July 17-26, 2026
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July 17-26, 2026
With the conclusion of Semi Finals 2 at the 2025 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD), the field is set for Championship Sunday. The last contestants for this year’s final round were determined on the National Day of the Cowboy at Frontier Park.
Three-time CFD champion Brody Cress, who is from nearby Hillsdale and graduated from high school in Cheyenne, earned the chance to try to become the first saddle bronc rider since 1887 to win four championships at the “Daddy of ‘em All.” Cress scored 89.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s horse named Devils Advocate to win the semifinals. He bested another Brody from Wyoming, Brody Wells from Powell, by just half a point.
The highest score in bareback riding at Frontier Park this year went to world standings leader Rocker Steiner. Steiner, who lives in Weatherford, Texas, rode Dakota Rodeo’s horse called Native Lights for 92 points, just one point shy of the record set back in 1974 by three-time CFD champion Joe Alexander. Neither Steiner’s grandfather and father managed to win a championship here in their specialties (bull riding and steer wrestling, respectively), so he could accomplish a first for his storied rodeo family should he win on Sunday.
Former world champion tie-down roper Tyson Durfey stepped away from full-time rodeo a few years ago to concentrate on his coaching business. He qualified for his 14th National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 2020, and five years later, it looks like he hasn’t missed a step. He roped his calf in 9.6 seconds to win Semi Final 2 and match the fastest time of this year’s rodeo set by Nebraska’s Riley Pruitt in the qualifying round. Pruitt won Semi Final 1 and will be among tomorrow’s ropers along with Durfey.
Jordi Edens-Mitchell, daughter of NFR team roper Tommy Edens, qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping in 2022. Since then, she married a team roper, changed her name and had a baby. Her breakaway roping time of 4.9 seconds won the semifinals and advanced her to Sunday’s championship round.
Four former CFD champions compete in the team roping on Saturday, and all four advanced to the championship round. Billy Bob Brown, who won the heading title in 2016, tied for first in Semi Final 2 roping with fellow Texan Blaine Vick. Their time of 10.6 was matched by a pair of Oklahomans, Ryon Boatright and Jett Hillman. Another pair of Oklahomans, Bubba Buckaloo and 2018 CFD heeling champion Joseph Harrison finished third. South Carolina’s Luke Brown, 2015 champion header, and his partner Trey Yates, 2019 champion heeler, finished fourth.
Garrett Oates of Huntsville, Texas, notched the biggest win so far of his rookie season in pro rodeo by winning Semi Final 2 in steer wrestling with a time of 6.0 seconds. He is currently second in the rookie standings, but a strong finish on Sunday could help him reach number one.
Michelle Alley of Madisonville, Texas, bested three former CFD champions to win the barrel racing with a time of 17.09 seconds riding Lipstick N Stillettos, a mare she trained. Two of those former champions, 18-time NFR qualifier Lisa Lockhart and three-time world champion Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, also advanced.
Bull rider Gavin Mitchell of Graford, Texas, earned $5,200 when he rode Dakota Rodeo’s bull named The Judge for 88.5 points to win the semifinals.
The rookie saddle bronc riding, a tradition at the “Daddy of ‘em All” since 1911, concluded Saturday, and Josue Molina became the first Mexican cowboy to win a championship in Frontier Park. The 22-year-old from Juarez in Chihuahua scored a total of 159 on two horses to win the event.
For the 129th time Cheyenne Frontier Days will crown champions on Sunday with the championship performance beginning at 12:45 p.m.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 26, 2025)- The following are unofficial results from the Semi Finals (seventh performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 25. The top six in each event advance to Championship Sunday.
Bareback Riding: 1, Rocker Steiner, Weatherford, Texas, 92 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Native Lights, $3,441. 2, Kade Berry, Stephenville, Texas, 88, $2,606. 3, Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas, 87, $1,877. 4, (tie) Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., and Quintonn Lunsford, McCune, Kan., 86.5, $991 each. 6, (tie) Richmond Champion, Stevensville, Mont., and Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, La. 86, $261 each.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Tyson Durfey, Brock, Texas, 9.3 seconds, $5,200. 2, Ty Moser, Volga, S.D., 10.7, $4,300. 3, (tie) Kyan Wilhite, Clovis, N.M., and Pecos Tatum, La Plata, N.M., 11.0, $ 2,950 each. 5, Tripp Brown, Kenansville, Fla., 12.2, $1,600. 6, Jarvis Demery, Beggs, Okla., 12.3, $900.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Jordi Edens-Mitchell, Stephenville, Texas, 4.9 seconds, $6,510. 2, Shy-Anne Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 5.4, $4,932. 3, Danielle Lowman, Gilbert, Ariz., 5.8, $3,551. 4, Brooke Bruner, Parker, Colo., 5.9, $2,367. 5, Sequin Brewer, Union City, Okla., 6.6, $1,381. 6, Maddy Dearman, Hope, N.M., 6.8, $986.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 89.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s Devils Advocate, $3,416. 2, Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo., 89, $2,588. 3, (tie) Waitley Sharon, Ordway, Colo., and Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 87, $1,553 each. 6, Statler Wright, Beaver, Utah, 85.5, $518.
Team Roping: (five times) 1, (tie) Billy Bob Brown, Carbon, Texas, and Blaine Vick, Breckenridge, Texas; and Ryon Boatright, Mulhall, Okla., and Jett Hillman, Perry, Okla., 10.6 seconds, $4,930 each. 3, Bubba Buckaloo, Kingston, Okla., and Joseph Harrison, Marietta, Okla., 11.9, $3,580 each. 4, Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C., and Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo, 12.1, $2,680 each. 5, Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz., and Jeremy Buhler, Arrowwood, Alberta, Canada, 15.6, $1,780 each. (Kyle Polich, Cortez, Colo., and T.J. Watts, Eads, Colo., also advance from Semi Final 1.)
Steer Wrestling: 1, Garrett Oates, Huntsville, Texas, 6.0, $4,060. 2, Trisyn Kalawaia, Hilo, Hawaii, 6.2, $3,360. 3, Tristan Martin, Sulphur, La., 6.3, $2,660. 4, Joe Nelson, Watford City, N.D., 6.5, $1,960. 5, Jacob Edler, Alva, Okla., 6.6, $1,260. 6, (tie) Colten Leech, Chico, Texas, and Nathan Duvall, Hitchita, Okla., 7.7, $350 each. (Leech advances on tiebreaker.)
Barrel Racing: 1, Michelle Alley, Madisonville, Texas, 17.09 seconds, $5,410. 2, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.21, $4,477. 3, Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas, 17.33, $3,544. 4, Bristan McCarley, Happy, Texas, 17.35, $2,611. 5, Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 17.55, $1,679. 6, Hadley Tidwell, La Luz, N.M., 17.62, $933.
Bull Riding: 1, Gavin Mitchell, Graford, Texas, 88.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s The Judge, $5,200. 2, Robbie Taylor, Chinle, Ariz., 87, $4,300. 3, Ernie Courson, Jr., Okeechobee, Fla., 86, $3,400. 4, Qynn Anderson, Koumala, Queensland, Australia, 85.5, $2,500. 5, Jesse Petri, Dublin, Texas, 83.5. $1,600. 6, Mason Spain, Forney, Texas, 82.5, $900.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (second round winners) 1, Ty Brenna, Keene, N.D., 82 points on Smith Pro Rodeo’s 180, $1,242. 2, Josue Molina, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico,, 80, $941. 3, (tie) Tayson Jones, Howes, S.D., and Mitchell Story, Bayfield, Colo., 79, $564 each. 5, Jase Stout, Bayfield, Colo., 77, $263. 6, Tag Moses, Keenesburg, Colo., 76.5, $188.
(overall winners) 1, Molina, 159, $1,242. 2, (tie) Story, 157, $941. 3, Logan Nunn, Lovell, Wyo., and Moses, 153.5, $564 each. 5, Izaah Bartels, New Underwood, S.D., 153, $263. 6, (tie) Jasper Frost, Browns Valley, Calif., and Stout, 152. $94 each.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Crazy Horse, $600. 2, /M Ranch, $450. 3, Gotta Go, $300. 4, Young Gunz, $150.
Steer Roping: (first round winners) 1, Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla., 13.1, $6,941. 2, Blake Deckard, Eufaula, Okla., 14.0, $6,036. 3, Tuff Hardman, Atoka, Okla., 14.7, $5,131. 4, Kelton McMillen, Weatherford, Okla., 15.0, $4,225. 5, Brodie Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla., 15.3, $3,320. 6, (tie) Billy Good, Wynnewood, Okla.; Jesse Stipes, Salina, Okla., and Cash Fretwell, Pleasanton, Texas, 16.1, $1,056 each.
(second round winners) 1, Riley O’Rourke, Skiatook, Okla., 12.0 seconds, $6,941. 2, Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo.,12.2, $6,036. 3, Cash Myers, Kaufman, Texas, 12.4, $5,131. 4, Clay Long, Stephenville, Texas, 12.5, $4,225. 5, Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla.,13.3, $3,320. 6, (tie) Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla.; Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas; and Ryan Rochitz, Pine Bluffs, Wyo., 13.4, $1,509 each.
(finals qualifiers) 1, Deckard. 2, Clay Long, Stephenville, Texas. 3, Poppino. 4, Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla., 5, Roger Nonella, Redmond, Ore., 6, Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas, 7, Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas, 8, Ty Williams, Sulphur, Okla., 9, Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kansas. 10, Tuff Hardman. 11, Dalton Walker, Clyde, Texas. 12, Chris Pearson, Broken Bow, Neb.’
Local favorite Brody Cress of nearby Hillsdale won Semi Final 2 of saddle bronc riding at Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) with 89.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s horse Devils Advocate. He will be aiming for the CFD record books on Championship Sunday when he tries to become the only cowboy since CFD began in 1897 to win four saddle bronc riding titles. CFD photo by Laura Storey
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding
Saddle bronc riding fans have been on the edge of their seats through all of Cheyenne Frontier Days and are in for a treat again today. The youngest boys in Cody Wright’s family, Stetson and Statler are both in the mix. Stetson needs to do well here to move inside the top 15 in the world standings.
Stetson is currently 15th in the world and Statler is 10th. Stetson needs to earn money to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in both of his events, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. Statler wants to be the second member of his family to earn a title at Frontier Park. Stetson was the all-around champion here in 2019, 2021 and 2023, the bull riding champ in 2019 and 2023 and saddle bronc in 2021 and 2022.
Brody Cress is also on a mission. The local favorite is hoping to become the first man in the history of events here to win four saddle bronc riding titles. The rodeo officially began in 1897, and saddle bronc riding was one of the first rodeo competitions held. Cress grew up right here in Laramie County and for him to win four titles would be amazing. He will need to be among the top six finishers today. Also watch for Ian McGivney from Kaycee who went to college in Cheyenne and Brody Wells from Powell who competed at his first NFR last December.
There are two former CFD champs in the bareback riding, Richmond Champion who won it in 2014 and Clay Jorgensen, the champion last year. They are going up against the world standings leader, Rocker Steiner and last year’s world champion, Dean Thompson.
Ernie Courson is always a crowd favorite in the bull riding. When he has a good ride, he will find a spot on the fence, climb up and do a back flip in the arena. He got to do that twice here, once during the rodeo and once during the Xtreme Bulls competition. Courson has been close to qualifying for the NFR, but injuries have kept him outside the top 15. A win here at Cheyenne could be life-changing for him. He is inside the top 50 and could move up significantly. Courson travels across the country with his family and has sons who want to follow in his footsteps.
No one wants to win a bull riding championship here any more than Trey Kimzey. His older brother, Sage, competed here for years and even though he won seven gold buckles for being the best, Sage never got to be on stage here. Clayton Sellars is also waiting for his first win here. He is 13th in the world standings and needs to stay among the top 15 to qualify for his fifth NFR. Sellars is bicoastal with a place in Florida and California. His wife, Billie, is saddle bronc rider Lefty Holman’s sister, and they have a baby boy named Pancho.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing
Breakaway roping might be the toughest timed event of Semi Final 2. World number 1 Taylor Munsell who has qualified for every National Finals Breakaway Roping (NFBR) since 2021 leads the field along with four-time and reigning world champion Kelsie Domer. Danielle Lowman, a proud member of the Navajo Nation who attended Dine College, has made three trips to the NFBR and five to the Indian National Finals Rodeo. She recently joined the PRCA so that she can compete in team roping in her circuit, an event she started competing in at age 10.
Also roping today are Maddy Deerman who is fifth in the standings, former high school champion Quincy Sullivan and three others ranked in the top 35. Sierra Spratt may live in Arizona now, but she is a Wyoming girl who grew up in Shoshone.
The tie-down roping features 2022 CFD co-champion Cory Solomon, an NFR veteran, and former world champion Tyson Durfey who is back in championship form after a short retirement. Recent high school graduate Kyan Wilhite was the National High School Champion last year.
Eli Lord won the CFD steer wrestling title in 2019 and proved that was no fluke by winning it again in 2023. Today’s roster also includes 2022 World Champion Jacob Edler and NFR veterans Tristan Martin and Riley Duvall. Duvall and his 20-year-old cousin Nathan, who both are competing today, are part of a steer wrestling dynasty that started in the 1960s with Riley’s grandfather Bill and his world champion great-uncle Roy. Roy who was CFD champion in 1967 with Bill as hazer.
Team roping will feature four former CFD champions, none of whom are roping with the same partner that they won with here before. The 2015 CFD champ Luke Brown is heading for 2019 CFD winner Trey Yates. 2018 champion heeler Joseph Harrison has teamed with fellow Oklahoman Bubba Buckaloo while 2023 champion header Billy Bob Brown is roping with fellow Texan Blaine Vick. Also in the field is Jeremy Buhler who was the first Canadian heeler to qualify for the NFR and the first to win a world championship. Buhler is roping with Aaron Tsinigine who was the first Navajo to earn a heading world title.
The barrel racing features three former CFD champions. Three-time world champion Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi won the title here in 2007, the year she won her first world championship. Lisa Lockhart, who has more career earnings in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association than any other barrel racer, took home the championship package in 2015, and Shali Lord was co-champion with Nellie Miller during the infamous hailstorm on Championship Sunday in 2019. Tonozzi is second in the 2025 standings and Lockhart is 15th.
Emilee Pauley of Wall, South Dakota, is hoping the family success at the “Daddy of ‘em All” extends to barrel racing. Her father, Bud Pauley, won the saddle bronc riding at CFD in 1985 and her brother, Jesse Bail, won that event in 2011 in Frontier Park.
Semi Finals 1 of the 2025 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) ended Friday with half of the roster for Championship Sunday filled.
Wyoming bull rider Hayden Welsh of Gillette made the crowd cheer the loudest when he rode Korkow Rodeos’ bull named Salinas for 90.5 points. The 19-year-old son of seven-time National Finals Rodeo (NFR) bull rider Bobby Welsh bested 17 other cowboys to win Semi Finals 1. He has a chance on Sunday to leave Frontier Park with the Welsh family’s first CFD championship.
Welsh wasn’t the only 19-year-old to rack up 90 points on Friday. Oklahoma’s Wacey Schalla dominated the bareback riding with his own 90-point ride on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s horse named Brazos.
Schalla, who is second in the world in both the all-around and bull riding standings, is 29th in the bareback riding world rankings. He would love to qualify for his second NFR in both events after debuting in the bull riding last year. He added $3,500 to his earnings Friday and a win on Sunday would give an even bigger boost to that goal.
Jordan Jo Hollabaugh is the “OG” of breakaway roping at Cheyenne Frontier Days since she won the championship the first time the event was held at Frontier Park in 2019. Then she was Jordan Jo Fabrizio and was wearing her now-husband Raymond Hollabaugh’s CFD champion buckle when she won her own. The next-to-last to rope in the semifinals, she took first with a time of 4.9 seconds.
Reigning world champion team ropers Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp were also next-to-last to rope and topped the field with a 9.3-second run. Wade won the championship here in 2019, roping with Dakota Kirchenschlager, but Thorp is trying to rope his first CFD title.
Riley Pruitt of Gering, Nebraska, won more than $5,000 in the qualifying round for CFD last week. While he didn’t match his qualifier time of 9.6 seconds, his 10.7 was the fastest since the rodeo performances started last Saturday and earned him another $5,200.
Pruitt, son of 1990 world champion Troy Pruitt, last qualified for the NFR in 2019. He boosted his chances to make a fourth trip to Las Vegas when he won the NFR Open in Colorado Springs last month and has continued to rope well since.
Three athletes who have had success at Frontier Park, but never broken through to the winners’ circle, won the semifinals in their specialties. Four-time world champion Zeke Thurston rode Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ horse named Kay’s Big Bay for 87.5 points to take the saddle bronc riding.
Justin Shaffer of Hallsville, Texas, qualified for his first NFR last year in steer wrestling and is ranked 17th now. He won the semifinal with a 5.9-second run. Emily Beisel of Weatherford, Oklahoma, has been to the NFR six times and has a stable of standout horses. This year at CFD she has ridden Vanilla Gorilla, an eight-year-old palomino that she calls Trigger. The horse that she raised is getting his first major rodeo experience at CFD this year. The duo won their quarter final with a 17.24 last Sunday and notched the win today with a 17.27.
Saturday’s Semi Final 2 features quarterfinal winners who did not compete on Friday and begins at 12:45 p.m. when the rest of the field for Championship Sunday will be decided. The end of competition and the crowning of the champion in Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding also happens on Saturday in Frontier Park.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 25, 2025)- The following are unofficial results from the Semi Finals (seventh performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Friday, July 25. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla., 90 points on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Brazos, $3,518. 2, Jess Pope, Waverly, Kan., 88.5, $2,665. 3, (tie) Mason Stuller, Veneta, Ore.; Sam Petersen, Helena, Mont.; and Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb.; 87, $1,279 each. 6, Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La., 86.5, $533.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb., 10.7 seconds, $5,200. 2, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 11.7, $4,300. 3, John Douch, Huntsville, Texas, 12.4, $3,400. 4, Cole Clemons, Okeechobee, Fla., 12.6, $2,500. 5, Tom Simpson, Malad, Idaho, 12.7, $1,600. 6, Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash., 15.0, $900.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Jordan Hollabaugh, Pueblo, Colo., 4.9 seconds, $6,510. 2, Hannah Giger, Wilburton, Okla., 5.1, $4,932. 3, Jacee Currin, Heppner, Ore., 5.2, $3,551. 4, Bailey Bates, Tohatchi, N.M., 5.5, $2,367. 5, Rylee George, Oakdale, Calif., 5.6, $1,381. 6, Shawnee Sherwood, Coolidge, Ariz., 6.0, $986.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, 87.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Kay’s Big Boy, $3,416. 2, Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho, 86.5, $2,588. 3, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 84.5, $1,242. 5, Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan., 83.4, $725. 6, Q McWhorter, Petrolia, Calif., and Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, 82, $259 each.
Team Roping: 1, Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas, and Wesley Thorp, Stephenville, Texas, 9.3 seconds, $5,200 each. 2, (tie) Devon Johnson, Red Oak, Texas, and Zane Pratt, Congress, Ariz.; and Blaine Turner, Batesville, Ark., and Ethan Cory, Hico, Texas, 9.8, $3,850 each. 4, Justin Young, Phoenix, Ariz., and Talon Salazar, Gill, Colo., 10.2, $2,500 each. 5, Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala., and Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla., 10.3, $1,500 each. 6, Kash Bonnett, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada, and Logan Cullen, Courtenay, B.C., Canada, 10.4, $900.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas, 5.9, $4,060. 2, Mason Couch, Bronaugh, Mo., 6.6, $3,360. 3, Tyke Kipp, Lordsburg, N.M., 7.5, $2,660. 4, Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, La., 7.7, $1,960. 5, Paul Melvin, Paradise, Texas, 7.8, $1,260. 6, Talon Roseland, Marshalltown, Iowa, 8.0, $700.
Barrel Racing: 1, Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 17.27 seconds, $5,410. 2, Bryanna Haluptzok, Ardmore, Okla., 17.32, $4,477. 3, Summer Kosel, Glenham, S.D., 17.33, $3,544. 4, Carlee Otero, Perrin, Texas, 17.35, $2,611. 5, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.43, $1,679. 6, Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 17.44, $933.
Bull Riding: 1, Hayden Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 90.5 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Salinas, $3,441. 2, Colton Fritzlan, Rifle, Colo., 88.5, $2,607. 3, Hayes Weight, Goshen, Utah, 87, $1,877. 4, (tie) Jestyn Woodward, Custer, S.D., and Dakota Warnken, Wakarusa, Ind., 84, $991 each. 6, Andy Guzman, Oakdale, Calif., 83, $521.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding (first round winners): 1, Jasper Frost, Browns Valley, Calif, 83 points on Smith Pro Rodeos A30, $1,242. 2, Izaah Bartels, New Underwood, S.D., 81, $941. 3, Logan Nunn, Lovell, Wyo., 79.5, $677. 4, (tie) Rope Roghair, Isabel, S.D., and Josue Molina, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, 79, $359 each. 5, Mitchell Story, Bayfield, Colo., 77.5, $188. (second round leaders) 1, Molina, 80 points on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s 158. 2, Tayson Jones, Howes, S.D., 79. 3, Tag Moses, Keenesburg, Colo., 76.5. 4, Eastan West, New Underwood, S.D., 76. 5, Devin Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 75. 6, Nunn, 74. (overall leaders) 1, Molina, 159. 2, (tie) Nunn and Moses, 153.5 each. 4, Regan Lyons, Snyder, Texas, 150.5, 5, Easton West, New Underwood, S.D., 149. 6, Roghair, 146.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Young Gunz, $600. 2, Gotta Go, $450. 3, Buntin Pump, $300. 4, Turquoise Rose, $150.
Hayden Welsh, a 19-year-old from Gillette, Wyoming, is quickly becoming a crowd favorite at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Welsh, whose father qualified for the National Finals Rodeo seven times, scored 90.5 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Salinas to win Semi Finals 1 and advance to Sunday’s championship. CFD photo by Click Thompson
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding
The field is as stacked in bareback riding as in any event. A couple of former CFD champions, Orin Larsen (2016) and Kade Sonnier (2023) and former world champion Jess Pope lead a group that includes five of the top 15.
Wacey Schalla’s bid for the 2025 All-Around World Championship could get a big boost if he does well in the bareback riding. The number 1 bull rider in the world standings did not qualify for the semifinals in that event, but he’s second in the all-around and 22nd in the bareback riding.
A pair of Wyoming bareback riders – Tuker Carricato of Saratoga and Myles Carlson of Evanston – should have the crowd’s full support today. Carricato is a two-time national champion at the high school level and is excited to be riding here with guys that he has looked up to.
Ryder Sanford holds the CFD record in saddle bronc riding, set when he won the championship here in 2023. He’d love to repeat, but to get to Championship Sunday he’ll need to do well in a field that includes four-time world champion Zeke Thurston and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ranked bronc riders in the world standings – Canadian Dawson Hay (whose dad Rod won the title here over 25 years ago), Australian Damian Brennan and Idaho’s Kade Bruno – plus three other Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifiers.
The bull riding roster includes two cowboys who did not make the initial cut for CFD and were walk-up replacements at the last minute. Louisiana’s Walon Buquoi and Texan Tyce Willis both capitalized on the opportunity in the Quarter Finals and, with continued success, have a good chance to make the finals.
Tristen Hutchings has finished among the top 5 in the world for the past two seasons and is currently ranked third in the world bull riding standings.
Hayden Welsh of Gillette has already become a crowd favorite at Frontier Park this year and is hoping to follow in his dad Bobby’s footsteps. (Bobby Welsh qualified for the NFR seven times.) The Cheyenne championship never happened for Bobby, so for a Welsh to win it would be gratifying for the whole family. Thayne Elshere of Hereford, S.D., was also inspired by his family. His father JJ Elshere rode saddle broncs at the NFR many times and his cousin Cole Elshere had success in both saddle bronc and bull riding. Don’t count out Hayes Weight who finished second in the world last season.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing
The tie-down roping features reigning CFD and world all-around champion Shad Mayfield who could make history as the first roper to win back-to-back championships in Frontier Park. Aiming to spoil that is a field of top ropers, including two-time world champion Riley Webb and 2004 world champion Monty Lewis. Also among today’s ropers are three others in the top 15 – John Douch, Kyle Lucas and Riley Pruitt. All three of them have champion mentors – five-time world champion Joe Beaver, seven-time NFR qualifier and 1985 CFD champion Joe Lucas, and 1990 world champion Troy Pruitt, respectively.
New Mexico’s Rooster Yazzie has a chance at the CFD all-around, steer wrestling and team roping titles. He has already won money in both events, is in the steer wrestling today, and will rope tomorrow. Paul Melvin’s father Marty Melvin was all-around champion at CFD in 1983, and Paul would love to bring home a second title for the family from Frontier Park. Cash Robb, 22, already has one NFR under his belt, and he won the coveted average title in Las Vegas last year. Kyle Irwin has been to six NFRs and won the average there in 2022.
A pair of Oklahomans, Mason Appleton and Rance Doyal, set a new PRCA record in team roping of 3.2 seconds at Nampa, Idaho, last month. Although the start of the cattle are given here means times are much longer, they are capable of winning under any circumstance. Reigning world champions Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp are among today’s teams. Wade won the title here in 2016 with Dakota Kirchenschlager. Nelson Wyatt and Jonathan Torres, a pair of NFR veterans, were featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter last night when the iconic news show broadcast live from CFD.
Four-time World Champion Hailey Kinsel headlines a stellar field of barrel racers. She won the CFD championship in 2021. Also competing today is Sue Smith of Blackfoot, Idaho, who won CFD in 2023 and holds the arena record at 16.89. South Dakota’s Summer Kosel and her horse Apollo tied the fastest time of this year’s rodeo yesterday with a 17.00. They set the arena record here in 2022 and broke their own record in 2023 which held for two runs until Smith broke it.
Anita Ellis, also of Blackfoot, Idaho, may be the hottest barrel racer in the world right now. She rocketed from 32nd in the standings to 5th on the strength of winning everything she could, including the championship at the Calgary Stampede early this month.
Jordan Jo Hollabaugh won the inaugural breakaway roping at CFD as Jordan Jo Fabrizio. Since then, she has married former CFD tie-down champion Raymond Hollabaugh and is known for her breakaway roping podcast “In the Loop.” Hope Thompson qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping in 2020 and wants to be back there this year. A win here could boost her chances of returning to breakaway’s world championship. Oklahoma college cowgirl Hannah Giger has already won more than $7,800 at Frontier Park this year. She won one pool of the qualifying round with a time of 3.5 seconds then won her quarterfinals with a 4.6.
With the conclusion of Quarter Final 6 on Thursday afternoon, the field for Thursday’s and Friday’s Semi Finals of the 2025 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) is set.
Reigning CFD champion tie-down roper Shad Mayfield of Clovis, N.M., was the final roper of the quarterfinals. His 12.1-second time was fast enough to win Quarter Final 6 and advance him to the Semi Finals.
Mayfield, the reigning world champion all-around cowboy, currently leads the world championship standings in his signature event and has a chance to make CFD history if he continues to win in Frontier Park. Since the event began at CFD in 1920, nine ropers have won the championship here two or more times, but none of them have managed back-to-back titles. If Mayfield advances to Championship Sunday and wins, he will be the first to do so.
Summer Kosel and her horse Apollo, registered as Firewaterfrenchfame, must love to compete in Frontier Park. The South Dakota barrel racer and her main mount have set the arena record twice at Cheyenne Frontier Days – first in 2022 with a time 17.02. They broke their own record in 2023 with 16.97, only to have 2023 CFD champion Sue Smith clock a 16.89 two runs later.
On Thursday Kosel and Apollo tied the fastest time of this year’s rodeo – 17.00 – to win Quarter Final 6. Kosel qualified for the NFR in 2023 and is ranked 23rd this season, so continued success here could give her a major boost in the standings.
Team ropers Nelson Wyatt of Clanton, Alabama, and Jonathan Torres of Ocala, Florida, roped their steer in 9.4 seconds to win Quarter Final 6. Wyatt has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) twice and Torres three times. This season Torres is ranked fifth and Wyatt is 15th. The duo will appear on ESPN’s SportsCenter tonight as part of the iconic daily sports news program’s 50 states in 50 days feature.
Four-time world champion saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston has won almost every major rodeo in North American, including winning his fourth Calgary Stampede title earlier this month, but the Canadian cowboy has yet to win the CFD championship. He started his quest for the elusive prize package with a 90.5 score on Dakota Rodeo’s Cover Girl to win Quarter Final 6.
Friday’s Semi Final 1 features winners from Quarter Finals 4-6 and begins at 12:45 p.m. Those who advanced from Quarter Finals 1-3 will compete on Saturday afternoon.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 24, 2025)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (sixth performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Wednesday, July 23. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Myles Carlson, Evanston, Wyo., 88 points on Smith Pro Rodeo’s Broadway Boots, $2,722. 2, Jacek Frost, Browns Valley, Calif., 87.5, $2,042. 3, Kade Berry, Weatherford, Texas, 85.5, $1,361. 4, Mason Stuller, Veneta, Ore., 85, $681.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Bailey Bates, Tohatchi, N.M., 5.0 seconds, $3,157. 2, Amanda Terrell, LaSalle, Colo., 5.2, $2,367. 3, Samantha Fulton, Miller, S.D., 5.4, $1,578. 4, (tie) Danielle Lowman, Gilbert, Ariz., and Shawnee Sherwood, Coolidge, Ariz., 6.1, $395 each.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 12.1 seconds, $2,000. 2, Bo Pickett, Caldwell, Idaho, 13.2, $1,500. 3, Kyle Lucas, Carstairs, Alberta, Canada, 13.4, $1,000. 4, Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb., 13.5, $500.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, 90.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Cover Girl, $2,643. 2, Zac Dallas, Las Cruces, N.M., 88.5, $1,982. 3, Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, 88, $1,321. 4, Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah, 86, $661.
Team Roping: 1, Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala., and Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla., 9.4 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Skeeter Hill, Stephenville, Texas, and Tommy Zuniga, Yoakum, Texas, 9.7, $1,500 each. 3, Devon Johnson, Red Oak, Texas, and Zane Pratt, Congress, Ariz.,10.1, $1,000 each. 4, Kash Bonnett, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada, and Logan Cullen, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada, 10.2, $500 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Tyke Kipp, Lordsburg, N.M., 6.7 seconds, $2,000. 2, Tristan Martin, Sulphur, La., 7.1 seconds, $1,500. 3, Paul Melvin, Paradise, Texas., 7.2, $1,000. 4, Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas, 8.1, $500.
Barrel Racing: 1, Summer Kosel, Glenham, S.D., 17.00 seconds, $2,487. 2, Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 17.42, $1,865. 3, Anita Ellis, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.47, $1,244. 4, Piper Cordes, Wall, S.D., 17.56, $622.
Bull Riding: 1, (tie) Luke Mast, Hutchinson, Kansas, on Dakota Rodeo’s Born to Sin, and Cimarron Rucker, Liberty Hill, Texas, on Dakota Rodeo’s Whatever, 87 points, $2,163 each. 3, Elijah Mora, Wiggins, Colo., 86, $1,664. 4, Andy Guzman, Oakdale, Calif., 85.5, $666.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding (first round leaders): 1, Logan Nunn, Lovell, Wyo., 79.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s 419. 2, (tie) Rope Roghair, Isabel, S.D., and Josue Molina, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, 79. 4, Regan Lyons, Snyder, Texas, 77.5. 4, (second round leaders) 1, Molina, 80 points on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s 158. 2, Tayson Jones, Howes, S.D., 79. 3, Tag Moses, Keenesburg, Colo., 76.5. 4, Eastan West, New Underwood, S.D., 76. (overall leaders) 1, Molina, 159. 2, Roghair, 146. 3, (tie) Nunn and Moses, 143.5 each.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Turquoise Rose, $600. 2, Young Gunz, $450. 3, Crazy Horse, $300. 4, Buntin Pump, $150. (Fifth performance-July 23) 1, Turquoise Rose, $600. 2, Gotta Go, $450. 3, Billy Scharton, $300. 4, TeamAgin.com, $150.
Summer Kosel of Glenham, S.D., and her horse Firewaterfrenchfame (nicknamed Apollo) tied the fastest time of this year’s Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo to win Quarter Final 6. The duo stopped the clock in 17.00 seconds, two-hundredths of a second faster than the first time they set the arena record here in 2022. They broke that record in 2023 with a 16.97 which held for two runs until 2023 CFD champ, who still holds the record, ran a 16.87. CFD photo by Tonya Hamner.
Damian Brennan, the 2024 reserve world champion saddle bronc rider from Australia, took first place in Quarter Final 5 at Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) on Wednesday. Brennan, who is currently third in the 2025 standings, scored 90 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s horse named Black Mesa. He edged Wyoming’s Brody Wells by 1.5 points. Both Brennan and Wells advance to the Semi Finals later this week, along with two other bronc riders.
His score matched the best of the rodeo so far, set in Quarter Final 2 by Coleman Shallbetter. Brennan was excited to get the win. Although he has had some success at the “Daddy of ‘em All”, this was the first time he has won a round. His score matched the highest of this year’s CFD.
Rodeo is in Thayne Elshere’s DNA. The second-oldest son of National Finals Rodeo (NFR) veteran saddle bronc rider JJ Elshere of Hereford, South Dakota, Thayne competes in that event, but like his cousin Cole Elshere (another NFR veteran), Thayne also competes in bull riding, and that’s where he was successful on Wednesday.
Elshere scored 90.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s bull named Macho Man to win Quarter Final 5. That was the highest score so far this year at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. He was 1.5 points higher than Cheyenne’s Brenson Bartlett.
California bareback rider R.C. Landingham bested the field on Wednesday. His 89-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s horse named Hillbilly matched the high bareback riding score of the week in Frontier Park set on Tuesday by Kade Sonnier.
Landingham currently sits 13th in the standings and is aiming for his sixth NFR.
Not to be outdone by the rough stock riders, breakaway roper Sidney Peters of Hot Springs, South Dakota, caught her calf in 3.6 seconds, the fastest time of the Quarter Finals so far. She will return for the Semi Finals.
Taylor Baize of San Angelo, Texas, is hoping to carry on a family tradition with a win in Frontier Park. Her father Casey Baize was CFD champion bull rider in 2003. She rode her 18-year-old veteran horse MRT Easy on the Pepr (nicknamed Bo) for a time of 17.44 seconds to win the Quarter Final.
Thursday is Give Cancer the Boot Day at CFD. The last Quarter Final of the 2025 rodeo begins at 12:45 p.m. where a new group of rodeo athletes in every event but bull riding will make their bids to advance in the tournament-style format.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 23, 2025)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (fifth performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Wednesday, July 23. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 89 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Hillbilly, $2,722. 2, (tie) Weston Timberman, Columbus, Mont., and Sam Petersen, Helena, Mont., $ 1,701 each. 4, (tie) Jess Pope, Waverly, Kan., and Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 86.5, $ each.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Sidney Peters, Hot Springs, S.D., 3.6 seconds, $3,157. 2, Jacee Currin. Heppner, Ore., 4.3, $2,367. 3, Hope Thompson, Abilene, Texas, 5.2, $1,578. 4, Sierra Spratt, San Tan Valley, Ariz., 5.2, $340 each.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Cole Clemons, Okeechobee, Fla., 12.0 seconds, $2,000. 2, Myles Kenzy, Iona, S.D., 12.9, $1,500. 3, Jarvis Demery, Beggs, Okla., 14.4, $1,000. 4, Cole Eiguren, Fruitland, Idaho, 15.9, $500.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Damian Brennan, Injune, Queensland, Australia, 90 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Black Mesa, $2,643. 2, Body Wells, Powell, Wyo., 88.5, $1,982. 3, Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho, 86, $1,321. 4, Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan., 86, $661.
Team Roping: 1, (tie) Blaine Turner, Batesville, Ark., and Ethan Cory, Hico, Texas; and Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla., and Tanner Braden, Dewey, Okla., 9.6, $1,750 each. 3, Mason Appleton, Chelsea, Okla., and Rance Doyal, Kenefic, Okla.,10.0, $1,000 each. 4, Rooster Yazzie, Coyote Canyon, N.M., and Shawn Murphy, Tohatchi, N.M., 10.7, $500 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, (tie) Wyatt Schaack, Wall, S.D., and Kyler Dick, Oakley, Utah, 6.1 seconds, $1,750 each. 3, Jace Mayfield, Midwest, Wyo., 7.0, $1,000. 4, Rooster Yazzie, Coyote Canyon, N.M., 6.8, $500.
Barrel Racing: 1, Taylor Baize, San Angelo, Texas, 17. 44 seconds, $2,487. 2, Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 17.51, $1,865. 3, Avery Ledesma, Las Cruces, N.M., 17.60, $1,244. 4, McKinlee Paschal, Nome, Texas, 17.71 $622.
Bull Riding: 1, Thayne Elshere, Hereford, S.D., 90.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Macho Man, $2,662. 2, Brenson Bartlett, Cheyenne, Wyo., 88.5, $1,785. 3, (tie) Cade Griego, Stanley, N.M.; Andy Guzman, Oakdale, Calif., and Tyce Willis, Alvord, Texas, 87.5, $595 each.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding (first round leaders): 1, Logan Nunn, Lovell, Wyo., 79.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s 419. 2, (tie) Rope Roghair, Isabel, S.D., and Josue Molina, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, 79. 4, Regan Lyons, Snyder, Texas, 77.5. 4, (second round leaders) 1, Molina, 80 points on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s 158. 2, Tag Moses, Keenesburg, Colo., 76.5. 3, Eastan West, New Underwood, S.D., 76. 4, Nunn, 74. 5, Lyons 73. (overall leaders) 1, Molina, 159. 2, (tie) Nunn and Moses, 143.5 each. 4, Lyons 140.5.
Wild Horse Race: Results not available.
Australian Damian Brennan scored 90 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s horse named Black Mesa to win Quarter Final 5 at Cheyenne Frontier Days on Wednesday. Brennan is now advancing and hoping to leave here with a championship on Sunday. CFD photo by Laura Storey
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding
We expect another great day of bareback riding this afternoon. While we have a star-studded lineup, the only former CFD champion on the roster is Clayton Biglow, who won the title in 2019 and went on to win his first gold buckle that year. He also tied for the championship here in 2023. A lot happened between those two titles: Clayton got married, became a dad and is carrying on the tradition of raising the next generation of cowboys.
The next generation of bareback riders is all looking for successful rides today. Weston Timberman, who won the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in 2023 and 2024 and qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last year as well as the reigning college champion Cooper Filipek are in the mix. Filipek won that title in June representing Wyoming’s Gillette College.
Also riding today are the 2022 world champion Jess Pope and NFR qualifier Garrett Shadbolt. Jess is currently sixth in the world standings. Garrett has a bit of an advantage at third place and took some time off to be at home when his wife, Katie, gave birth to their fourth child and third girl, Prairie Ann.
Ruger Piva’s favorite rodeo is Cheyenne Frontier Days because it is the first big rodeo where the bull rider got a big check. He joined the PRCA in 2016 and won the bull riding here two years later. He won the title at Wyoming’s Cody Stampede, and if he were to win another title in the Cowboy State, he might just look for some property to invest in. There are several newcomers on the list who are hoping for those big checks that jump start a career.
The saddle bronc riding is stacked with talent with six NFR qualifiers, some contenders and a former world champion and CFD champ. Jacobs Crawley won the title here in 2016 and earned his first world championship the same year. Of the 12 competitors on today’s roster, six are among the top 15 in the world standings including Wyoming’s own Brody Wells who competed at his first NFR last December.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing
We have another all-around candidate competing in the steer wrestling and team roping today. Eli Lord competed in those two events on Tuesday and advanced in the steer wrestling. Today, Rooster Yazzie is among the steer wrestlers and then will do the heading for Shawn Murphy. He would love to represent the Navajo Nation on stage on Sunday as a champion here. Erich Rogers won the title here in 2017 heading for Cory Petska. This year he is roping with Kollin VonAhn who was the champion heeler here in 2015.
Jace Mayfield had success here a year ago and wants to build on that this year. Mayfield is the grandson of world champion Frank Shepperson and nephew of NFR qualifier Les Shepperson. He recently competed at the College National Finals Rodeo, competing for Central Wyoming College at Riverton, where he finished as the reserve champion all-around cowboy.
Tucker Allen qualified for his first NFR last December and is looking for his first steer wrestling gold buckle. Allen won RodeoHouston last March, moved to the top of the world standings with that and has remained in the top spot since then. Allen also does the hazing for other competitors. He is known for his horsemanship and cowboy try, two things that serve any competitor well here.
San Angelo, Texas, has become known as the tie-down roping capital of the world, and Dylan Hancock is solidifying the moniker. Dylan was one of three competitors from the town to compete at last year’s NFR. Hancock is on the roster today and hoping to take a title from the “Daddy of ‘em All” back home to celebrate his cowboy skills.
Sierra Spratt may list San Tan Valley, Arizona, as her home, but really the breakaway roper is a Wyoming Cowgirl. She grew up near Shoshoni, Wyoming, then attended Cal Poly State University and earned her master’s degree in communications. Along with competing at rodeos, she is also a broadcaster and television producer for Teton Ridge, owner of the Cowboy Channel.
Hope Thompson didn’t grow up in a rodeo family but has been making a living with a rope through breakaway competitions and clinics. She qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping in 2020. She is just outside the top 50 in the world standings, and a win here could change her whole season.
Today’s barrel race has two major family connections. Taylor Baize, a rising star, is competing in the same arena her father won the bull riding title over 20 years ago. Casey Baize won that title in 2003.
Kelly Yates watched her brother J.D. Yates win the steer roping here in 1994, then the all-around awards in 2016. Three years later, her nephew, Trey Yates, J.D.’s son, won the team roping with Dustin Bird. Kelly would love to add her own name to the list of Cheyenne’s champions and continue the Yates legacy in Frontier Park.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 22, 2025) — The first Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Xtreme Bulls event at Cheyenne Frontier Days saw excited fans, motivated contestants and big payoffs.
Competition was held during the night show portion of the Western celebration on July 21 and 22. Forty of the world’s best competed for a total purse of over $100,000. Night one saw world champion Stetson Wright from Beaver, Utah, score 92.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Rank Frank. Oklahoma’s Wacey Schalla finished in second place with a 90.5.
The second night, Schalla, who makes his home in Arapaho finished at the top of the board with a 91.5-point ride on Universal Pro Rodeo’s Debo. The 2023 world champion, Ky Hamilton finished second and Wright was third.
The title here was awarded based on a total score from the two rides and Schalla narrowly edged Wright for the historical win. Schalla had a total score of 182 earnings $28,607. Wright, who has earned numerous championships at Cheyenne’s rodeo had 181.5 points. He earned $24,127.
Hamilton finished third with 180 points earning $18,612. There were five of the riders who were successful on two rides.
The following are results from the second night of the Cheyenne Frontier Days PRCA Xtreme Bulls.
Round 2: 1, Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla., 91.5 points on Universal Pro Rodeo’s Debo, $10,340. 2, Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, 90.5, $7,927. 3, Stetson Wright, Beaver, Utah, 89, $5,859. 4, Clayton Sellars, Fruitlandpark, Fla., 88.5, $3,791. 5, (tie) Wade Tuni, Rock Point, Ariz., and Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., 88, $2,068. 7, Ramon De Souza, Decatur, Texas, 87, $1,379. 8, (tie) Cooper James, Erda, Utah, and Colton Byram, Mound City, Kan., 86.5, $517.
Total on two: 1, Schalla, 182, $10,340. 2, Wright, $7,927. 3, Hamilton, 180, $5,859. 4, Sellars, 174.5, $3,791. 5, Colten Fritzlan, 174, $2,413. (on one) 6, Coy Pollmeier, Fort Scott, Kan., 89.5, $1,723. 7, J.R. Stratford, Byers, Kan., 89, $1,379. 8, (tie) Ernie Courson Jr., Okeechobee, Fla., and Hudson Bolton, Milan, Tenn., 88.5, $517 each.
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding
If yesterday’s bull riding was any indication of what is in store for today, look out. We had 18 contestants and 12 of them got scores. The six high scores advance to the Semi Finals, and the rest of the field is trying to score high enough today to secure their spots. Hayes Weight, the number four man in the PRCA’s world standings, was at the top of the board with an 87. Last year’s bull riding champion here, TJ Gray, had an 82 yesterday and that was not high enough to advance. He is hoping to be among the top six today.
These bull riders are all pulling double duty as they are competing in Cheyenne Frontier Days’ first-ever Xtreme Bulls Monday and Tuesday night. Someone could go down in history as champion at both events.
In 2023, there was a three-way tie for the bareback riding champion, and fans got to see Kade Sonnier, Cole Reiner and Clayton Biglow share the stage. Today, Kade and Cole are both in the field. The win at Frontier Park helped all three of these men qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo that year. It would certainly help them in their quest to be in Las Vegas in December again this year. Kade is 12th in the world standings and Cole is 24th. Winning at Frontier Park was especially gratifying for Cole who is a native Wyoming cowboy.
That was also the year that Ryder Sanford set a new saddle bronc riding record at Frontier Park with a 92.5-point ride. That score got him the championship saddle and winner’s package and helped him qualify for his first NFR. Sanford will be here today hoping for a repeat, but he has a bunch of Canadians who also want to be at the top of the leaderboard. Of the 12 riders here today, seven are neighbors from north of the border. That list includes several NFR qualifiers and one Canadian with Wyoming ties. James Perrin, from Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, won the saddle bronc riding at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) representing Casper College.
The 2024 CNFR champion Gus Gaillard is 16th in the saddle bronc riding world standings. A year ago, Gaillard was competing for Tarleton State University. Now, he’s hoping to do well enough to advance to the Semi Finals here, earn a big check and move inside the top 15 in the world standings. If that happens, he will be competing at his first NFR.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing
Nobody has had more success in this arena in team roping than heeler Jade Corkill. The event has been a regular part of the rodeo competition since 2001, and Corkill has earned titles here three times with three different headers. His first title here came in 2009 with Chad Masters. Then he won in 2013 with Clay Tryan and in 2021 with Clay Smith. This year he advanced out of the Qualifier with Clint Summers doing the heading. Jade took a break from rodeoing but is back big time. He and Clint recently won the Cody (Wyoming) Stampede and are currently ninth in the world standings.
Hayes Smith knows about winning in this arena and his memories are very fresh. He won the rodeo last year heading for Justin Davis. This year, Hayes has Jason Duby as his heeler. Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nunes Nogueira are always crowd favorites and that should be true in Cheyenne today. Kaleb and Junior have won two gold buckles together, and fans love it when this duo does their thing together. Junior is known to lay back on his horse when he ropes well, and he has never had the opportunity to do that in front of a crowd in Frontier Park.
Eli Lord knows how to win at Frontier Park, and he is looking good for an all-around title here this year. He won the steer wrestling in 2019 then came back and did it again in 2023. It was no fluke for the South Dakota talent. This year, he placed second in the steer wrestling Qualifier and has already earned over $4,000. Along with the steer wrestling, Lord is also heading in the team roping for Jason James today.
Anything can happen in the steer wrestling here and often does. A lot of first-time contestants are hoping to add their names to the Semi-Finals qualifiers, and several of them have the opportunity today, including, Cinch Painter, who competed at the CNFR in June and Traver Johnson, who is leading the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings.
Sue Smith won this rodeo two years ago and is back ready for another title. Currently 30th in the world standings, if she has another run here like she did in 2023, she could move up in the standings and have the opportunity to compete at the NFR in December. Smith is a cancer survivor who is known for her grittiness, work ethic and ability to uplift others. LaTricia Duke and Halyn Lide both qualified for the NFR last year and would like to be there again. LaTricia is 16th in the world standings. Halyn has more ground to make up at 41st.
Shelby Boisjoli-Meged made history in breakaway roping as the first winner at the Calgary Stampede. She is hoping to keep that momentum going and add a CFD title to her resume. She currently leads the world standings and is in contention for her second world title. She will be competing today with Wyoming cowgirl Haiden Thompson who has had a very successful college career. She tied for first place in the breakaway roping qualifier with a time of 4.2 seconds. Thompson’s younger sister Hadley just won the breakaway, goat tying and women’s all-around titles at the National High School Finals Rodeo.
Not only are contestants hoping to be among the top fifteen in the world standings that qualify for the NFR, but many of them are also trying to be inside the top 40 so they can compete at limited-entry building rodeos next winter. Having a good winter can jump start a contestant’s season and give them momentum before they ever get to Cheyenne to compete at the “Daddy of ’em All.”