JULY 20, 2025: COWBOYS TO WATCH

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

A year ago, bareback rider Clay Jorgensen had the biggest win of his career in Frontier Park. He rode Summit Rodeo’s horse Game Trail for 90 points to win the championship at the “Daddy of ‘em All.” Jorgensen earned $11,729 here and finished the season in 24th place, the highest of his career, which began in the PRCA in 2020.

The win here competing against the best in the business gave him both confidence and momentum. Clay is currently ranked 14th in the world standings, and if he is inside the top 15 at the end of September, he’ll be headed to his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR). Another big win here would certainly help him accomplish that.

There are seven spots in the Semi Finals left for this group of bull riders after five were successful on Saturday. Stetson Wright was so close, bucking off less than one-quarter second short of the required eight. Look for him to make up ground today. He is also competing in saddle bronc riding. Stetson is second in the world standings in bull riding and just outside the top 15 in saddle bronc. He has an opportunity to change that today and be back in Las Vegas at the NFR competing in two events and looking for his sixth all-around world championship.

En route to those titles, he has earned seven titles at Frontier Park. Two in each of his disciplines and three times as the all-around. He will join his older brother Ryder Wright today in the saddle bronc riding. Ryder is a reigning and four-time world champion. He’s watched his brother make the victory lap around this arena, but never had the opportunity to do it himself. He is hoping to change that this year and increase his lead in the world standings.

Along with cheering for Wyoming’s Brody Cress yesterday, fans made the most noise for bull rider Ernie Courson Jr., who won the day with an 88-point ride. After a successful ride, Ernie’s signature celebration includes a back flip off of the fence. Fans were waiting for that yesterday, and with any luck, will get to see it again today. Courson is matched up against Night Prowler, a young bull from Stace Smith Pro Rodeo that has yet to be ridden. Courson’s got momentum on his side, and we hope he gets to do another back flip today.

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

Shy-Ann Jarrett has been a support system for her husband Ryan Jarrett, the 2005 world champion all-around cowboy, for years. She has also competed but often stayed close to home to take care of animals and their daughter. This year she is venturing out a little more and has entered the breakaway roping and barrel racing when she can. One of those rodeos is right here.

Shy-Ann will compete in the breakaway roping today and is hoping to accomplish something that her husband never has – win a championship at Frontier Park. She nearly qualified for the Quarter Finals in the barrel racing as well, but a five-second penalty for a downed barrel cost her. If that wouldn’t have occurred, she would be in the Quarter Finals in both events and would be eligible for the all-around title.

Another all-around cowgirl from Wyoming is also in today’s breakaway roping. Willow Wilson from Baggs competed in the team roping with her husband TW. She had enough success in the Qualifier to make it back for today’s breakaway roping but won’t be after an all-around championship this year.

In June, Rylee George tied for the championship at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, and now she wants to add another Wyoming title to her resume. Rylee is attending East Texas A&M University located at Commerce. She is a graduate student working towards her master’s degree in ag science. She qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping last year and is hoping to return to Las Vegas this December. A win here would certainly help. She is currently 14th in the world standings.

Joseph Harrison won this rodeo in the team roping in 2018 heeling for Chad Masters. This year he won the qualifier here with Bubba Buckaloo with a time of 5.6 seconds. That has added nearly $5,000 to their checking accounts already. Joseph spends most of his time training rope horses and competing with them at futurities. He is currently 38th in the world standings, so if he does well here, he might consider going to more rodeos hoping to qualify for his seventh NFR.

Shali Lord has always loved this rodeo. The Colorado ranch wife is used to wide-open spaces, and the barrel racing here is full of those in comparison with many other rodeo arenas. Lord tied for the title here in 2019 with world champion Nellie Miller. Winning is always a highlight, and Shali would love to add her name to the record books again.

Steer wrestling today is going to showcase the legacy that the Duvall family has in this arena as well as rodeo across the nation. Riley Duvall is the latest generation to make his mark. His great-uncle Roy Duvall won this rodeo in 1967. Roy’s brother Bill was Riley’s grandfather and probably hazed as many steers in Frontier Park as any other human. Bill hazed for Roy when Roy won here and in later years hazed for Riley’s father, Sam. Sadly, Bill passed away recently, and Riley is making his way to Cheyenne from his grandfather’s funeral.

Doing well here would not only help Riley, who is 15th in the world standings, it would also be a great tribute to a man who exemplified all that is good in our world.