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The second performance of Cheyenne Frontier Days saw some first timers rising to the top of their events.
Seth Peterson had the fastest time of the steer wrestling at 7.6. Peterson grew up near Minot, North Dakota, moved to Laramie to attend the University of Wyoming where he is a recent graduate with degrees in agricultural business and finance. While at school his favorite class was finance because the movement of money was interesting.
Now, he may be putting those lessons to use. Peterson earned $1,951 for his fast time in steer wrestling and also finished second in the tie-down roping with a time of 11.7 to add another $1,424 to his bank account. He has advanced to the Semi Finals in both events and is in contention for Cheyenne Frontier Day’s All-Around Championship.
Fans couldn’t tell that it was breakaway roper, Josey Murphy’s first time in front of an audience at Frontier Park. Murphy has the fast time of the rodeo breaking the record set at the first performance by Josie Eichler who had a 4.3. This is the second year that the rodeo has included breakaway roping, so records could fall again before the Championship Finals. Murphy had a picture-perfect run stopping the clock a full second faster at 3.3 seconds. The sophomore at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, kept looking back at the scoreboard in disbelief while praising her horse as she rode out of the arena. Fans will have another chance to watch her during the Semi Finals.
Saddle bronc rider Sage Newman is having the best year of his four as a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association member. He is currently 11th in the world standings and could improve on that with success here. He won the second Quarter Finals with an 87-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s California Kiss. Newman, from Melstone, Montana is headed to the Semi Finals after his very first appearance at Frontier Park.
Quarter Finals three will start at 12:45 p.m. on Monday with a new set of contestants.
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The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (third performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Wild River and Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., on Carr Pro Rodeo’s First Kiss, 83 points each, $2,142 each. 3. Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah, 82, $1,224. 4, Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 78.5, $612.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Josey Murphy, Keachi, La., 3.3 seconds, $2,952. 2, Kerby Lane Anderson, Grover, Colo., 4.77, $2,214. 3, (tie) Tibba Smith, Hobbs, N.M., and Jordi Edens, Gatesville, Texas, 5.1, $1,106 each.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas, 11.0 seconds, $1,899. 2, Seth Peterson, Wellington, Colo., 11.7, $1,424. 3, Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 11.9, $949. 4, Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 12.2, $475.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round – 1, Colt Cunningham, Rose, Okla., 80 points. 2, Dylan Schofield, Philip, S.D., 77. 3, Wyatt Lohman, Weatherford, Okla., 76. 4, Damian Brennan, Snyder, Texas, 75. Second round – 1, Bailey Bench, Oakley, Idaho, 71 points. 2, Locky Shepherd, Snyder, Texas, 67. 3, Caleb Meeks, Geraldine, Mont., 64. 4, Lucas Macza, High River, Alberta, 62.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s California KISS, $2,354. 2, (tie) Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, and Tegan Smith, Winterset, Iowa, 86.5, $1,471 each. 4, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 82.5, $589.
Team Roping: 1, Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 10.1 seconds, $1,847 each. 2, Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 10.3, $1,386 each. 3, Curry Kirchner, Ames, Okla., and Austin Rogers, Crescent, Okla., 10.6, $924 each. 4, Philip Schuman, Johnstown, Colo., and Josh Fillmore, Penrose, Colo., 11.1, $462 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Seth Peterson, Wellington, Colo., 7.6 seconds, $1,951. 2, Richard Coats, Hastings, Neb., 10.2, $1,463 . 3, Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 12.0, $975 . 4, Mike McGinn, Huston, Idaho, 12.4, $488.
Barrel Racing: 1, Jimmie Smith, McDade, Texas, 17.61 seconds, $2,225. 2, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.64, $1,669. 3, Lindsay Stock, Bozeman, Mont., 17.78, $1,112. 4, Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 17.89, $556.
Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 82 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Touch N Go, $2,397. 2, Jesse Hopper, Mangum, Okla., 80, $1,798. 3, Laramie Mosley, Palestine, Texas, $1,198.
Wild Horse Race: (one qualified ride) Team Meanus, $782.
Montana’s Sage Newman has been having a very successful year and that continued at the “Daddy of ‘em All,” on Sunday. The Melstone resident rode Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s horse California Kiss for 87 points. His top spot-on Sunday’s leaderboard will see him competing in the Semi Finals at the end of the week. CFD photo by Dawn McDonnell
With 125 years of history behind it, the rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days is where legends are made and that gets contestants’ blood pumping any time they get in the arena.
It certainly was the case for Texan John Douch in the tie-down roping. Douch joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2017. The very next year, the Huntsville resident finished one spot out of qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at number 16.
This year he is on a mission to be in Las Vegas in December and compete for a gold buckle that says he is the world’s best. He’s very familiar with those gold buckles. His mentor Joe Beaver has won eight of them, five in the tie-down roping and three all-around championships.
Douch is on pace to do something that his mentor never accomplished, win a championship at the “Daddy of ‘em All.” He stopped the clock in 14.0 seconds in the qualifier round to advance to the Quarter Finals which began at the first performance on Saturday afternoon.
In front of a sold-out crowd, he was at the top of the leaderboard with an 11.3-second run. He now will be competing at the Semi-Finals that starts on Friday. Douch is currently in 18th place in the world standings so anything he wins is going to help him achieve his goal of competing for rodeo’s championships in December.
Jessica Routier has become a very familiar face in barrel racing circles, thanks to her great horse Fiery Miss West, “Missy.” The 10-year-old palomino mare has taken her to three NFRs and earned Routier many rodeo championships. One from Frontier Park would be among the biggest.
The barrel racing here started out with a field of over 200. Routier qualified for the Quarter Finals by being among the top 72. She will now be competing at the Semi Finals after stopping the clock in 17.41 seconds, one of the fastest times of the rodeo so far. She and her husband have five children and raise cattle near their home in Buffalo, South Dakota.
The second performance of the Quarter Finals will start at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday with another great crowd expected.
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 24, 2021) – The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (first performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 24. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Mat Turner, Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia, 77 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dodge Avenger, $2,448. 2, Bodee Lammers, Stephenville, Texas, 75, $1,836. 3, Mike Fred, Wamego, Kan., 73.5, $1,224. 4, Keenan Reed Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 73, $611.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Josie Eichler, Newburg, Mo., Newburg, Mo., 4.3 seconds, $2,952. 2, Jayme Marcrum, Springtown, Texas, 5,1, $2,214. 3, Kayelen Helton, Stephenville, Texas, 5.2, $1,476. 4, Kirsten Smith, Fruita, Colo., 5.7, $737.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, John Douch, Huntsville, Texas, 11.3 seconds, $1,899. 2, Chance Oftedahl, Pemberton, Minn., 11.6, $1,424. 3, Jase Staudt, Nathrop, Colo., 12.4, $949. 4, Craig Leonard, Sonora, Texas, 12.6, $475.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (one ride) 1, Kody Rhinehart, Rienzi, Miss., 71 points.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, Huntsville, Texas, 85.5 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hired Gun, $2,354. 2, Logan Cook, Alto, Texas, 84, $1,766. 3, Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla., 81.5, $1,177. 4, Cameron Messier, Herald, Calif., 80, $589.
Team Roping: 1, Jason Stewart, Pendleton, Ore., and Jason Duby, Klamath Falls, Ore., 9.3 seconds, $1,847 each. 2, Tanner Baldwin, Vail, Ariz., and Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 9.5, $1,386 each. 3, Logan Olson, Flandreau, S.D., and Matt Kasner, Cody, Neb., 12.1, $924 each. 4, Cooper Bruce, Springer, Okla., and Reed Lewis Boos, White Cloud, Kan., 14.9, $462 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Chance Howard, Sadler, Texas, 6.0 seconds, $1,951. 2,(tie) Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., and Jay Williamson, Iowa, La., 8.2, $1,219 each. 4, Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D., 8.8, $488.
Barrel Racing: 1, Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 17.41 seconds, $2,225. 2, Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, 17.75, $1,669. 3, (tie) Jana Bean, Ft. Hancock, Texas, and Shelly Mull, Amity, Ore., 17.79, $834 each.
Bull Riding: 1, Mason Spain, Forney, Texas, 84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Outer Limits, $2,397. 2, Braden Richardson, Carthage, Texas, 82.5, $1,798. 3, Jesse Hopper, Mangum, Okla., 79.5, $1,198. 4, Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 78.5, $599.
John Douch, of Huntsville, Texas, won the tie-down roping at the first performance of Cheyenne Frontier Days. He stopped the clock in 11.3 seconds to advance from the Quarter Finals to the Semi Finals. – PRCA photo by Click Thompson.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – When the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) bucks back into Cheyenne, Wyoming for Last Cowboy Standing July 20-21, fans will see one of the marquee stops on the elite series tour as the world’s top bull riding athletes take on the rankest bucking bulls in the business at the premier celebration of cowboy life and Western entertainment.
The 2020 summer season Major, a higher-profile regular-season event offering more world standings points and prize money, is the second year of partnership between the leading bull riding league and world’s largest outdoor rodeo.
For two nights, the Top-40 bull riders in the world will attempt to conquer the sport’s rankest bulls on the historic Wyoming dirt in Cheyenne, strapping in for their shot to make the buzzer and gain crucial world points.
The 10-day iconic Cheyenne Frontier Days festival features the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, concerts by top name entertainers, dining, shopping, educational exhibits, Native American Indian performances, a Western Art show, U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds performance, pancake breakfasts, parades that feature antique carriages and Western pageantry galore.
In 2019, fans attending the inaugural PBR Last Cowboy Standing stop in Cheyenne saw some of the season’s best bull riding capped by an epic win for a fiery athlete from Arkansas with an incredible comeback story. Just one-year prior Chase Outlaw suffered what some considered a career-ending blow when he was pulled down on a bull named War Cloud in the very same arena.
Breaking 30 bones in his face, requiring emergency surgery to insert 11 plates and 68 screws, Outlaw was advised by some to find another profession. Determined to prove them wrong and continue his quest for his first world title he turned in a monster performance in 2019’s Round 2 – a remarkable 93.5-point ride aboard Smooth Wreck – earning him the high marked ride of the year and helping carry him into the final three rounds. Outlaw’s other qualified ride came in Round 4 when he rode Rising Sun for 90.5 points. The 27-year-old came off before the 8 in Round 3 on Budakon and in Round 5 atop Cochise.
As the two nights of passionate bull riding under the lights came to a close, he stood in the historic arena with tears streaming down his face claiming the title of 2019 Last Cowboy Standing.
Riders just like Outlaw from around the world will descend upon the “Daddy of ‘em all” to vie for the 2020 title.
The bull riding action begins at 7:45 p.m. on Monday, July 20 and 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21. Tickets for the two-day event go on sale Saturday, Nov. 9. They range in price from $22 to $102 and can be purchased through www.cfdrodeo.com, at PBR.com or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
PBR Elite Seats are available for avid bull riding fans who want a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s top bull riding circuit. These tickets offer premium seats and the VIP experience of a lifetime, including a reception; pre-show backstage and chute tour by a PBR Stock Contractor, a question and answer presentation with some of the top bull riders in the world, special meet and greets and a visit with the sport’s bovine athletes; a 2020 PBR program; and the opportunity for photos and autographs from top PBR stars and the coveted trophy.
The PBR Elite Seats are available for $300 both nights and can be purchased through www.cfdrodeo.com or by contacting the PBR Customer Service Department at 800-732-1727.
About PBR
PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 700 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast Tour (UTB), which features the top 35 bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. PBR’s digital assets include RidePass, which is home to Western sports. PBR is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports and content company. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Mandi McCary / mandi@mmgnv.com
Savannah Messenger has been named Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) Lady-In-Waiting 2020 after a selection process including submitting a written application, an accomplishment book, a horsemanship skills demonstration and an interview.
Savannah is the daughter of Kirk Messenger, Raedene Messenger and the late Mark Messenger. She is a 2016 graduate of Cheyenne Central High School. Currently, Savannah is a dental assistant at Grand Avenue Dental Center, and she is perusing a degree in communications at Laramie County Community College.
Messenger has participated in grand parades, and she was a CFD Dandy in high school. She volunteers as an outrider on the Parades Committee, and she also volunteers on Public Relations Committee as a coordinator for the visiting state royalty.
“My heart is so full as I prepare to take on the responsibilities and goals of promoting and representing the World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo and Western Celebration. I feel very privileged to be the 124th Lady-in-Waiting for the Daddy of ‘em All. Thank you to the CFD General Committee, I am truly honored to ride for the brand,” Messenger said.
Savannah will work with Miss Frontier, Bailey Bishop in 2020 to represent Cheyenne Frontier Days™ in both the United States and Canada.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 28, 2019) – For the past 123 years, the spirit of the West has been the centerpiece of Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD).
This year’s edition of the 10-day celebration embraced that same spirit while seeing new opportunities designed to enhance the fan experience. The most notable addition to Frontier Park is the Cheyenne Frontier Days Event Center at the southwest corner of the arena.
Constructed in less than a year, the multipurpose building is being used for offices, meeting rooms and has a special viewing area for sponsors and VIPs as well as a ticketed rooftop area. The building will be available year-round. It was well utilized for Cheyenne Frontier Days and will be a centerpiece in the master plan for future growth.
This year’s rodeo had 1,550 contestants competing for over $1 million in prize money with the addition of women’s breakaway roping and a tournament-style format. In 2018, there were 1,350 competitors with prize money at $845,788
At the Championship Finals on Sunday, 13,432 fans witnessed history when local favorite Brody Cress won the saddle bronc riding for the third time. Sunday’s attendance saw an increase of 1,000 tickets over 2018. Cress, from Hillsdale, is the first man to win three consecutive titles since the rodeo started in 1897. When he rides here again next year, he will be trying to beat his own record and join the legendary list of saddle bronc riders who have won here four times.
Action in the arena on Frontier Park started with a Wild West Show on July 19 with events that reflected rodeo’s history including women’s ranch bronc riding. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association action as well as the CFD Invitational Breakaway Roping started with qualification rounds July 12. The first full rodeo performance was held July 20.
The highest attended rodeo was on Saturday, July 27 at 14,215. All rodeo performances were broadcast on the Cowboy Channel. The Wrangler Network streamed the semifinals and finals, bringing the rodeo to a worldwide audience.
Professional Bull Riders (PBR) hosted their Last Cowboy Standing competition on July 22-23 as part of Frontier Nights. The last bull rider standing on Tuesday night was Chase Outlaw who had been seriously injured one year ago. It was one of the best night show crowds since Frontier Days added bull riding with 9,863 in attendance. The events were broadcast on PBR’s Ride Pass and CBS Sports.
Many of the activities during CFD are centered around animals. An estimated 6,000 make their way through the rodeo arena, parades and at the bull riding. Comprehensive reports showed 140 of those animals examined, 55 of them required treatment and all but two were expected to make a full recovery.
Rodeo attendance through nine performances was 97,373 slightly less than in 2018 but still higher than 2017. The night show featuring Post Malone boasted a capacity crowd of 22,500 and was the fastest selling concert in CFD history. Night show attendance was up at 120,518 and increase from 2018. Total attendance for the 123rd celebration was slightly higher than in 2018.
A partnership with Colorado State University’s (CSU) Equine Clinical Services program provided comprehensive care for the third year. The CSU Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation veterinarians provided care similar to athletic trainers for contestants. Onsite services included digital radiographs, ultrasound, acupuncture, chiropractic care and shock wave therapy. The Justin Sportsmedicine Team was on site and along with local medical personnel provided over 400 treatments.
Other numbers were in line with previous years. Four parades were estimated to have over 90,000 visitors. Three pancake breakfasts saw 22,713 meals served and 50,998 visited the Indian Village.
Military Monday continues to be popular. All branches of the military were honored with active personnel and veterans receiving free admission. The U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leapfrogs, thrilled rodeo and night show fans by jumping into the arena at Frontier Park and the USAF Thunderbirds are always a big hit. The Thunderbirds also performed over F.E. Warren Airforce Base with approximately 19,500 people in attendance.
“This was a year of great change,” said Jimmy Dean Siler, General Chairman of Cheyenne Frontier Days. “I want to thank our volunteers, sponsors, rodeo contestants and most of all our loyal fans. We are looking forward to 2020.”
2019 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Champions
(money is total earned during the rodeo)
Bareback Riding – Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 91 points, $11,784
Steer Wrestling – Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 6.9 seconds, $8,628
Team Roping – (header) Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., 7.8 seconds $11,979
(heeler) Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., $11,979
Saddle Bronc Riding – Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyoming, 87.5 points, $12,585
Tie-Down Roping – Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 10.5 seconds, $12,615
Barrel Racing – Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, California, 17.22 seconds, $20,687
Bull Riding – Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 93 points, $13.253
Steer Roping – Trey Sheets, Cheyenne, Wyo., 45.6 seconds (on three) $19,903
Breakaway Roping – Jordan Jo Fabrizio, Canyon, Texas, 4.18 seconds, $17,515
All-Around – Stetson Wright, $16,007 won in saddle bronc and bull riding
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 28, 2019) – History was made on Championship Sunday of the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD.) While this year’s rodeo debuted a tournament-style competition format, some familiar faces rode into the winner’s circle.
Local favorite Brody Cress became the first saddle bronc rider to win three consecutive CFD championships when he rode Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bucking horse Resistol’s Top Hat for 87.5 points.
Saddle bronc began in Cheyenne in 1897 and only Earl Thode, who won four titles between 1927 and 1934, has more wins here than Cress. Hall of fame cowboy Turk Greenough won three in the 1930s and 13-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) cowboy Cody DeMoss has won three beginning in the 21st century.
Cress, whose hometown is nearby Hillsdale, extended the traditional winner’s victory ride on horseback around the arena to three full laps – one for each of his titles. The cheers from the crowd grew louder with each trip.
“Frank (Thompson-the CFD arena director) told me to make three laps,” Cress said with a smile. “I’ve been listening to Frank my whole life, so I wasn’t going to stop now.”
The $12,585 Cress won in Frontier Park will help him on his quest for a third consecutive NFR qualification. He is currently ranked 28th and needs to be among the top 15 on September 30 to return to Las Vegas.
Nellie Miller of Cottonwood, California, became the first barrel racer since Kristie Peterson in 1998 to successfully defend her CFD championship. The 2017 world champion, who is currently ranked second in the 2019 standings, won $20,697 dollars in Frontier Park, making her the highest money winner of the rodeo.
“This is such a traditional-filled rodeo,” Miller said. “It’s so special to win here. My horse loves big pens and she runs well here.”
She rode the blue roan mare named Rafter W Minnie Reba (called Sister) that she raised and trained. They rounded the pattern in 17.22 seconds, an identical time to that set by Shali Lord of Lamar, Colorado, seven runs earlier. While both women shared the final round’s first and second place prize money, Miller won the tiebreaker to be crowned champion based on having the fastest time in the earlier rounds.
The 19-year-old professional rodeo rookie sensation Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, has begun carving out his own place in the CFD record books. Wright became the first rough stock cowboy to win the all-around title at the Daddy of ‘em All since Chad Eubank in 2007 won money in bareback and bull riding.
Wright qualified for Championship Sunday in both saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He thought his shot at the all-around title might have slipped away when he bucked off Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s saddle bronc Utopia. But the money he had earned in the quarterfinals and semifinals in saddle bronc riding still counted toward the all-around.
The defeat in the bronc riding made Wright more determined to do well in bull riding, his favorite event. When the day began, he was second in the world championship standings, just about $16,000 behind five-time world champion bull rider Sage Kimzey.
Parker McCown of Montgomery, Texas, set the bar high when he scored 90 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bull Hacksaw Ridge. Wright was the next-to-last cowboy to compete and he came within a single point of the CFD bull riding record with 93 points on Dakota Rodeo’s bull Safety Meeting.
That earned Wright both the bull riding and the all-around championship and his own place in the record books. Wright comes from a legendary bronc riding family. He is the third-oldest son of two-time world champion Cody Wright; the brother of world champion Ryder and NFR bronc rider Rusty; the nephew of world champions Spencer and Jesse; and three other uncles have qualified for the NFR in bronc riding.
“I’d have figured one of them would have won it before now,” he said. “What really means the most to me is to be the first member of my family to win a title here.”
Wright, who turns 20 on Tuesday, won just over $16,000 in two events with more than $13,000 from bull riding.
Clayton Biglow of Clements, California, was the final bareback rider to compete. Former CFD champ Richmond Champion has just scored 89.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Prairie Rose, so Biglow knew he needed 90 points or more to win the title and he delivered.
He made a wild ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bucking horse Witchy Woman and earned 91 points from the judges to win his first CFD title in four tries.
2019 has been Biglow’s best rodeo season thus far. He is ranked second in the world championship standings, about $27,000 behind four-time world champion Kaycee Field. The nearly $12,000 he earned in Frontier Park will help keep him within striking distance as the pro rodeo season begins its final two months.
The Cheyenne crowd had a chance to cheer for more than one local winner. Steer roper Trey Sheets grew up in western Nebraska and has made Cheyenne his home for the past seven years. He had the second-fastest time of the finals, but the championship in this event was awarded in the traditional format of total time on three runs. His 45.6 seconds was the best by four seconds.
In tie-down roping and steer wrestling, one of the first cowboys to compete in the finals set a pace that could not be beaten. Seth Hall of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was the second roper and his time of 10.5 seconds earned the championship. Hall has competed at CFD about eight times but had only made the finals once before-in 2012.
“This is almost more than amazing,” Hall said of earning the championship in Frontier Park.
Eli Lord was the first steer wrestler to ride out from CFD’s Chute 9 and he stopped the clock in 6.9 seconds. The next 15 competitors got no closer than two seconds to Lord’s time. He credits his hazer, Linn Churchill, a former CFD steer wrestling champion with helping him win the title. Lord is the third CFD champion that Churchill has assisted.
Dustin Bird of Cut Bank, Montana, and Trey Yates of Pueblo, Colorado, are the 2019 team roping champions in Cheyenne. They won the final round in 7.8 seconds and each won just under $12,000. Bird is a former NFR qualifier, and Yates is the 2018 collegiate champion who roped at his first NFR last December. Their paychecks in Cheyenne will jump Yates into the top 20 in the heeling standings and put Bird in the top 30 in the heading.
Frontier Days added women’s breakaway roping for the first time and drew 242 entries. When the tournament-style competition ended, seven of the 16 ropers in the championship round turned in times in the four-second range.
Jordan Jo Fabrizio of Canyon, Texas, was the fastest of the seven – 4.18 seconds. She is the first breakaway roping in the CFD record book with winnings of more than $17,500.
“All of the breakaway ropers took time to take a group photo in front of the grandstand before the finals today and it really hit me how historic this is,” she said. “This will be something I’ll never forget and always treasure.”
Fabrizio took inspiration from the buckle she wore, a CFD champion tie-down roping buckle won by Raymond Hollabaugh in 1983. Fabrizio spent five years competing in college rodeo for West Texas A & M University where Hollabaugh is the coach.
Plans are already underway for the 124th edition of Cheyenne Frontier Days scheduled for July 2020.
Brody Cress made history at the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Sunday. Cress, from nearby Hillsdale, Wyoming, became the first man in history to win three consecutive titles. His 2019 win came with an 87.5-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Resistol’s Top Hat. CFD photo by Dan Hubbell
CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 28, 2019 — The following are final round and overall Cheyenne Frontier Days results.
Bareback Riding: 1, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 81 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Witchy Woman, $8,259. 2, Richmond Champion, The Woodland, Texas, 89.5, $6,257. 3, (tie) Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 87.5, $3,754 each. 5, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 85.5, $1,752. 6, Pascal Isabelle, Okotoks, Alberta, 85, $1,251.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 6.9 seconds, $5,948. 2, Reed Kraeger, Elwood, Neb., 8.7, $5,172. 3, Del Ray Kraupie, Bridgeport, Neb., 8.9, $4,396. 4, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 9.2, $3,620. 5, Kyle Callaway, Blue Creek, Mont., 10.6, $2,845. 6, Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 15.2, $2,069. 7, Jeff Johnston, Thedford, Neb., 16.0, $1,293. 8, Joe Nelson, Alexander, N.D., 16.6, $517.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 10.5 seconds, $8,278. 2, Ryan Thibodeaux, Stephenville, Texas, 10.8, $7,199. 3, Austin Hurlburt, Norfolk, Neb., 11.6, $6,119. 4, Marcos Costa, Menard, Texas, 11.7, $5,039. 5, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 11.9, $3,959. 5, Tyler Thiel, Belle Fourche, S.D., 13.4, $2,879. 6, Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas, 13.6, $1,800. 8, Tristan Mahoney, Florence, Ariz., 16.5, $720.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 87.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Resistol’s Top Hat, $7,918. 2, (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas; Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa; and Sam Harper, Paradise Valley, Nev.; 86 and $4,399 each. 5, Mitch Pollock, Winnemucca, Nev., 84.5, $1,680. 6, (tie) Jake Watson, Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia and Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah, 84, $600.
Team Roping: 1, Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., and Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 7.8 seconds, $9,459. 2, Brenten Hall, Stephenville, Texas, and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 9.3, $8,225. 3, Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Caleb Anderson, Mocksville, N.C., 9.5, $6,991. 4, (tie) Pace Freed, Chubbuck, Idaho and Dustin Searcy, Weatherford, Texas; and Dustin Egusquiza, Mariana, Fla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 9.6, $5,141 each. 6, Peyton Holliday, Chouteau, Okla., and Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla., 9.7, $3,290. 7, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Okla., 14.4, $2,056. 8, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn., and Joseph Harrison, Overbrook, Okla., 14.6, $823.
Barrel Racing: 1, (tie) Nellie Miller*, Cottonwood, Calif., and Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 17.22 seconds, $6,919. 3, Megan Champion, Ukiah, Calif., 17.24, $4,961. 4, Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo., 17.53, $3,655. 5, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Victoria, Texa,s 17.56, $2,350. 6, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.59, $1,305. *Miller won the championship based on fastest previous time.
Bull Riding: 1, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 93 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Safety Meeting, $10,077. 2, Parker McCown, Montgomery, Texas, 90, $7,706. 3, Ruger Piva, Challis, Idaho, 87, $5,632. 4, Nic Lica, Garden City, Mich., 85.5, $3,853. 5, Joseph McConnel, Bloomfield, N.M., 84.5, $2,371.
Steer Roping: (final round winners) Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 13.7 seconds, $1,870. 2, Trey Sheets, Cheyenne, Wyo., 15.6, $1,548. 3, J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 18.4, $1,226. 4, Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 19.5, $903. 5, Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M., 21.9, $581. 6, Roger Branch, Wellson, Okla., 25.8, $323. (overall winners) 1, Sheets, 45.6, $13,197. 2, Dan Fisher, 49.6, $10,922. 3, J. Tom Fisher, 49.9, $8,647. 4, Vin Fisher Jr., 51.3, $6,371. 5, Jones, 54.2, $4,096. 6, Branch, 59.4, $2,275.
CFD Invitational Breakaway Roping: 1, Jordon Jo Fabrizio, Canyon, Texas, 4.18 seconds, $10,573. 2, Chloe Frey, Eunice, La., 4.43, $8,010. 3, Kasey Eaves, Milan, N.M., 4.49, $5,767. 4, Linsay Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., 4.66, $3,845. 5, Daysha Steadman, Georgetown, Texas, 4.92, $2,243. 6, K.L. Spratt, Lysite, Wyo., 4.98, $1,602.
Wild Horse Race: (final round winners) 1, Outlaw Liquors, $896. 2, Team Crazy Horse, $672. 3, BMC Construction/Applebaker, $448. 4, Shockers, $224. (overall winners) 1, BMC Construction/Applebaker, $6920. 2, Outlaw Liquors, $5,549. 3, Team Crazy Horse, $3,989. 4, Shockers, $2,526.
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:
The second day of semifinals is shaping up to be even more exciting than the first with several world champions and former Cheyenne Frontier Days title holders in the field. While those veterans are hoping to win again, a rookie is taking the rodeo world by storm and hoping to win for the first time.
Stetson Wright will be competing in the saddle bronc riding and bull riding today making him a favorite for Cheyenne’s all-around cowboy championship. Wright is the youngest of the famed rodeo family from Utah. His father, Cody, is a two-time world champion. His uncles Spencer and Jesse have each won gold buckles as well as his older brother Ryder.
While there have been Wrights at the top of the leaderboard at most major rodeos, there has never been one to collect a buckle at the “Daddy of ‘em All.” Cody joined the PRCA in 1998 and there has been at least one member of the family competing here since then. Two decades without a title is unheard of for them and now it is the youngest who could bring it home to Utah.
Stetson will turn 20 on July 30th. He leads the world standings in the all-around category, is 18th in the saddle bronc riding and second in the bull riding. He needs to move into the top 15 in the saddle bronc riding and stay there until October 1st to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in two events. A win here would certainly help him do that.
Cody DeMoss will be among today’s saddle bronc riders and is hoping for his fourth buckle from Cheyenne Frontier Days. If he moves on to the finals and has the high score, he will join the history books as the second man to win four titles in that event. Earl Thode did that from 1927 – 34.
A star-studded field will compete in bareback riding today. Former CFD champs Richmond Champion, Tanner Aus, Orin Larsen and Tim O’Connell will be hoping for a chance to win a second buckle from the “Daddy.” O’Connell is a three-time world champion as well. They will be joined by Kaycee Feild, who has four gold buckles but has yet to win a title at Frontier Park.
Brothers Tim and Tyler Bingham have both qualified for the NFR, but not in the same year. When they have the opportunity to share rodeo memories with future generations, the 2019 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo could be a big highlight. They will be riding in the semifinals today and hoping for a score and a reason to stay here until Sunday. There is nothing that the brothers would like better than to be riding against each other for Cheyenne’s championship buckle.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down and Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing:
In breakaway roping a pair of sisters had success yesterday and will be looking to add to their winnings today. Jordan Jo Fabrizio of Canyon, Texas, was first yesterday with a 4.15-second run and her sister Rylea Fabrizio, who lives in Stephenville, Texas, placed third. The duo would love to compete in the first breakaway championship round at the Daddy.
Lari Dee Guy has won nine Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) roping and all-around world championships. She finished second yesterday and is in good position to qualify for the finals. Jackie Crawford, who has earned 14 WPRA all-around and roping world titles, finished fourth yesterday and will need to rope well today to move on to Championship Sunday.
Nebraska native Austin Hurlburt is no stranger to Cheyenne. He competed on the Laramie County Community College Rodeo Team and will move to the University of Wyoming this fall. Before becoming a Wyoming Cowboy, he has a chance to become a CFD champion. He won yesterday’s tie-down roping and is in good shape to advance to the Sunday’s Finals.
Last year’s CFD team roping champions Chad Masters and Joseph Harrison roped themselves into a tie for second place yesterday. Should they qualify for Championship Sunday, Masters will have the opportunity to become the first three-time CFD champion in the team roping since the event began here in 2001. Kellan and Carson Johnson, a pair of brothers from Casper, will have to finish among the top two today to make the finals. They are the sons of 2011 world champion heeler Jhett Johnson.
Two former CFD champions compete in today’s barrel racing semifinals. Brittany Pozzi-Tonnozzi (2007) and Stevi Hillman (2017) are both ranked in the WPRA top 10 and would love to come back Sunday to make their bids for a second CFD title. The highest-ranked barrel racing in the current standings is Shali Lord of Lamar, Colorado, who is fourth. She will compete first today and have the advantage of running on the “top” of the ground. She and her horse, Can Man, are likely headed to Las Vegas next December. Lord qualified for the first time in 2005 aboard a small bay gelding named Slider. She and Slider either got money or hit a barrel. He was one of the most dynamic and exciting horses to watch in any arena. Can Man has a totally different style and now while he is carrying Shali around the barrels at rodeos, Slider is at home in Lamar where Shali and Phy Lord’s son Slade has taken the reins.