July 17-26, 2026
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July 17-26, 2026
Vaughan dominates Cheyenne Frontier Days bull riding
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 18, 2026) —Lane Vaughan made a big statement at the 130th edition of Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) on Saturday.
The bull rider from Klamath Falls, Oregon, has ridden both of his bulls and been at the top of the leaderboard during the first two performances. And, on Saturday, he was the only bull rider that was successful, so the 21-year-old earned all the prize money. So far, he has collected over $8,000 here.
Before Cheyenne’s rodeo started, Vaughan was 14th in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) world standings. A win here could help the 21-year-old secure his first qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in December where world championships are at stake. He started his career riding sheep, then calves and steers before getting on bulls like he is now. He attended Western Texas College in Snyder and finished as the reserve champion at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, in June. That was likely the end of his college rodeo career as he also graduated with a welding degree and has his sights set on riding at the NFR.
After finishing in second place here a year ago, barrel racer Tayla Moeykens from Three Forks, Montana, had a strategy for 2026. The main component of that strategy was her horse KN Fames Best Yet “Yeti.”
“He just really likes Cheyenne,” she said of the eight-year-old gelding. “When my horses like it somewhere, I always try to take them back there.”
Together, they had a flawless run in Frontier Park, stopping the clock in 17.55 seconds. That added over $2,500 to Moeykens’ earnings. She is currently seventh in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world standings and in position to qualify for her second NFR.
Chase Brooks from Deer Lodge, Montana, was a mighty happy saddle bronc rider on Saturday afternoon. He scored 89.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ horse named Charlies Angel. That was special for him as his oldest daughter’s name is Charlie Jo.
“My daughter thought it was pretty cool that I was riding a horse that shared her name,” Brooks said. “I had experience with that horse and felt like it was going to go pretty well.”
It did indeed go well. Brooks was at the top of the leaderboard with an 89.5 point ride and added over $2,000 to his season earnings. He has qualified for the NFR six times, the last in 2023. He’s on a mission to be back there this year and have his wife, Cara, and two daughters in the stands. He is currently eighth in the world standings and in a really good position to be back in Las Vegas in December.
All these contestants will advance to the semifinals now and have the opportunity to add to their earnings. The third performance of “the Daddy of ‘em All,” starts at 12:45 on Sunday where a fresh set of contestants will be working hard to add their names to the semifinals qualifiers in every event.
The following are unofficial results from the second performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 18. Prize money subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 87 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Big Chill, $2,300. 2, Clay Jorgenson, Watford City, N.D., 86.5, $1,800. 3, (tie) Lane McGehee, Victoria, Texas, and Ben Kramer, Max, N.D., $1,025 each. 5, Darien Johnson, Tremonton, Utah, 85.5, $420. 6, Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, La., 85.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Sam Lewis, Amarillo, Texas, 10.7 seconds, $2,000. 2, Jett Barrett, Lipan, Texas, 11.2, $1,500. 3, Brayden Roe, Wendell, Idaho, 11.7, $1,000. 4, Roy Lee, Mount Vernon, Ark., 12.9, $500. 5, Britt Bedke, Oakley, Idaho, 13.0, $250.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Nicole Hadley, Goodland, Kan., 4.6 seconds, $2,591. 2, Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D., 5.5, $1,943. 3, (tie) Cadee Williams, Big Timber, Mont., and Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo., 6.1. $972 each. 5, Kirby Rawlinson, Waller, Texas, 8.5. 6, Nicole Baggarley, Las Cruces, N.M., 14.7.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 89.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Charlie’s Angel, $2,300. 2, Tanner Butner, Daniel, Wyo., 89, $1,800. 3, Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D., 87.5, $1,300. 4, Kole Ashbacher, Arrowwood, Alberta, Canada, 87, $750. 5, (tie) Eastan West, Underwood, S.D.; Kaden Horrocks, LaPoint, Utah; and Ira Dickinson, Rock Springs, Wyo., 84, $140 each.
Team Roping: 1, Lightning Aguilera, Athens, Texas, and Kaden Profili, Jacksonville, Texas, 8.3 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 8.4, $1,500 each. 3, JC Archuleta, and Brandon Baca, Las Vegas, N.M., 8.6, $1000 each. 4, Kolby Krieger, Fredericktown, Mo., and Sid Sporer, Cody, Wyo., 8.8, $500 each. 5, Cameron Irwin, Buffalo, Wyo., and Coley Nicholls, Kinnear, Wyo., 9.5, $250 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Jake Shelton, Krum, Texas, 7.2 seconds, $2,000. 2, Quentin Wheeler, Baker, Mont., 7.9, $1,500. 3, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 9.4, $1,000. 4, Brian Snell, Wheatland, Wyo., 10.6, $500. 5, Cole Walker, Springtown, Texas, 10.7, $250.
Barrel Racing: 1, Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 17.55 seconds, $2,462. 2, Morgan Addison, Wolfforth, Texas, 17.82, $1,981. 3, Kailey Mitton, Mt. Sterling, Utah, $1,321. 4, Tristan Parrish, Yakima, Wash., 17.95, $660. 5, Ronda Casey, Plymouth, Ind., 18.10. 6, Kaycee Killingsworth, Thrall, Texas, 18.11.
Bull Riding: (one ride) 1, Lane Vaughan, Klamath Falls, Ore., 83 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Lighthouse Keeper, $6,100.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Lanny Brooks, Faith, S.D., 83 points. 2, Kaden Wood, Whitewood, S.D., 81. 3, Cade Costello, Newell, S.D., 77. 4, (tie) Pace Garrett, Gillette, Wyo., and Holden Eisemann, Glenham, S.D., 75. (second round) 1, Brooks, 83. 2, Wood, 81. 3, Costello, 77. 4, (tie) Eisemann and Garrett, 75. (overall leaders) 1, Brooks, 168 points. 2, Wood, 162. 3, Costello, 154. 4, (tie) Eisemann and Garrett, 150.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Team Masi, $589. 2, Gibson Boyz, $442. 3, Turquoise Rose, $294. 4, Beer Money!, $147.
Ladies Saddle Bronc Riding World Championship: Ameilia Baker, Australia, 71 points. 2, Blayne Bedard, Canada, 70. 2, 3, (tie) Ilona Bercx, Belgium, and Ruby Fehlauer, Canada,69. 5, Jade Pelowshki, U.S.A., 65.
