The Dandies are a group of girls that volunteer, working countless hours throughout the year, practicing riding horses while holding sponsor flags. The girls learn to work in a team, be responsible, and have great public speaking skills. The Dandies girls continue to make the rodeos an amazing experience, promoting the Western way of life.
Q Taylor was high and tight, spurring within a point of Cheyenne Frontier Days saddle bronc riding arena record on July 29 in the semi-finals competition that moved the Canadian cowboy on to the championship on July 30. Taylor chose Casper College as a home for becoming a better rodeo cowboy, following the advice of a friend and talking with T-Birds head coach Jhett Johnson along with his assistant coach for rough-stock riders, Sandy Bob Forbes. The plan worked, advancing Q’s skill to the point of being in contention for rookie-of-the-year honors and potentially qualifying for his first national finals in Las Vegas.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 28, 2023 — Friday was a day for Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) Rodeo fans to cheer for contestants with ties to the Cowboy State.
It started in the bareback riding when Donny Proffit from Diamondville, Wyoming, scored 85.5 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s Southland’s Mental Illness. That was good for second place and now the University of Wyoming senior is advancing to the Championship Finals. He finished behind Clayton Biglow from Clements, California who won the CFD title in 2019, the same year he won the world championship. Also advancing to Sunday is Wyoming native Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier Cole Reiner who grew up around Kaycee and Buffalo.
The big winner in Semi Finals 1 in breakaway roping lives in the far northeast corner of the state. Shayla Hall is a ranch-raised cowgirl who lives near Colony. She went to high school in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, as it was closer to the ranch, then earned a track and field scholarship to the University of Wyoming.
The talented athlete has now graduated, married Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) team roper Brenten Hall and is focused on the rodeo arena. That concentration worked well in Frontier Park on Friday as she stopped the clock in 4.6 seconds to win the day. She will be roping again on Sunday and hoping to be the first Wyoming woman to win a breakaway title at the “Daddy of ‘em All.”
Rodeo fans may not have heard of Q Taylor, but if he continues to ride like he did here on Friday, he will join the ranks of elite saddle bronc riders in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Taylor grew up in Alberta, Canada, then moved to Wyoming to attend Casper College where he qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo. Prior to Cheyenne’s rodeo, he was 17th in the world standings, just two spots out of the top 15 who qualify for the NFR and compete for world championships.
He scored 90 points on Saturday on Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin’ to win Semi Finals 1. That was just one point off the arena record of 91 set by Cody DeMoss in 2010. He placed in the Quarter Finals and earned almost $2,000. With his ride today, he added another $3,000. He is hoping to leave Cheyenne with a new buckle as the champion and add even more money to his earnings. He is likely to move into the top 15 with the money he earns here.
Stetson Wright is on track to add to his CFD buckle collection. He has earned five of them in Frontier Park so far. He had the high marked ride in the bull riding on Friday at 90. He rode Dakota Rodeo’s bull named Trump Train for 90 points and will be in the bull riding on Sunday. He won that event here in 2019.
He will compete Saturday in Semi Finals 2 in saddle bronc riding. He is a two-time and defending champion here in that event so his ride on Saturday will determine if he gets to ride for that buckle as well on Sunday. He also has won two all-around titles here and is the favorite in that category this year.
Semi Finals 2 begins Saturday at 12:45 p.m. where the last group of Championship Finals qualifiers will be determined.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 28, 2023)- The following are unofficial results from Semi Finals 1 (seventh performance) and Finals qualifiers at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Thursday, July 27.
Bareback Riding: 1, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 85.5 points on Sanky Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bull’s Great Nation, $3,144. 2, Donny Proffit, Diamondville, Wyo., 84.5, $2,182. 3, Ben Kramer, Max, N.D., 84, $1,715. 4, Jacek Frost, Browns Valley, Calif., 83, $1,143 5, (tie) Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La.; Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas; and Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo., 81.50, $381 each.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Shayla Hall, Colony, Wyo., 4.6 seconds, $5,983. 2, Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 4.7 seconds, $2.901. 3, (tie) Willow Wilson, Baggs, Wyo., and Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas, 4.9, $ each. 5, Bryana Lehrmann, Lexington, Texas, 5.2, 6 Cassidy Boggs, Stephenville, Texas, 5.8, $ .
Tie Down Roping: 1, Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 10.2 seconds, $5,200. 2, Britt Bedke, Oakley, Idaho, 10.5, $4,300. , 3, Luke Potter, Maple City, Kansas, 11.3, $3,400. 4, Quade Hiatt, Canyon, Texas, 12.3, $2,500. 5, Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif., 12.6, $1,600. 6, Marcos Costa, Tolar, Texas, 12.9, $900.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Q Taylor, Casper, Wyo., 90 points on Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin’, $3,010. 2, Ryder Sanford, Sulphur, La., 86, $2,280 . 3, Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 85.5, $1,642. 4, Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah, 84, $1,094 . 5, Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 83.5, $638. 6, Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D., 83, $456.
Team Roping: 1, Eric Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 8.4, $5,200 each. 2, (tie) Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz., and Dylin Ahlstrom, Hooper, Utah; and Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 8.5, $3,850 each. 4, Bubba Buckaloo, Kingston, Okla., and J.R. Gonzalez, Maypearl, Texas, 9.0, $2,500 each. 5, Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil, 9.3, $1,600 each. 6, Billy Bob Brown, Carbon, Texas, and Kirby Blankenship, Lampasas, Texas, 9.8, $900 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Tristan Martin, Sulphur, La., 5.8 seconds, $4,060. 2, Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., 6.4, $3,360. 3, Don Payne, Stephenville, Texas, 7.0, $2,660. 4, Rowdy Parrott, Bellville, Texas, 7.1, $1,960. 5, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 8.0 $1,260. 6, Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, S.D., 8.4, $700.
Barrel Racing: 1, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.37 seconds, $5,248. 2, Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo., 17.43, $4,343. 3, Taycie Matthews, Wynne, Ark., 17.45, $3,438. 4, (tie) Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla., and Sharon Harrell, Wickenberg, Ariz., 17.65 seconds, $2,081 each. 6, Tara Seaton, Winslow, Ariz., 17.68, $905.
Bull Riding: (five rides) 1, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 90 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Trump Train, $3,203. 2, Cullen Telfer, Plant City, Fla., 88.5, $2,450. 3, Trey Holston, Fort Scott, Kansas, 87, $1,790. 4, (tie) Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., and Tyler Taylor, Stephenville, Texas, 85.5, $989.
The following events do not have Semi Finals.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round winners) 1, Caleb Brangham, Big Piney, Wyo., 85 points, $1,242. 2, Hunter Greathouse, Santa Fe, Texas, 82, $941. 3, Lavern Borntreger, Elsmere, Neb., 79, $677. 4, (tie) Isaac Richard, Eunice, La.; Slade Keith, Stanfield, Ariz., and Denton Mars, Freedom, Okla., 78, $301 each.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Wagon Burners, $550. 2, Team Agin, $413.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 27, 2023 — Former world champion Shane Hanchey won his first Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) tie-down roping championship in 2018. Five years later the Louisiana native is swinging his rope in hopes of catching another title at the “Daddy of ‘em All.”
Although he did not place in the qualifying round at CFD last week, Hanchey won Quarter Finals 6 on Thursday to punch his ticket to Friday’s Semi Final. Another good run on Friday will put him into Championship Sunday for a chance to rope the title.
Hanchey is currently ranked sixth in the world standings and headed to his 14th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR). Hanchey is fresh off wins this month at St. Paul, Oregon, and Salt Lake City where he earned the gold medal and $10,000.
The judges have scored several bull rides in the 90s at the 127th CFD and Boudreaux Campbell of Crockett, Texas, joined that group with a 90-point effort on Dakota Rodeo’s bull named Melanie’s Dream Thursday at Frontier Park.
Campbell needed a high score to win Quarter Finals 6 and qualify for Friday’s Semi Finals. Bull riders here get two chances to advance to the Semi Finals in consecutive performances. The top six each day earn a Semi Finals berth, and Campbell had bucked off his first bull on Wednesday.
Campbell finished 8th in the Professional Bull Rider’s (PBR) Unleash The Beast Tour in May and has been dividing his time between rodeos and PBR events. He competed in Frontier Park on Monday and Tuesday night as a member of the Carolina Cowboys PBR team.
Thursday’s barrel racing was one of the toughest Quarter Finals in barrel racing with 9 of the 11 cowgirls posting times of under 18 seconds. The quickest run of this fast group was made by Pawhuska, Oklahoma’s Wenda Johnson. Johnson, who has qualified for the past three NFRs, rode her bay gelding Steal Money, nicknamed Mo, to win the day with a time of 17.20.
A nurse practitioner, Johnson earned a doctorate of nursing in the spring of 2021. She works part-time in the emergency department, homeschools her two daughters and helps her rancher husband as well as being one of the top barrel racers in the world.
The first Semi Finals begins Friday at 12:45 when the top six in each event will earn a berth in the final round on Championship Sunday.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 27, 2023)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (sixth performance) and Semi Finals qualifiers at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Thursday, July 27. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., 84.5 points on King Wentz Rodeo’s Red Velvet, $2,448. 2, Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas, 83.5, $1,836. 3, (tie) Will Lowe, Amarillo, Texas, and Kaycee Field, Genola, Utah, 83, $918 each.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Bryana Lehrmann, Lexington, Texas, 4.6 seconds, $2.901. 2, Jacelyn Frost, Randlett, Utah, 4.7, $2,176. 3, Amanda Coleman, Stephenville, Texas, 5.1, $1,450. 4, Danielle Lowman, Gilbert, Ariz., 5.3, $725.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Shane Hanchey, Carmine, Texas, 11.2 seconds, $2,000. 2, Marcos Costa, Tolar, Texas, 12.0, $1,500. 3, Luke Potter, Maple City, Kansas, 12.3, , $1,000. 4, Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif., 13.9, $500.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Karson Mebane, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 85.5 points on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Good Time Girl, $2,354 . 2, Tegan Smith, Winterset, Iowa, 84, $1,766 . 3, Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 83, $1,177. 4, Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah, 83., $589.
Team Roping: 1, Cooper and Tucker James White, Hershey, Neb., 8.1 seconds, $2,000 each; 2, Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas, and Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas, 8.2, $1,500 each. 3, (tie) Bubba Buckaloo, Kingston, Okla., and J.R. Gonzalez, Maypearl, Texas, 9.2, and Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 8.2, $750 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D., 5.4 seconds, $2,000. 2, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 7.9, $1,500. 3, Reed Kraeger, Waco, Neb., 8.0, $1,000. 4, Payden McIntyre., 8.7, $500.
Barrel Racing: 1, Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla., 17.20 seconds, $2,413. 2, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.37, $1,810. 3, Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 17.44, $1,206. 4, Tara Seaton, Winslow, Ariz., 17.50, $603.
Bull Riding: 1, Boudreax Campbell, Crockett, Texas, 90 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Melanie’s Dream, 86, $2,397. 2, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 86, $1,798. 3, Trey Holston, Fort Scott, Kansas, 84.5, $1,199. 4, Cullen Telfer, Plant City, Fla., 84, $599. Other Semi Finals qualifiers: Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, and Lukasey Morris, Union City, Okla.
The following events do not have Semi Finals.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Clancy Glenn, Parma, Idaho, 79. 2, Tayson Jones, Howes, S.D., 75. 3, Slade Keith, Stanfield, Ariz., 73. 4, Nick Joyce, Juntaura, Ore., 69.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Hooligan Inc., $550. 2, Cowboy Chaos, $413. 3, Wagon Burners, $275. 4, Team Agin, $138.
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding
The cream has definitely risen to the top at the 127th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo and it’s only going to get better. The top six contestants in each of the events from the Semi Finals will advance to Sunday’s Championship Finals. Today’s bareback riding features contestants who have won 10 gold buckles. Kaycee Feild has the most at six, but he has yet to win a championship at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Will Lowe is on the roster too. He has three gold buckles and three championships at Frontier Park. Clayton Biglow won the championship here in 2019, the same year that he earned his world title. There are three men that are in contention for the Rookie of the Year title that want to add their names to the history books here, Kade Sonnier, Jacek Lane Frost and Donny Proffit. Proffit hails from the Cowboy State and a win here in his rookie season would really be special. Cole Reiner has come one step closer to his goal of winning the biggest rodeo in his home state when he qualified for the Semi Finals.
Saddle bronc is a full circle moment for the Hay family today. Not only are brothers Dawson and Logan competing, the horse that Dawson is getting on, Pin Cup owned by New Star Pro Rodeo was actually raised by their father Rod in Wildwood, Alberta. Rod won the saddle bronc riding here in 2000 and along with his sons, his nephew Ben Anderson, is also competing today. If any of today’s saddle bronc riders advance and win the title it will be a first-time on the champions podium for them.
There are 14 bull riders that are vying for six spots in Sunday’s championships. Highlighting today are Sage Kimzey and Stetson Wright who went one and two on Wednesday. Stetson is in the lead of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Standings and Sage is hot on his tail. Sage has won 7 world titles and needs one more to tie for the most gold buckles in that event. Surprisingly, he has yet to win a buckle at Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Shane Proctor won this rodeo in 2011 and went on to win a gold buckle. The bull riding veteran grew up in Washington. He started his college career at Northwest College in Powell and did a lot of fine tuning on his rodeo career at the Cody Nite Rodeo, so even though he now lives in Oklahoma, he has a lot of ties to the cowboy state.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing
Shane Hanchey is the only tie-down roper in the field to have a CFD buckle in his trophy collection, but there are several other competitors that have had a lot of success here. Shad Mayfield came here in 2019 after winning the title at the National High School Finals Rodeo and the money he earned here helped him qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Marcos Costa came to the U.S. from Brazil and competed here while traveling with world champion Stran Smith. He’s never gotten the title but come close on a couple of occasions. He is known for his horsemanship and that is truly an asset in this big arena. Marcos is the 2017 world champion and was the first Brazilian to win a gold buckle in a single event.
Fellow countryman Junior Nogueira won the world all-around title in 2016 roping calves and team roping. He is one of the best heelers ever and has two gold buckles to prove it. He won both of those heeling for Kaleb Driggers who will be on the head end today. They are one of the most exciting teams to watch and if they do well today, expect Junior to ride out of the arena with his trademark smile just like he did during the Quarter Finals. Team roping has been part of the rodeo here since 2001 and the only one of today’s competitors that has made a victory lap as a champion at “the Daddy” is Erich Rogers who won it with Corey Petska in 2017. Today, he is roping with world champion heeler Paul Eaves.
There are two college rodeo coaches competing in steer wrestling today. Kyle Whitaker is the coach at Montana State University and Cameron Moreman recently took a position as the assistant coach at Dickinson State University in North Dakota. Tyler Waguespack has four world titles to his credit but has yet to win a title here.
Wenda Johnson stopped the clock in 17.20 seconds here on Thursday in the women’s barrel racing, one of the fastest times here so far. To make conditions better for barrel racers and their horses, the committee is working the arena after every six runs. Times are expected to be faster after the tractor and equipment come out. Johnson was the sixth out yesterday and will be the second after the tractor today so her time today could be even better.
Taycie Matthews might want to buy land in Wyoming. She won the College National Finals Rodeo in June, then rodeos in Cody and Casper before coming here. She won her Quarter Finals and is looking to add to her winnings in the Cowboy state today.
Today’s breakaway roping promises to be exciting today as well with veterans and seasoned competitors doing their best to stop the clock in under six seconds. Winning runs here have been around four-seconds and we expect to see that in Frontier Park again.
The Indian Village, the place to be to wind down after a long day at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Completely free, with lots of shade, resting areas, vendors, and performances.
Semifinals action opens this afternoon at Cheyenne Frontier Days, and a pair of former Central Rocky Mountain Region college student-athletes advanced by winning the day team roping on July 27 in the big Frontier Park arena. Cooper White competed for the Gillette College Pronghorns while brother Tucker was a Lamar Community College ‘Runnin Lope. Cheyenne can turn around a year for cowboys and cowgirls trying to make the national finals. The Whites will be out today, shooting for a spot in the championship round on July 30.
Oklahoma barrel racer Wenda Johnson entered Cheyenne Frontier Days one spot out of the top fifteen. On July 28, she greatly improved her chances for a national finals qualification by advancing to the Cheyenne semis with the fastest time so far at ‘The Daddy.’ Johnson and her speedy steed ‘Steal Money’ stole the show. Each CFD barrel racer approaches the long entry to the electric eye start as it best suits their horse.
With the help of her childhood horse, Willow drew a good calf, scoring a 4.7 on July 26.
On July 26, Cheyenne Day, the Challenge rodeo took place, which the Laramie County School District kids participated in. An ongoing tradition of Cheyenne Frontier Days that continues to bring smiles to the children of CFD.