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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 21, 2019) – Orin Larsen is having the best regular season of his career and showed fans at the second performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo just what a picture-perfect bareback ride looks like.
Larsen is from Inglis, Manitoba, but thanks to a girl, he now lives less than two hours away from Cheyenne in Gering, Nebraska. His wife Alexa’s family is from Nebraska and after she obtained her nursing degree and got a job as an ICU nurse at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, that is where he started hanging his hat.
He hasn’t gotten to spend much time there this summer as he is pursuing his fifth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. He is currently 2nd in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings and is hoping to close the gap between him and Kaycee Field, who is in the lead.
Larsen helped his cause at the second performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Sunday. He rode Sankey Pro Rodeo’s horse Fun Haver for 90 points, just three points shy of the arena record of 93 set by Joe Alexander in 1974.
It’s certainly not the first 90-point ride that Larsen has had in his professional career. He wasn’t sure how many 90-point or better rides he has had since joining the PRCA in 2011, but he was quick to answer, “Two,” when asked how many he has had this month.
Just two weeks ago, he set an arena record at the Cody (Wyoming) Stampede with a 93-point ride. Unfortunately for Larsen, two days later a fellow competitor beat him by half a point.
That won’t happen in Cheyenne. With the new, tournament-style format, his high score of the day got him the first-place money and a trip back here to compete in the semifinals later in the week. Unfortunately, on this Sunday, his wife was working and couldn’t come watch him.
“Hopefully I’ll be here for a couple of days when I come back,” he said. “Then, she will make the trip here, I’ll have my cheerleader and we can spend a bit of time together.”
Matt Palmer is one happy bull rider. The Claremore, Oklahoma resident is competing on his permit and on Sunday won more than enough money to attain full-fledged PRCA membership. He was the lone rider to last eight seconds. That meant he won all the $7,078 purse for the day. His 81.5-point ride came aboard Dakota Rodeo’s Diamond Willow. He will now get another opportunity to ride in Frontier Park. If he is successful again, he will be a contender for the championship.
A new set of contestants is making their way to Cheyenne for Monday’s rodeo. It will start with the grand opening at 12:45 p.m.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 21, 2019) – The following are unofficial results from Sunday, July 21, at the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Money earned is subject to change.
Bareback riding: 1, Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, 90 points on Sankey Rodeo’s Fun Haver, $2,364. 2, Tony Barrington, Elko, Nev., 85.5, $1,788. 3, Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 84.5, $1,192. 4, Seth Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo., 82, $596.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Kelsie Chace, Stephenville, Texas, 4.32 seconds, $2,403. 2, Brandi Hollenbeck, Mooreland, Okla., 5.04, $1,802. 3, Daysha Steadman, Georgetown, Idaho, 5.23, $1,202. 4, JJ Hampton, Stephenville, Texas, 5.53, $601. Semifinals qualifiers: 1, Chace, $4,205. 2, Hollenbeck, $ 3,004. 3, Hagen Brunson, Hutchinson, Kansas, $2,403. 4, Steadman, $1,202
Tie-down Roping: 1, Jason Schaffer, Broadus, Mont., 10.8 seconds, $1,954. 2, Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 14.4, $1,465. 3, Cole Robinson, Moorecroft, Wyo., 15.7, $977. 4, Bradley Bynum, Big Lake, Texas, 16.1, $488. Semifinals qualifiers: 1, (tie) Schaffer and Cheyenne Stanley, Caddo, Okla., $1,954 each. 3, (tie) Hall and Tristan Mahoney, Florence, Ariz., $1,465 each.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Jake Finlay, Goondiwindi, Australia, 82.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Sandbox, $2,285. 2, Jake Watson, Hudsons Hope, B.C., 81, $1,714. 3, Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 80, $1,143. 4, Dawson Jandreau, Kennebec, S.D., 78, $571.
Team Roping: 1, Taylor Winn, Annabella, Utah, and Dylin Ahlstrom, Genola, Utah, 7.7 seconds, $2,233 each. 2, Peyton Holliday, Choteau, Okla., and Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla., 8.8, $1,674 each. 3, Travis Bard, Prescott, Ariz., and Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 9.0. $1,116 each. 4, Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 9.0, $558 each. Semifinals qualifiers: 1, Holliday and Smith, $2,794. 2, (tie) Garrett Tonnozzi, Lampasas, Tex., and Dustin Davis, Terrell, Tex.; Winn and Ahlstrom, and Egusquiza and Long, $2,233 each.
Steer Wrestling: (three times) 1, Christian Pettigrew, Fort Sumner, N.M., 7.7 seconds, $1,529. 2, Joe Nelson, Alexander, N.M., 8.8, $1,176. 3, Caden Camp, Belgrade, Mont., 9.4, $823. Semifinals qualifiers: 1, Camp, $1,881. 2, Pettigrew, $1,529. 3, Kyle Callaway, Blue Creek, Mont., $1,411. 4, Nelson, $1,176.
Barrel Racing: 1, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.64 seconds, $2,611. 2, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.87, $1,958. 3, Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., 17.88, $1,305. 4, Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D., 17.92, $653.
Bull Riding: (one ride) 1, Matt Palmer, Claremore, Okla., 81.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Diamond Willow, $7,078.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round leaders) 1, Jacob Kammerer, Philip, S.D., 78 points. 2, (tie) Jade Taton, Goodwell, Okla., and Trent Burd, Fort Scott, Kan., 76. 4, Will Reynolds, Goodwell, Okla., 74. (second round leaders) 1, Rowdy Chesser, Goodwell, Okla., 75 points. 2, Kammerer, 74. 3, Jake Foster, Meadow, S.D., 68. 4, Cody Trump, Chadron, Neb., 64. (total on two) 1, Kammerer, 152 points. (on one) 2, (tie) Jade Taton and Trent Burd, 76. 4, Chesser, 75.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Copper State Cowboys, $644. 2, Preston Painter, $483. 3, Mo Green, $322. 4, Austin Philips, $161. (total money leaders) 1, Copper State Cowboys, $1127. 2, Outlaw Liquors, $644. 3, Preston Painter, $483. 4, Mo Green, $322.
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:
A new group of bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders are making an appearance at Frontier Park today. The saddle bronc riding is filled with Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers and promises to be exciting. And while the field has a lot of rodeo wins on their respective resumes, none of them have won the buckle that goes to Cheyenne Frontier Days’ best.
Cort Scheer, a ranching cowboy from Elsmere, Nebraska, has come the closest. He won the rookie bronc riding in 2008. Since then he has earned checks here and qualified for the finals. However, he has yet to make the victory lap around the arena as the champion. Scheer is currently 20th in the world standings so any money he earns here will help him qualify for his seventh Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He needs to finish the regular season, Sept. 30, in the top 15 to make a trip to Las Vegas in December to compete at rodeo’s championship.
Chase Brooks essentially has his second NFR qualification sewn up. He is fourth in the world standings but is working hard to improve that. Brooks is a lover of art, especially expressed as a tattoo. He got his first one when he was 18. Six years later and he has added to that significantly. He will celebrate his 25th birthday one day after the final performance in Frontier Park.
Orin Larsen is having one of the best seasons of his career. He has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo the past four years and at second place in the world standings, he is headed back to Vegas in December. He competed at the Cody Stampede on July 2nd this year and set a new bareback riding arena record of 93 points. Two days later, that record was broken with a 93.5 point ride. Larsen had to settle for second place with a 93. He won the rodeo here in 2016 and finished third in the world. He is hoping this year he will finish at the top of the world standings.
No one wants to win Cheyenne Frontier Days any more than Seth Hardwick. He has watched his traveling partners earn the bareback riding and has always been happy for them. The Wyoming resident qualified for the NFR in 2015 and after a four year absence is looking to be back there in December. He is 24th in the world standings and has some ground to make up.
Yesterday, we had two qualified bull rides and that could certainly be the case again today. The bulls are coming from Mandan, N.D. stock contractor Chad Berger and to say that they are notorious might be an understatement. Trevor Kastner, currently 2nd in the world standings will attempt to ride Low Dog, a bull that has yet to be ridden. None of the bulls in today’s pen are known for being rider friendly, but an eight-second ride will mean a big score.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down and Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing:
Most of these events will be in their second round of competition today. The four contestants in everything but the barrel racing who earned money yesterday have an advantage today. If they add to their winning, they will be assured a spot in the Championship Finals one week from today.
The other contestants will have to get a first or second place check just to have a chance, so they will all be going for it. Cattle tend to run faster and get stronger so times today should be slower than yesterday. There is also more opportunity for broken barrier penalties as contestants take chances trying to earn their portion of the $1 million in prize money that is paid out this year.
In the breakaway roping, Hagen Brunson from Hutchison, Kansas, picked up the first-place win with a 4.89-second run yesterday. The college rodeo athlete made the trip here from Hutchison, Kansas and now will need to decide whether to go home for a few days and come back or just enjoy a little more of Cheyenne Frontier Days’ hospitality.
Travis Bard and Jhett Johnson (Casper, Wyo.) had a five-second penalty yesterday when Johnson only caught one of the steer’s hind legs. They finished out of the money and will need a clean run for Johnson to have any opportunity to win a CFD buckle. If they are among the top four after today, Johnson could be just the second team roper from Wyoming to win here. Bobby Harris from Gillette tied for the win the heeling here in 2010.
Fan favorite Lisa Lockhart is among today’s barrel racers. Lockhart is just coming off of a big win at the Calgary Stampede. In 2015, she had one of the biggest wins of her career at the Calgary Stampede, then came here and won the buckle at “the Daddy.” Just one week ago, she earned her second championship in Calgary. She is now hoping that history will repeat, and she gets her second Cheyenne title as well.
Wyoming will be cheering for Elaine Hollings who qualified for the rodeo in the barrel racing as well. Hollings, from Pavillion, Wyoming is among the oldest competitors at this year’s rodeo at 68. Hollings will need to be among the top four today to advance from the quarterfinals into the semifinals.
The new format of the rodeo gives every contestant an opportunity to win money today. Each event will see checks paid and each check will give the contestant a chance to advance to the next bracket in the tournament style format. So expect some fast-paced and exciting action!
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 20, 2019) – Stetson Wright continued his quest for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s (PRCA) most prestigious title here Saturday.
The Milford, Utah resident advanced to the semifinals at Frontier Park in both saddle bronc and bull riding at the first performance of the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD.) Wright, who will not see his twentieth birthday until the end of this month, is the youngest pro rodeo athlete in the prolific Wright clan. His father, brother and two uncles have won world titles in the saddle bronc riding.
While Stetson is world class in saddle bronc riding where he is ranked 22nd, he excels in bull riding. He is ranked third in that event, behind five-time world champion Sage Kimzey and NFR veteran Trevor Kastner who will also be competing here.
He currently leads the world all-around standings. If he holds that lead through the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in December, he will be the first rodeo athlete to win the all-around title in his rookie season.
The 2019 edition of the Daddy of ‘em All features a new format where four contestants from each performance qualify for one of two semifinals on July 26 and 27. Wright advanced in saddle bronc riding with a score of 85.5 points on Sankey Rodeo’s horse Con Man, which was the third-best ride of the day. In the bull riding he made one of only two qualified rides. He will compete in the semifinals in both events. He is favored to win the all-around here as he has won money in two events.
Joining Stetson in the saddle bronc riding semifinals are veterans Cody DeMoss and Wade Sundell. DeMoss, who won the round with 87 points on Andrews Rodeo’s horse Rock Bottle, is aiming for a CFD record of his own. He has won the bronc riding championship here three times.
DeMoss’s success at Frontier Park started in 2004 when Wright was just four years old. He won the championship again in 2010 and in 2012. DeMoss, who loves riding bucking horses, will always count Cheyenne Frontier Days among his favorite rodeos. Winning a fourth CFD title would tie him with Earl Thode, who won four between 1927 and 1934.
Sundell, the reigning world champ, scored one-half point less than DeMoss – 86.5 on Sankey Rodeo’s horse Lunatic. Sundell also has a CFD buckle that he won here in 2013.
Berthoud, Colorado’s Kelly Kennedy-Joseph barely qualified to the quarterfinals in barrel racing. Nearly 200 barrel racers competed in a preliminary round with 72 advancing. Kennedy-Joseph tied for 70th place. Her quarterfinal run Saturday was the fastest time of any barrel racer so far this year at Frontier Park – 17.35 seconds.
On Sunday, contestants in steer wrestling, breakaway, team and tie-down roping will compete in a second round. The top contestants in these event advance directly to the finals based on money won.
A new group of barrel racers, bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders will compete on Sunday for their shot at the semifinals. The rodeo starts at 12:45 p.m.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 20, 2019) – The following are unofficial results from Friday, July 20, at the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Money earned is subject to change.
Bareback riding: 1, (tie) Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D., on Sankey Rodeo’s Exotic Blonde and Blade Elliott, Centreville, Ala., on Sankey Rodeo’s Great Nation, 85 points, $2,086 each. 3, Cole Reiner, Kaycee, Wyo., 82, $1,192. 4, Chance Ames, Big Piney, Wyo., 81, $596.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Hagen Brunson, Hutchinson, Kansas, 4.89 seconds, $2,403. 2, Kelsie Chace, Stephenville, Texas, 5.98, $1,802. 3, Brandi Hollenbeck, Mooreland, Okla., 6.44, $1,202. 4, Shaley Griffin, Arthur, Neb., 6.66, $601.
Tie-down Roping: 1, Cheyenne Stanley, Caddo, Okla., 12.5 seconds, $1,954. 2, Tristan Mahoney, Florence, Ariz., 12.7, $1,465. 3, Brian Belew, La Junta, Colo., 14.6, $977. 4, Cole Robinson, Moorecroft, Wyo., 14.7, $488.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 87 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Rock Bottle, $2,285. 2, Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 86.5, $1,714. 3, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 85.5, $1,143. 4, Mitch Pollock, Winnemucca, Nev., 82, $571.
Team Roping: 1, Garrett Tonnozzi, Lampasas, Tex., and Dustin Davis, Terrell, Tex., 7.8 seconds, $2,233 each. 2, Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 8.0, $1,674 each. 3, Peyton Holliday, Choteau, Okla., and Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla., 8.5, $1,116 each. 4, Chris Francis, Las Vegas, N.M., and Cade Passig, Las Vegas, N.M., 9.4, $558 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Kyle Callaway, Blue Creek, Mont., 6.9 seconds, $1,411. 2, Caden Camp, Belgrade, Mont., 9.6, $1,058. 3, Talon Roseland, Marshalltown, Iowa, 9.7, $705. 4, Joe Nelson, Alexander, N.D., 10.3, $353.
Barrel Racing: 1, Kelly Kennedy-Joseph, Berthoud, Colo., 17.35 seconds, $2,611. 2, Mika Farr, Honeyville, Utah, 17.64, $1,958. 3, Carla Beckett, Laramie, Wyo., 17.98, $1,305. 4, Kari Boxleitner, Loveland, Colo., 18.00, $653.
Bull Riding: 1, Colten Fritzlan, Rifle, Colo., 88 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Torch, $3,893. 2, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 73, $3,185.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round leaders) 1, Jacob Kammerer, Philip, S.D., 78 points. 2, (tie) Jade Taton, Goodwell, Okla., and Trent Burd, Fort Scott, Kan., 76. 4, Will Reynolds, Goodwell, Okla., 74.
Utah’s Stetson Wright used this ride to earn more than $3,000 and qualify for the semifinals at the 123rd Daddy of ‘em All in Cheyenne, Wyo. Wright also moved to the semifinals in saddle bronc riding, earning another $1,100 and taking the lead for the Cheyenne Frontier Days all-around championship. Wright currently leads the world champion all-around standings in his rookie season. CFD photo by Dan Hubbell.
Cody DeMoss of Heflin, La., starts his quest for a fourth Cheyenne Frontier Days saddle bronc riding championship by scoring 88 points on Andrews Rodeo’s horse Rock Bottle to win Friday’s opening round. DeMoss, who won the title here in 2004, 2010 and 2012, would tie Earl Thode, who won four from 1927 to 1934, for the most CFD saddle bronc riding championships. CFD photo by Dan Hubbell.
Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:
Instead of contestants to watch today, it could be contestant to watch. It would be easy to focus all the attention on Stetson Wright who will be competing in the saddle bronc riding and bull riding today. Yes, he is one of those Wrights, the famous rodeoing family from Utah.
This one is on track to do things no member of his family has even attempted. The Wright family has five saddle bronc riding world titles to their credit. Two belong to Stetson’s father Cody. His older brother Ryder, who is also riding today earned one in 2018. Stetson is the first member of the family to take on the bulls in the rodeo arena and he is doing very well. He is number one in the all-around world standings, with $120,853 won this year. He will be competing next December at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in the bull riding – he is third in the world standings. And, he has a chance to make it in the saddle bronc riding at 22nd. He just needs to move up seven spots and stay there.
Stetson will turn 20 on July 30th. This is his Rookie year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He leads the rookie-of-the-year race in both of his events as well as the overall category. If he holds onto that first place there and in the all-around race, it will be the first time in rodeo’s history that a rookie has won the all-around cowboy title. It will also be the first time that a rough stock contestant has earned the title since Ty Murray won his last in 1998.
There are two other Wright family members here today, Rusty, the oldest of Cody’s boys and Spencer, their uncle. Wade Sundell has come close to winning a world title on multiple occasions. He finally got the job done last December. Likewise, he has come close to winning a title here and hopes this will be the year. The gregarious cowboy loves horses so much that he and his family have started raising performance horses preparing for a future where he gets on horses that don’t buck.
In the bareback riding, Wyoming’s own Chance Ames will be a crowd favorite. Ames is from Big Piney and has been furthering his education at Sheridan College. In June, he qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo for the third time and it was a charm. He earned the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s title and rides with the buckle for being college rodeo’s best.
Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down and Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing:
Cheyenne Frontier Days made history this year when they added breakaway roping to their event roster. They are the first major regular season rodeo to do that. Now cowgirls are hoping to become the first breakaway champion in the history books here. It means a lot for the women to have an opportunity to compete in a rodeo as legendary and prestigious as this one.
There are two breakaway ropers who are very familiar with what it means to win a title here. Coralee Spratt from Shoshone has watched many of her family members compete here. Her grandmother, Pat Spratt, has run barrels and her grandfather, Bill Spratt, won the steer roping here in 1976. Coralee also entered the barrel race here but didn’t advance from the qualifier. She now will put all of her focus into the next two days of roping.
J.J. Hampton is legendary in the roping world. She has won 17 Professional Women’s Rodeo Association world titles and has helped gain a lot of notoriety for women in rodeo. Hampton has a go for broke style that some say is a family characteristic. Her nephew Marty Yates never ropes for second place, much like his aunt. Marty won first place here in the tie-down roping in 2015 so the family knows what it means to win at the “Daddy of ‘em All.”
Today’s team roping will be fun for all of the Wyomingites to watch. Their own world champion heeler, Jhett Johnson will be among the field roping with Travis Bard from Prescott, Arizona. Jhett is staying pretty close to his home in Casper these days. He is the rodeo coach at Casper College and is watching his boys compete. At the recent Wyoming High School Rodeo Finals, he spent time in the arena as a pick-up man.
While none of the scores or times from qualifying carry forward, the momentum and success hopefully will. Bard and Johnson have won $3,278 and hope their success in Frontier Park continues. A barrel racer that is hoping for the same thing is Jessi Fish from Franklin, Tennessee. She tied for second at the qualifier and earned over $7,000.
The new format of the rodeo gives every contestant an opportunity to win money today. Each event will see checks paid and each check will give the contestant an opportunity to advance to the next bracket in the tournament style format. So expect some fast-paced and exciting action!
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 19, 2019) – Frontier Park has been full of rodeo contestants for the past week who did their best to advance into the performances at the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo which officially gets underway on Saturday, July 20, 2019.
This year’s rodeo features a new format that will see contestants winning money at each performance. If they do well, they advance to the next bracket and have more opportunities to get a piece of the $1 million in prize money available here.
To have a chance to pick up one of those daily checks, qualifying competition was held in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association sanctioned barrel race and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s team roping, tie-down roping and steer wrestling. History was made here with the addition of an invitational women’s breakaway roping that had 242 entries. This year’s prize money will be well over $1 million.
With the addition of the breakaway roping, there is also a new arena record in place. Syerra Christensen, a former student at Cheyenne’s Laramie County Community College, holds that with a 4.01-second run. It was also worth $4,406 for the Kennebec, South Dakota resident. And, she will be one of the 40 women who will rope again twice during the performances hoping to qualify for the finals.
The winner of the women’s barrel racing was none other than last year’s champion at the Daddy of ‘em All, Nellie Miller from Cottonwood, California. Miller, the 2017 world champion rode her great mare, Sister to the title last year amidst rain and hail.
It was nothing but sunshine and clear skies as the duo made the trip around the cloverleaf pattern a week ago. They stopped the clock in 17.44 seconds and have already won $8,224. She will be a favorite for a repeat title but will have to advance through a quarterfinals and semifinals to have a chance at a title.
With the new format, Miller’s previous time will not carry forward. She will be one of 12 barrel racers in the first six performances. The four women with the fastest time from each of those performances will run again in the semifinals. Then the field will be narrowed to 12 for the Championship Finals where the fastest time will get to make the trip around the arena as the winner.
All of these events, along with bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding will be part of the first performance on Saturday. The grand entry starts at 12:45 with competition getting underway at 1 p.m.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 19, 2019) – The following are results from qualifying competition at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.
Barrel Racing –
1, Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, Calif., 17.44 seconds, $8,224 2, (tie) Kristy Maxwell, Springtown, Texas, and Jessi Fish, Franklin, Tenn., 17.49 and $7,049 each. 4, (tie) Halyn Lide, Stephenville, Texas, and Brittany Possi Tonozzi, 17.55, $4,503. 6, Ryan Pedone, Decatur, Texas, 17.56, $3,133 7, Meka Farr, Honeyville, Utah, 17.60, $2,349. 8, Kortney Kizer, Pep, N.M., 17.63, $1,567.9, Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo., 17.66, $1,175. 10, Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., and Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.69, $392.
Team Roping –
First Round: 1, Jade Stoddard, Sugar City, Idaho and Cole Cooper, Clearmont, Wyo., 7.6 seconds, $2,432. 2, Dustin Eguisquiza, Mariana, Fla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 8.2 seconds, $2,115. 3, (tie) Peyton Holiday, Chouteau, Okla., and Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla.; and Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev.; 8.5 and $1,639 each. 5, Travis Bard, Prescott, Ariz., and Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 9.0, $1,163. 6, (tie) Cody Hilzendeger, Bismarck, N.D., and J.C. Flake, Laramie, Wyo.; and Adam Rose, Willard, Mo., and Jett Hillman, McAlester, Okla.; 9.1, $687. 8, B.J. Campbell, Aguila, Ariz., and Carl Sweazea, Mountainair, N.M.; and Lane Ivy, Dublin, Texas, and Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., $106.
Second Round: 1, Tanner Green, Cotulla, Texas, and Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla., 7.2 seconds, $2,432. 2, Tanner Baldwin, Vail, Ariz., and Nano Garza, Las Cruces, NM, 7.5, $2,115. 3, Garrett Rogers, Baker City, Ore., and Jake Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 7.8, $1.798. 4, Spencer Mitchell, Orange Cove, Calif., and Cody Doescher, Webbers Falls, Okla., 8.0, $$1,480. 5, (tie) Logan Olson, Flandreau, S.D., and Blaine Vick, Breckenridge, Texas; and Joshua and Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla., 8.2 and $1,005 each. 7, Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas, and Ty Arnold, Midway, Texas, 8.3, $529. 8, Quinn Kesler, Holden, Utah, and Colby Siddoway, Honeyville, Utah, 8.4, $212.
Overall winners on two head: 1, (tie) Dustin Eguisquiza, Mariana, Fla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan.: Travis Bard, Prescott, Ariz., and Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo.; and Tanner Green, Cotulla, Texas, and Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla.; 17.5 and $2,115, each. 4, Lane Ivy, Dublin, Texas, and Cesar de la Cruz, 18.6, $1,481. 5, Adam Rose, Willard, Mo., and Jett Hillman, McAlester, Okla., 19.3, $1,163. 6, Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., and Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 19.4, $846. 7, Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 19.9, $529. 8, Peyton Holliday, Chouteau, Okla., and Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla., 20.1, $212.
Tie-Down Roping –
First Round: 1, J.D. McCuistion, Collinsville, Texas, 10.1 seconds, $2,128. 2, Landon Mcclaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 10.4, $1,851. 3, Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 10.8, $1,573. 4, kyle dickens, 11.0, $1,296. 5, Cheyenne Stanley, Caddo, Okla., 11.1, $1,018. 6, (tie) Jason Schaffer, Broadus, Mont., and Garrett Busby, Steamboat Springs, Colo., 11.3, $601. 8, Tyler Thiel, Belle Fourche, S.D., 11.4, $185.
Second Round: 1, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 9.5 seconds, $2,129. 2, Tanner Green, Cotulla, Texas, 9.9, $1,851. 3, (tie) Trey Young, Duopree, S.D., and Cole Robinson, Moorecroft, Wyo., 10.1, $1,435 each. 5, Ryan Thibodeaux, Stephenville, Texas, 10.6, $1,018. 6, Tyler Prcin, Alvord, Texas, 11.0, $740. 7, Marcos Costa, Menard, Texas, 11.2, $463. 8, Ross Tucker, Archer City, Texas, 11.3, $185.
Overall winners on two head: 1, Tanner Green, Cotulla, Texas, 21.6, $2,129. 2, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 21.9, $1,851. 3, Ryan Thibodeaux, Stephenville, Texas, 22.3, $1,573. 4, Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 22.5, $1,296. 5, J.D. McCuistion, Collinsville, Texas, $1,018. 6, Marcos Costa, Menard, Texas, 23.6, $740. 7, Tyler Thiel, Belle Fourche, S.D., 24.0, $463. 8, Jason Schaffer, Broadus, Mont., 24.3, $185.
Steer Wrestling –
(First Round: 1, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D. 6.4 seconds, $1,545. 2, Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 7.5, $1,343. 3, Riley Hamilton, Thatcher, Idaho, 8.5, $1,142. 4, Michael Bates, Jr., 9.6, $940. 6, Caden Camp, Belgrade, Mont., 10.4, $739. 6, Talon Roseland, Marshalltown, Iowa, 11.3, $537. 7, Cyler Dowling, Newell, S.D., 11.5, $336. 8, Dean Stermer, Pilot Point, Texas, 11.6, $134.
Second Round: 1, Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 6.9 seconds, $1,545. 2, Linn Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 7.5, $1,343. 3, Troy Smotherman, Rose Bud, Ark., 8.6, $1,142. 4, Reed Kraeger, Elwood, Neb., 9.2, $940. 5, Cyler Dowling, Newell, S.D., 9.5, $739. 6, Kyle Callaway, Blue Creek, Mont., 9.6, $537. 7, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 10.5, $336. 8, (tie) Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., and Ty Talsma, Avon, S.D., 11.0, $67 each.
Overall winners on two head: 1, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 16.9 seconds, $1,545. 2, Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 18.5, $1,343. 3, Riley Hamilotn, Thatcher, Idaho, 20.4, $1,142. 4, Cyler Dowling, Newell, S.D., 21.0, $940. 5, Rileey Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 21.4, $738. 6, Joe Nelson, Alexander, N.D., 26.6, $537. 7, Reed Kraeger, Elwood, Neb., 28.4, $335. 8, Talon Roseland, Marshalltown, Iowa, 29.3, $134.
Breakaway Roping –
First section: 1, Sydney Graff, Lone Pine, Neb., 4.04 seconds, $4,406. 2, Tiffany Niemeietz, Floresville, Texas, 4.35, $3,338. 3, Jana Wiedman, Morrill, Neb., 4.37, $2,403. 4, Devin Nicholls, Moorecroft, Wyo., 4.46, $1,602. 5, K.L. Spratt, Phoenix, Ariz., 4.48, $935. 6, Brandi Hollenbeck, Mooreland, Okla., $668.
Second section: 1, Syerra Christensen, Kennebec, S.D., 4.01, $4,405. 2, Jordon Jo Fabrizio, Canyon, Texas, 4.42, $3,338. 3, Georgie Lage, Sughterland, Neb., 4.6, $2,403. 4, Tamara Smith, Barnsdall, Okla., 4.68, $1,602. 5, Shaley Griffin, Arthur, Neb., 4.94, $935. 6, Hannah Lee, Durant, Okla., 4.96, $668.
Syerra Christensen from Kennebec, South Dakota made history at the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo when she had the fastest time in the breakaway roping, held for the first time here. She stopped the clock in 4.01 seconds to win $4,406. CFD photo by Dan Hubbell
Defending barrel racing champion Nellie Miller won the qualifying competition aboard her great horse “Sister. Miller from Cottonwood, California had a time of 17.44 seconds adding $8,2224 to her season earnings. CFD photos by Dan Hubbell
A pair of Wyoming barrel racers represented their state, and generations, well in the Cheyenne Frontier Days qualifying round on Friday. Elaine Hollings is a proud Pavillion, WY 68-year-old who rides a 14-year-old horse nicknamed ‘Fly.’ Karson Bradley was astride ‘Pixie’ and the Big Piney native qualified for the nationals last month as a Central Wyoming College Rustler. She is now planning to finish school in Laramie where she’ll rodeo at UW. Friday was her first run ever at ‘The Daddy.'”
Fort Worth, TX – March 4, 2019 – In an announcement during the Finals for RFD-TV’s The American, The Cowboy Channel, announced a partnership with Cheyenne Frontier Days™ to broadcast live all nine days of rodeo action and feature other Western lifestyle activities from their “World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo & Western Celebration.” The event and live coverage takes place July 19-28, 2019, from Cheyenne, Wyo. Broadcasting the event will help fill the need for more Western sports and Western lifestyle coverage and attract new fans to rodeo.
Available in 42 million households, The Cowboy Channel was established to expand and improve coverage of Western sports programming and the Western lifestyle, which is perfectly aligned with the events at Cheyenne Frontier Days™. “The Cowboy Channel is proud to partner with Cheyenne Frontier Days™ as the first organization to agree to carry all nine days of action-packed rodeo,” said Patrick Gottsch, Founder and President of The Cowboy Channel.
Known for its fast pace and large number of contestants, Cheyenne Frontier Days™ rodeo ensures viewers will see top-notch athletes in action. “The opportunity to broadcast live and provide on-line content of Cheyenne Frontier Days™ will give avid rodeo fans the excitement they crave and also expose the sport to a group of new fans who can then come experience the nine day ‘Festival Unlike Any Other,’ next year,” stated The Cowboy Channel’s CEO, Raquel Gottsch.
“We are excited about this new partnership with the Cowboy Channel. The futuristic thinking of this organization brings a new way to promote the Western lifestyle and sport of rodeo. This partnership will take events like Cheyenne Frontier Days™ and expand them to new audiences,” said Tom Hirsig, Cheyenne Frontier Days™ CEO.
By continuously adding Western content, The Cowboy Channel is focused on expanding both its rural and urban viewership. Similarly, Cheyenne Frontier Days™ intends to continue their growth, which includes plans to expand and improve their 83-acre park. The future is bright for both companies and the partnership will further their plans of providing the best in western entertainment.
About The Cowboy Channel:
The Cowboy Channel is the first 24-hour television network totally dedicated to western sports and the western lifestyle. Headquartered in the Fort Worth Stockyards, The Cowboy Channel features content focused on rodeo, bull riding, roping, reining, barrel racing, and other western sports genres, along with western fashion, music, and movies. The lineup also features a wide variety of “live” coverage from major western events showcasing the world’s toughest and most talented cowboys and cowgirls. The network enjoys distribution into 42 million homes on cable/satellite systems on DISH, DIRECTV®, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Spectrum, Cox, Comcast, Mediacom, Verizon FIOS TV, and many other rural cable systems. In addition, The Cowboy Channel can be streamed via Sling TV’s Heartland Extra package.
About Cheyenne Frontier Days:
With roots dating back to 1897, Cheyenne Frontier Days™tdraws top rodeo professionals who compete for more than $1 million in cash and prizes. Complementing the rodeo action are behind-the-chutes tours, trick riding and a wild-horse race. A Native American Village, an Old Frontier Town, saloons and dancing, a chuck wagon cook-off, pancake breakfasts, a Western art show and the CFD Old West Museum continue the frontier theme. Rounding out the program are a carnival midway, a performance by the USAF Thunderbirds, top-name entertainment, Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and several parades that include antique carriages and automobiles. Cheyenne Frontier Days™ takes place each summer during the last full week in July.
About RFD-TV The American:
RFD-TV The American is the results of a full-year of work. Qualifying events are held across the country, throughout the calendar year as ropers and riders hope to compete in Arlington during the world’s richest one-day rodeo.
RFD-TV’s The American is an annual event that occurs each year at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. The American is now “the world’s richest weekend in Western Sports” and will pay out $2.35 million through a series of qualifiers, The Semi-Finals, and the final event, RFD-TV’s The American. The event unites the top athletes in the world from the PRCA and pits them against underdogs who advance from The American Semi-Finals, together to battle for the biggest single paycheck of their lives.
Las Vegas (Nov. 10, 2018) – PBR (Professional Bull Riders) today announced its popular Last Cowboy Standing will take place during Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) in 2019.
PBR CEO Sean Gleason announced the new location of the PBR Major, scheduled for July 22-23 at Cheyenne Frontier Days Arena, during the PBR World Finals at T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this evening.
The new summer season Major, a higher-profile regular-season event offering more World standings points and prize money, expands on a partnership between the leading bull riding league and world’s largest outdoor rodeo.
In July, 2018, PBR produced the final CBR Championship event during Cheyenne Frontier Days as well as a new Touring Pro Division event. Both events were brought to fans live on RidePass, the PBR’s western sports digital network.
From 2011 to 2018, Last Cowboy Standing had competed in Las Vegas, which remains home of the PBR Championship Week and the PBR World Finals.
“PBR is thrilled to pair Last Cowboy Standing with one of the world’s greatest rodeo and western sports celebrations,” Gleason said. “This marquee event extends our premier series schedule into the summer and is sure to be a highlight of the entire PBR season – one every fan will want to experience, and every cowboy will want to win.”
“We are honored to be selected as a stop in the premier bull riding tour of all,’” said Tom Hirsig, CEO, CFD. “Last Cowboy Standing fits right in line with the Western brand that is ‘The Daddy of ’em All.’ Cheyenne Frontier Days is excited to reunite our partnership with the Professional Bull Riders, two organizations sharing the common goal of preserving Western heritage and the cowboy way of life.”
Cheyenne Frontier Days is the premier celebration of cowboy life and Western entertainment that takes place each July. The 10-day 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.
Tickets to the Last Cowboy Standing event at Cheyenne Frontier Days event will go on sale December 15 at www.cfdrodeo.com and by calling (307) 778-7222.
About the PBR (Professional Bull Riders)
The world’s premier bull riding organization began as a dream of 20 bull riders 25 years ago and now operates in five countries. On its elite tour, the organization features the top 35 bull riders in the world and the top bulls in the business. The televised 25th PBR: Unleash The Beast, along with the PBR Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour (RVT), the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD) and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico have paid nearly $184 million in earnings to its athletes. Thirty bull riders have earned more than $1 million, including two-time PBR World Champion J.B. Mauney who is the top-earning athlete in Western sports history with more than $7.2 million in career earnings. PBR is part of the Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG) network. For more information on the PBR, go to PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Instagram at Instagram.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.
Cheyenne Frontier Days is an action-packed 10 day festival, celebrating Wyoming’s western roots. From bucking broncos to country music stars, you’ll truly have a hard time deciding where to start. These 5 attractions provide you a great sampling of Cheyenne Frontier Days, the “Daddy of ’em All”. Most of the following events are accessible every day throughout the 10 day celebration, so check out the schedule for Cheyenne Frontier Days to make the best plan for yourself.
If you can only attend one event at Cheyenne Frontier Days, make sure you check out the rodeo! You can catch the action 9 out of the 10 days the festival is in town; the adrenaline from the cowboys (and cowgirls!) to the crowd is surely unmatched. The tradition of rodeo runs deep in American roots, dating back to the 1800’s. Get the most out of your experience by visiting the Cheyenne Frontier Days website for information geared towards rodeo newbies and experts alike.
The Old West Museum has a wonderful collection of art and western artifacts. The Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration has been a part of the Wyoming culture for over 120 years, and this museum spans the decades with a great combination of art and history. A looping rodeo video plays in the heart of museum, bringing the viewer right into the history of rodeo. Additionally, rotating art installations show the vibrancy of western culture portrayed through a variety of mediums. The museum is open year-round as a permanent fixture in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with extended hours during Cheyenne Frontier Days.
National touring acts and local musicians alike perform at Cheyenne Frontier Days, bringing the best in folk and country music. Big country stars take the main stage in the fairground most nights during the celebration. The music reverberates through the concert, and creates an energy that gets everyone stomping their boots. For the 21+ crowd, the Buckin’ A Saloon is a great place to enjoy smaller, yet highly entertaining acts. Music in the Buckin’ A Saloon is free with admission into the fairgrounds, and a great place to show off your two-step.
Experience a real taste of authentic Native American culture in the Indian Village at Cheyenne Frontier Days. There are scheduled dance performances daily that are truly mesmerizing! An inspiring display of colorful clothing, drumming, and impressive dance routines will keep you on the edge of your seat. Additionally, there is a great Indian taco stand (a must try!), and of course fantastic shopping featuring Native American handicrafts. Visiting the village is a fun and informative way to explore American Indian heritage and culture.
The Grand Parade in Cheyenne, Wyoming combines top marching bands, horses, antique carriages, vintage bicycles, and everything in between. Announcers along the parade route provide commentary for each float, so you’ll get a great sense of the history and culture of Wyoming. Fortunately, the Grand Parade takes place 4 times during Cheyenne Frontier Days, so you’ll have multiples opportunities to attend.
This article has been created in partnership with Herrmann Global (Publisher of Visit USA Parks)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — July 29, 2018 — It’s been 86 years since a saddle bronc rider won back-to-back championships at Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD), but local favorite Brody Cress was not intimidated by history.
The 22-year-old from nearby Hillsdale won his hometown rodeo in 2017, an accomplishment that fueled the rest of his season and helped him win his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo championship last December. Cress is sponsored by CFD and proudly wears the legendary rodeo’s iconic arrowhead logo on his chaps and his shirts. “There’s no other rodeo I’d want to represent,” he said.
Last year he came into Championship Sunday in second place and had to ride two broncs after being awarded a re-ride. He won the title by half a point. This year he came in with the overall lead and had to wait on Texan Wyatt Casper’s re-ride to see if his lead would hold for his second, record-setting CFD Championship. The crowd of 12,401 erupted with cheers and were on their feet when Cress took his victory lap around the arena.
The biggest money winner at the 122nd “Daddy of ‘em All” was steer wrestler Levi Rudd. The Chelsea, Oklahoma, cowboy earned $21,396. When the day began he had already collected more than $11,000 in the first and second rounds. He added nearly $900 for fourth place in the final round and about $9,500 for winning the overall championship by 1.1 second.
Rudd had competed at CFD twice in the past but had never done well. “I was happy after I won the first round since I’d never done any good here,” he said. Rudd started the week ranked 50th in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) steer wrestling standings. He more than doubled his season earnings after his win here and jumped about 20 spots in the standings.
Three-time world champion bareback rider Will Lowe started the day in sixth place, but an 88-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Black Tie earned the Canyon, Texas, cowboy his third CFD championship and nearly $16,000. He previously won here in 2009 and 2012. Lowe, who has qualified for 14 National Finals Rodeos (NFR) is grateful to still be riding at the highest level 10 years after winning his first title in Frontier Park.
“It’s so awesome to be able to still be here, riding with these guys and still be competitive,“ he said. The win here should help his quest for a 15th NFR berth.
Lowe joins three legendary cowboys – Jim Shoulders, Joe Alexander and Clint Corey – as the only ones to win three bareback riding championships here.
Idaho bull rider Ruger Piva has accomplished something in the past year that many bull riders never will in their entire careers. Last September Piva, now 23, won the Pendleton Round-Up in Pendleton, Oregon. This week he competed for the first time at CFD, rode all three of his bulls and left with more than $10,000 in prize money and a Cheyenne Frontier Days title. The 23-year-old former high school and college wrestler can now claim wins at two of the most historic and prestigious rodeos in North America.
“If you had told me two years ago that I would win Pendleton and Cheyenne within a year, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Piva said. “Cheyenne felt a lot bigger than I expected. I hid in the ready room and watched the action on the tv screen.
He received congratulations from four-time world champion J.W. Harris, who finished second. As Harris walked away, Piva asked Harris for an autograph. “He’s one of my heroes,” Piva explained.
For the second year, weather affected the Championship Sunday competition. Last year it rained, but this year a tornado warning issued during the rodeo resulted in a weather delay of about 20 minutes. When competition resumed, rain and hail came down, particularly during the barrel racing.
World champion Nellie Miller and her horse Rafter W Minnie Reba, that she calls “Sister,” were on the course during some of the worst of the weather, but the California duo made a solid run. Although they did not win money in the final round, their total time of 53.21 seconds earned Miller the championship. She won $19,530 and helped boost her lead in the 2018 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) standings. Miller and her father, Sam Williams, raised and trained Sister, who got her name because she is a half-sister to the horse Miller rode to her first NFR in 2010.
Second-generation rodeo athlete Brodie Poppino of Big Cabin, Oklahoma, came into Championship Sunday ranked fifth in steer roping. It was the first time he qualified for Championship Sunday in seven years of trying.
Poppino won the final round by nearly six seconds, riding his 22-year-old horse named Shaggy, a full brother to the horse his mother, Tana Poppino, rode to qualify for the NFR in barrel racing. “He stays in the pasture most of the year and about a month before we start legging him up for Cheyenne,” Poppino said.
“This is one of the most prestigious, one of the oldest rodeos in the world. It’s called “The Daddy” for a reason,“ he said. “Everybody wants to win this one. It’s a dream come true.”
Tie-down roper Shane Hanchey credits his horse Si, the 2017 horse of the year, for helping him come from seventh place to win his first CFD title. The former world champion and eight-time NFR qualifier had the second-fastest time on Sunday. Although he did not place in the first two rounds, he earned more than $13,000.
“I never really dreamed of winning this rodeo,” he said. “I weigh 140 pounds. All I’ve ever heard since I was about four years old is how big the calves were and how little people didn’t fare very well (at Cheyenne). I don’t show emotions very much, but this win’s got me shook up.”
Coming from the middle of the field to take the title was a trend in the roping events. Tennessee’s Chad Masters and Oklahoma’s Joseph Harrison were sixth in team roping when the day began, but out-paced the rest to win the final round. Their total time of 26.4 earned Masters his second CFD title (his first was in 2009) and Harrison his first.
Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, won his eighth CFD championship when he took home the all-around title for the fourth time. He has also won a team roping and three steer roping championships at CFD.
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