Celebrating 44 Years of Volunteerism with Cindy Braden

A celebration of Cindy Braden

“It seems like so many of us get our start that way, friend: Somebody invites us in, and you poke around a little bit for a year or two, and find that there’s something about it that just brings you back.” 

Many a Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) volunteer can relate to this quote from Mike Smith, former Public Relations Chairman, on what it looks like to become part of CFD’s extensive volunteer family.

That certainly includes 2026 CFD Hall of Fame inductee Cindy Braden, whose initial “poking around” in 1982 resulted in a celebrated, barrier-breaking career of service—44 years strong and counting!

In addition to devoting thousands of hours across numerous CFD committees, Cindy proudly carries the distinctions of being the first (and only) woman on the rescue team for our famed chuckwagon races; helping develop the Junior Barrels program; serving as the first female president of the HEELs organization; and extending her legacy of volunteerism through the CFD Youth Volunteer program.

Listen in as host Mike Smith welcomes Cindy to the CFD podcast studio to share:

• Memories from her time on the chuckwagon race rescue team

• Her favorite moments from Junior Barrel program, and her pride in its participants

• What it was like (and the unique hurdles she overcame) to rise through the ranks of the HEELs

• Hopes for the future of the Youth Volunteer program

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