July 17-26, 2026
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
July 17-26, 2026
Saddle Bronc Riding
Today’s saddle bronc riding is an international field with a strong local contender. Reigning CFD champion saddle bronc rider Brody Cress, who grew up in Hillsdale and attended school in Cheyenne, leads the field. He is the only cowboy to win the saddle bronc riding here four times. Cress is ranked 25th in the world standings and needs the win. Australia’s Damian Brennan is eighth in the world, and four-time world champion Zeke Thurston, a Canadian, is tenth. Another Canadian, Kolby Wanchuk, sits 12th while Wyoming native Brody Wells is 13th. Three more Canadians, another Aussie and four more Americans round out the roster.
Bareback Riding
In bareback riding, 2023 CFD champion Kade Sonnier is bouncing back from injury as are 2024 World Champion Keenan Hayes and Texan Leighton Berry. Hayes sat out last season but is currently ranked fourth and headed to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) again. Leighton was recovering from injury when he watched his younger brother Kade win the championship here last year. He is aiming for a CFD title of his own. Colt Eck’s brother Bryce won Semi-Finals 1 yesterday, and Colt would like to do the same today.
Bull Riding
Luke Mackey is ranked the highest in the world standings of any of today’s bull riders at sixth. Mackey, whose nickname is “Colorado Kid,” finished last season in seventh place after competing at his first NFR and is the only bull rider today with experience at rodeo’s world championships. Louisiana rookie Braxton Whitesell is just out of the top 15 at 17th, and a win here would boost his chances to qualify for the NFR. The same is true of Kansan Colton Byram, who is ranked 18th.
Team Roping
We expect great runs in the team roping today as veterans take on newcomers and the family legacies continue. We have a father and son both heading, and it is the second time in the history of CFD that has happened. J.D. Yates roped with his son Trey Yates here in 2016 when J.D. won the all-around title. They also roped against each other here, and that is exactly what Clay and Tyler Tryan will be doing in Semi-Finals 2. Clay won championships here in 2013 and 2021 roping with Jade Corkill. Today, he will be heading for Will Woodfin. Tyler, who is following in his world champion father’s footsteps, is roping with Nicki Northcott, who is the son of another world champion, Steve Northcott. Chad Masters has won the heading here twice, most recently in 2018 with heeler Joseph Harrison. They have teamed up again this year and are in contention for another championship.
Tie-Down Roping
We have a husband and wife that are competing today. Haven Meged, the 2019 world champion, has yet to win a title here, but his world champion breakaway roping wife, Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, did in 2024. They added baby boy Wylder to the family last May. Haven is third in the world standings, and Shelby is in the top 40. Shane Hanchey, the 2013 world champion who won the title here in 2018, is fifth in the world standings and looking to move up. And watch for rising star Sam Lewis, whose father, Brent Lewis, won the title here in 2002.
Steer Wrestling
Cash Robb won the average at the 2024 NFR, then missed qualifying last year. He’s on a mission this year and is currently 7th in the world standings. A top-four finish today would see him back here on Sunday competing for a title at the Daddy. Paul Melvin wasn’t born yet when his father, Marty Melvin, won the all-around title in 1983, but with Marty’s passing in 2019, each of those titles has more meaning. If Paul adds his name to the history here, it will be a full-circle moment for the family.
Breakaway Roping
Today’s field of breakaway ropers is full of talent. Cheyanne McCartney, the number one woman in the world, won the Calgary Stampede earlier this month. Hali Williams, who is just behind her in the world standings, is the daughter of seven-time world champ and former CFD champion team roper Speed Williams. Josie Conner is ranked seventh and won the title at the California Rodeo in Salinas this past Sunday, then won here on Monday. The first CFD breakaway champion, Jordan Jo Fabrizio (now Hallabaugh), won the title wearing her fiancé (now husband) Raymond’s CFD champion buckle. Jill Tanner is currently ranked 16th. Her brother Jim Ross Cooper won the team roping here in 2014.
Barrel Racing
The most competitive set of barrel racers we’ve seen this year happened on the third day of the rodeo when former champions Lisa Lockhart and Hailey Kinsel competed along with Carlee Otero and Emily Beisel. Emily is second in the world standings, Carlee is fourth, Hailey is ninth, and Lisa has ground to make up at 16th. Lisa is a two-time champion here, having won titles in 2015 and 2025. Hailey will be riding TR Judges Doll that she calls “Reese” giving her great mare DM Sissy Hayday a break. Emily will likely be on Vanilla Gorilla, aka Trigger, who loves this pen and look for Carlee to ride her 8-year-old mare Cathy’s Candy that she calls Twix. Lisa won the rodeo here on Rosa’s Cantina “Rosa,” on which she won the title last year. These are the horses they qualified for the semi-finals on.