Cheyenne Frontier Days Announces Dandy Tryouts for the 129^th Daddy of ‘em All and Opens Application Invitation to Colorado Horsewomen

The tryouts for the official drill team will take place in the rodeo arena at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 29, 2024.

Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD), the World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo and Western Celebration, announces tryout dates for the 2025 Dandies drill team. Tryouts are open to young women from Wyoming and Colorado ages 14-19 and will be held in the CFD arena at 1230 W. 8^th Avenue, Cheyenne, WY on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 1 p.m.

“We’re thrilled to hold this tryout each year. We welcome returning Dandies and new girls in the horsemanship community who want to be a part of this prestigious team,” said Dandy Director, Halley Redman. “Being a Dandy is an incredible experience for these young ladies. The skills they learn – from horseback riding to public speaking – will benefit them beyond the rodeo world.”

Young woman interested in joining the team must own or lease a horse and be willing to travel. Tryout requirements include:

• Application
• Written test
• Horsemanship
• Personal Interview

The young women selected for next year’s Dandies will serve as good will ambassadors for Cheyenne Frontier Days. They represent CFD at rodeos, fairs, and events throughout the Rocky Mountain Region – including Casper, Estes Park, and Greeley. During the annual 10-day event, which will take place July 18-27, 2025, the Dandies participate in the rodeo performances and each of downtown parades. Additionally, they will attend the Coronation Ball, the Western Art Show and Sale, pancake breakfasts, and the USAF Thunderbird Aerial Demonstration.

“Being a Dandy is a commitment,” said Redman. “The Dandies and their families dedicate a large amount of time throughout the year to practices and meetings along with the CFD functions, parades and rodeos. You’re all in as a Dandy. We’re excited to meet the young women interested in joining the team.”

A makeup tryout will be Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at 6 p.m. for those who are unable to attend on September 29.

For more information, please email dandies.director@cfdrodeo.com.

Rodeo, PBR, Carnival Armbands, and Gift Cards on sale December 7

Cheyenne Frontier Days^™ (CFD) will put tickets for the 2024 event on sale December 7. Tickets for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo, PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Last Cowboy Standing, Carnival Armbands and Gift Cards (redeemable for tickets or merchandise) will go on sale.

Tickets go on sale December 7 at 9 a.m. MT at www.cfdrodeo.com, and by calling (307) 778-7222.

Cheyenne Frontier Days will celebrate the Year of the Cowgirl to recognize the contributions of women to the American Frontier and Western culture. A bronze dedication is planned for Frontier Park to support this theme next summer.

The 128th annual “Daddy of ‘em All^®” will feature nine days of fast-paced PRCA and WPRA rodeo culminating in Championship Sunday where champions are crowned, and legends are made.

PBR Last Cowboy Standing features one of the most exciting competition formats in Western sports, showcasing the world’s top bull riders in a five-round ride-survive-and-advance format.

There will be hundreds of vendors, a full carnival, artists, food, and music celebrating the history and culture of the American West.

Daily rodeo tickets range from $24 – $51, with VIP at additional cost. A $3 discount is offered on rodeo tickets purchased before July 1. PBR tickets range from $25 – $105. Carnival Armbands will be $40 per session or $150 for all 10 days.

Cheyenne Frontier Days partners with AXS, a global leader in ticketing for the entertainment world. Event attendees will use AXS Mobile ID technology through the AXS App which provides contactless, secure, and personalized fan experiences. Attendees will need to download the AXS App to access digital ticket purchases for 2024.

Artist Announcements are coming in March 2024. For the full range of pricing and more event information, please visit www.cfdrodeo.com.

The 17^th Annual Dinner and Auction to benefit the Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) volunteers through the CFD Volunteer Crisis Fund (VCF) will return, February 17, 2024, at Little America in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  Ella Langley will be providing entertainment at the dinner, her music kicks like a smooth Alabama whiskey. Her dyed-in-the-wool country storytelling and anthemic hooks go down easy, while moments of attitude-laden rock ‘n’ roll might just knock you on the floor. Flexing show stopping vocals, a razor-sharp pen, and no filter whatsoever, Ms. Langley formally introduces her signature style on her 2023 debut EP, Excuse The Mess [Columbia Records/Sony Music Nashville], introduced by the single “That’s Why We Fight” [feat. Koe Wetzel].

“Never let your lack of experience hold you back.  Set a high standard.  If you think big, you win big.” states Jeremy Lopez, President Volunteer Crisis Fund.  The VCF Board of Directors are thinking big to make the upcoming banquet a moment in time you will not forget!

The board of directors are in the process of gathering items to be auctioned off for the event. All the proceeds will benefit the CFD volunteers.

“Each of the board members would like to thank the donors and businesses who contribute items to the auction. Your contributions make such an incredible impact every year, the event would not be the same without you” said Dawn McDonnell, Director of Marketing.

Tickets go on sale Black Friday, November 24, 2023, online through VCF website at www.cfdvcf.com.

The CFD Volunteer Crisis Fund is a non-profit established for the purpose to provide emergency monetary assistance to the Cheyenne Frontier Days Family when they are faced with a tragic or catastrophic loss. For more information, the VCF can be reached at info@cfdvcf.com.

Not quite 100 years ago, a small group of local women first started the carriages’ section of what is known today as the Cheyenne Frontier Days Grand Parades. On Thursday, September 7 at 5 p.m., they will host a ribbon cutting for a permanent home for their 1,500+ costumes, inside the Marietta Dineen Carriage Barn which also permanently houses the 60+ wagons and carriages seen in the four Grand Parades.

Originally a small group of ladies working to find riders, outfit them in appropriate costumes, and assign them to specific carriages, the W-Heels as they are known today will finally have a permanent home for their costumes with the opening of the Louise and Frank Cole Costume Room within the Marietta Dineen Carriage Barn.

As their 1890’s period costume collection has grown, finding space for 1,500+ women’s and men’s authentic apparel as well as 500 hats, bicycles, saddles and more from the 1890s, it became apparent the collection needed a dedicated space.

In the past 40 years, the W-Heels have moved their costume collection over seven times to include the basement of a dry-cleaning business and an abandoned gas station. With a generous gift from Louise and Frank Cole, both associated with the Cheyenne Frontier Days Grand Parades for much of their lives, the historic costumes will now be in a temperature-controlled area complete with dressing rooms, workspace to maintain the costumes, and office space to facilitate the checking in and out of costumes in and out for use in the parades.

The unofficial start of Cheyenne Frontier Days will kick off July 15 with rodeo qualifiers. The Daddy of ‘em All Rodeo is a modified, tournament-style format. Timed events will have qualifying rounds to make it into the rodeo performances beginning July 22. Rodeo qualifiers are free to the public.

Qualifying Schedule:

• July 15 at 7 a.m. — Steer Roping. Top 12 advance to Finals Sunday.
• July 16 at 7 a.m. — Team Roping. Top 72 advance to rodeo performances.
• July 17 at 7 a.m. — Tie Down Roping. Top 72 advance to rodeo performances.
• July 18 at 7 a.m. — Steer Wrestling & Women’s Breakaway Roping. Top 72 advance to rodeo performances.
• July 19 at 7 a.m. — Women’s Breakaway Roping & Barrel Racing. Top 72 advance to rodeo performances.

On Sunday, July 16 CFD will round up bucking horses from the pasture north of Cheyenne along I-25, and through the city streets into Frontier Park. The roundup begins at approximately 8 a.m. at the intersection of I-25 & Horse Creek Road north of the city. It then moves along I-25 on the Eastern frontage road to Hynds Blvd., turns south to Central Ave., to Kennedy Road, and then moves from Kennedy Road to Hynds Blvd., and into Frontier Park.

Approximate arrival times at the following areas are as follows:

• I-25 and Horse Creek Rd/Iron Mountain 8:00 a.m.
• I-25 frontage road and Riding Club Road 8:20 a.m.
• I-25 and Vandehei Road 8:30 a.m.
• I-25 and Central Avenue 8:45 a.m.

Please note: The Wyoming Highway Patrol will not allow parking along I-25 at any time during the Roundup. Central Ave., between Kennedy Road and Hynds Blvd., will be closed while horses are on Central Ave.