Cowboys to watch – July 18

ROUGH STOCK EVENTS

Bareback

If yesterday’s competition was any indication of what is to come in the next nine days, look out. The bareback riding was especially exciting, with it taking 85.5 points to advance. Two former CFD champions are on the roster today. Clayton Biglow tied for the title here in 2023, and he won it outright in 2019, the same year that he won the world championship. Clay Jorgensen, a talented cowboy from North Dakota, has won a lot of big rodeos, including this one in 2024, however he has yet to qualify for rodeo’s championships, the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). A staple at the NFR is Jess Pope, who has qualified six times, earned the event championship three out of those six and left with his own world title in 2022. All three of them are vying for a spot in our Semi-Finals today and hoping it helps them secure a trip to Las Vegas next December. Jess is sixth in the world standings, Clayton is 16th and Clay is 30th.

Saddle Bronc

Nobody loves getting on bucking horses more than Shorty Garrett, and nobody has deeper roots to the sport and to Cheyenne Frontier Days. His uncle, T.C. Holloway, and T.C’s father, Johnny Holloway (Shorty’s grandfather), both earned rookie bronc riding titles here. And, his great-great-uncle, the most famous bronc rider of all time, Casey Tibbs won titles here in 1948 and 1953. Shorty is coming off a big Wyoming win at the Cody Stampede and is 14th in the world standings. Also on today’s roster are two Wyoming natives, Tanner Butner and Ira Dickinson. Ira went to college at Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma, then on to Tarleton State University in Stephenville. He competed for both of those institutions while earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Then he returned home to Rock Springs to work on the family ranch while also competing. He is 36th in the world standings.

Bull Riding

With four rides yesterday, there are a total of eight spots left to advance from this set of bull riders. That may be good news for the riders and bad news for the bulls. Several of the riders yesterday came close to making the whistle, so we expect them to be extra motivated today. One of those was Colten Fritzlan, who finished second here last year. Also in the mix are Marco Jaurez, Jeter Lawrence and Wyoming’s Tipton Wilson. One more second on the back of a bull yesterday would have gotten them a score. Expect them to ride today.

TIMED EVENTS

Team

Team roper Clay Smith knows what it is like to take the victory lap here as the CFD champion. The team roping header won here in 2021, heading for Jade Corkill. This year, he is entered with Coleby Payne, and this duo has been one to watch at rodeos across the county. Clay’s first team roping partner was his brother Jake Smith. One would rope the horns, and one would rope the feet. Now they are both headers and are competing against each other today. Jake will be heading for Douglas Rich who he has roped with for the past two seasons. And the veteran roping brothers in professional rodeo are also on today’s roster, Riley and Brady Minor, who have competed together at the NFR 12 times.

Breakaway Roping

Breakaway roper Coralee Anderson’s family is very well-known among Wyoming’s rodeo elite. Her maiden name is Spratt, and her grandfather Bill Spratt won the steer roping here in 1976. Coralee is the sixth generation to be on that ranch, and she sure would like to add her name to the rodeo legacy. Sawyer Gilbert won this rodeo back in 2021. That propelled her to her first breakaway roping world championship. She is currently 8th in the world. Cadee Williams got a big check in Cody, Wyoming, at the beginning of the month and would love to get an even bigger check here.

Steer Wrestling

The steer wrestling will have competitors who have seen success in the college ranks. Walt Arnold was the champion in 2022. J.T. Ellison won that title the next year. And Nathan Duvall finished fourth at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper last June.

Barrel Racing

Tayla Moykens finished second in the barrel racing here last year, and that helped secure her first trip to the NFR. Her experience there didn’t go like she had planned, so she is working hard to get back there and show the world what she and her horses can do. She is currently seventh in the world standings.

Tie-Down

For years before tie-down roper Sam Lewis was born, his father, Brent Lewis earned the title in that event here. Sam recently competed at the CNFR for Angelo State University. He is currently fifth in the Rookie of the Year standings.