big lead and a good showing and let the competition and his fans know just how badly he wants to win.

Riley Pruitt hasn’t been to the NFR since 2019 and is ready to get back and compete in the tie-down roping for the third time. Riley won the Qualifier here and has already added $5,315 to his checking account. He is currently 7th in the world standings after winning the NFR Open, and we look for him to be fast today.

Veteran team roping header Clay Smith has a new heeler that is quickly gaining a reputation as a demon in the roping pen. Smith is roping with Nicky Northcott, the son of world champion heeler Steve Northcott. Smith won the title here in 2021 roping with Jade Corkill. Nicky can’t wait to add his name to champion lists across the country.

Levi Rudd won the steer wrestling here in 2018 when it was a muddy mess, and it didn’t bother him a bit. He’s hoping to get a good steer today and have a repeat. Levi is currently 35th in the world, and he won’t let last night’s rain stop him from doing his job if we base that on past experience.

Summer Kosel loves Cheyenne Frontier Days and so does her horse Apollo. They set the arena record here twice before Sue Smith’s run in 2023. And while she has had a lot of success in Frontier Park, she has yet to make the victory lap as the champion. Neither has reigning world champion Kassie Mowry or the sensational Anita Ellis who won the Calgary Stampede. And we can’t count out Leslie Smalygo who made a big impression here in 2022, dyed her hair and ran like her hair was on fire. Barrel racing is going to be worth watching for sure.