July 17-26, 2026
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
July 17-26, 2026
Bareback Riding
Three-time Cheyenne Frontier Days bareback riding champion Tim O’Connell is back after a lengthy recovery from injury and looking to win another title at Frontier Park. He is also a three-time world champion who works as a rodeo broadcaster when he’s not competing. Orin Larsen made nine consecutive trips to the NFR, then finished in 17th for two consecutive years. The Canadian is looking to return to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) for the tenth time and is currently in 15th. He won the event here in 2016, and doing well here this year could secure that elusive qualification. Cooper Filipek of Gillette was the 2024 college national champion, and Kody Lamb, another Canadian, was the 2014 rookie of the year. Lamb, who is also a singer/songwriter, is currently ranked 26th and still has a chance to qualify for the NFR.
Saddle Bronc Riding
Four-time world champion Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, is ranked 10th in the world standings this far into the season, but coming from behind is a big motivator. Thurston, whose father Skeeter won the rookie bronc riding here, has qualified for the NFR 11 times in a row. While he has a long list of rodeo accolades, he has yet to win a CFD title. Another Canadian, six-time NFR qualifier Dawson Hay, has even more ground to make up. He is ranked 34th in the world standings, and a big win here would not only help him qualify for the NFR but also make a difference for his growing family. His father, Rod, won the bronc riding here in 2000. James Perrin may be from Canada, but he has big Wyoming ties. He attended Casper College and won the national saddle bronc riding title in 2025 at the College National Finals Rodeo.
Bull Riding
Three of today’s bull riders are among the top 5 in the world. Tristen Hutchings of Monteview, Idaho, who is ranked second, did not compete on Sunday as he was in the final round at the California Rodeo in Salinas, where he finished second overall. Two of yesterday’s winners, Hayden Welsh of Gillette and Luke “Colorado Kid” Mackey, are ranked fourth and fifth in the world. T Parker of Winnie, Texas, was not successful on Sunday and is aiming for redemption today. He’s ranked 10th in the world, which is not a guarantee of making the NFR with a little over two months left in the season. All of these men will also be competing in the Xtreme Bulls tonight.
Tie-Down Roping
For the past three years, Riley Mason Webb has left Las Vegas as the world’s best tie-down roper. He has qualified for rodeo’s championships four times and won a lot of rodeos along the way. In fact, in five years of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association membership, he has accumulated nearly $2 million in earnings. The title that has eluded him is in Frontier Park. In fact, he has only won about $2,000 here and hopes to change that today. Riley absolutely loves roping, and that’s a good thing having been raised by parents that produce roping events. But no one works harder at their craft. After his first NFR didn’t go like he wanted, he drove straight home to Texas to try out a new horse. And as if he needed any extra motivation, he is engaged to breakaway roper Josie Conner, who is competing in today’s breakaway roping.
Also, in the tie-down roping today are world champions Shane Hanchey and Marcos Costa. Shane won the title in Frontier Park in 2018, five years after he won his world championship. Marcos hasn’t won a title here, but he has had a lot of success in this arena. After he came here from Brazil, he entered Cheyenne and finished in fourth. His wife, Keyla, will be in the barrel racing today.
Breakaway Roping
Today’s breakaway roping is full of talent, led by Cheyanne McCartney, who jumped to the top of the world standings after her big win at the Calgary Stampede earlier this month. Hali Williams is second in the world and follows the winning ways of her father, Speed Williams. He won the team roping title here in 2003 with Rich Skelton. Jordan Hollabaugh won the first breakaway roping championship at CFD in 2019, and her husband, Raymond, won the tie-down roping here in 1983. It’s her voice explaining the event on the big screen. Jill Tanner also has family ties to CFD. Her brother Jim Ross Cooper won the team roping title here in 2014 with Brandon Beers. Rickie Engesser would love to join her sister, Taylor, who won the breakaway here on Sunday. Josie Conner has qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping four times and finished last season ranked third.
Barrel Racing
Two former CFD champions will compete today in barrel racing. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, the two-time world champion, won here in 2007. She’s in 16th place in the world and needs to finish the season strong to qualify for her 19th NFR. Andrea Busby, a native of Wyoming who now lives in Texas, won her CFD title in 2022. Makenzie Mayes, the 2025 rookie of the year, is currently 10th in the world and aiming for her first NFR. A win here would certainly help.
Steer Wrestling
Steer wrestler Tory Johnson will likely have some interesting headgear on today. A couple of years ago, at a rodeo in Corpus Christi, Texas, he had a severe head injury with a spinal fluid leak. He had a long, grueling recovery but is back chasing his dreams. When he chases down his steer today, he is making those dreams come true just being here.
He is traveling with Chase Crane, who is 31st in the world standings and has become known for his antics in the arena when he is successful. Chase is making the “scuba” dance popular among rodeo fans with every successful run.
Team Roping
Tyler Tryan will be trying to be the third generation of CFD champions in his family. His grandmother, Terri Kaye Kirkland, won the barrel racing championship here in 2005, and his father, Clay Tryan, who is also a world champion, has won it heading twice. Tyler is also heading and is entered with another world champion’s son Nicky Northcott whose father is world champion heeler, Steve Northcott. Three-time world champion heeler Wesley Thorp has never won a CFD title, and with his header, Tanner Tomlinson, they definitely have potential. Tanner is known for his fast throws, and Wesley is a cowboy who grew up ranching and rodeoing. The big arena at Cheyenne poses the kind of challenge that he generally rises to. Tanner is 7th in the world standings, and Wesley needs to make a move to qualify for the NFR – he is 31st.