July 18-27, 2025
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CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 20, 2024 — Garrett Shadbolt, who is in the midst of his most successful regular season in his professional rodeo career, continued on the winning path by winning Quarterfinals 1 at the 128th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. The Merriman, Nebraska, cowboy scored 85.5 points on the powerful bucking horse named Big Apple from United Pro Rodeo to advance to next week’s Semifinals.
Shadbolt, a father of two, qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 2021 and 2022, but missed qualifying last year and is on a mission to return to Las Vegas in December.
He is a graduate of Doane University in Crete, Nebraska, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and lettered in wrestling for four seasons.
Wyoming fans had plenty to cheer for in breakaway roping. Taylour Latham of Cheyenne won the day’s Quarterfinal with a time of 4.6 seconds, just one-tenth of a second faster than Jordyn McNamee of Laramie. Latham is a former standout on both the Gillette College and the University of Wyoming’s rodeo teams where she competed in multiple events. She graduated from the University of Wyoming in May. Both teams helped her get in some practice runs this week.
She estimated that she had not entered a rodeo in the breakaway in about 18 months but cracked out at Cheyenne, which she still claims as home although she now lives in Texas.
The highest score of the day was in saddle bronc riding where Melstone, Montana’s Sage Newman scored 89 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Ropin Dreams to win Quarterfinals 1. Newman is currently ranked third in the world championship standings and well on his way to a fourth consecutive NFR.
Newman is one of three bronc riders in a tight race for second in the standings and within striking distance of current leader Damian Brennen of Australia. Newman has a chance to gain ground on Brennan who bucked off and will not have another opportunity to win a share of the $1 million plus purse at the Daddy of ‘em All.
Quarter Finals 2 begins on Sunday at 12:45 where new contestants in every event but bull riding will be vying for their spots in the Semi Finals.
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 20, 2024)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (first performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 20. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 85.5 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Big Apple, $2,448. 2, Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mont., 82.5, $1,836. 3, Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, 81.5, $1,224, 4, Trevar McAllister, Roman, Mont., 80.5, $612.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Taylour Latham, Cheyenne, Wyo., 4.6 seconds, $2, 960. 2, Jordyn McNamee, Laramie, Wyo., 4.7, $2,220. 3, Shelby Whiting, Paola, Kan., 5.2, $1,480. 4, Kelsie Domer, Dublin, Texas, 5.7, $740.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Chantz Webster, Weatherford, Texas, 11.7 seconds, $2,000. 2, Dontae Pacheco, Blanco, N.M., $1,500. 3, Ryan Thibodeaux, Stephenville, Texas, 14.0. 4, (tie) Cash Enderli, Liberty, Texas; and Jason Schaffer, Broadus, Mont., $250 each.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 89 points, $2,354. 2, Kolby Wanchuk, Glenwood Park, Alberta, Canada, 88, $1,766. 3, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 86.5, $589.
Team Roping: 1, (tie) Casey Ahlstrom, Ault, Colo., and Riley Pedro, Honolulu, Hawaii; and Jared Gonzales, Eloy, Ariz., and Paul Brashears, Casa Grande, Ariz, 9.6 seconds, $1,625 each. 3, Jon Peterson, Belle Fourche, S.D., and Cash Hetzel, Lemmon, S.D., 10.0, $1,250 each. 4, Cole Thomas, Meadville, Miss., and Dylin Ahlstrom, Hooper, Utah, 10.3, $500 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Jay Williamson, Weatherford, Texas, 6.0 seconds, $2,000. 2, Tyler Scheevel, Alva, Okla., 6.5, $1,500. 3, Jace Logan, Yampa, Colo., 7.7, $1,000 . 4 (tie) , Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore., and Gus McGinn, Hanes, Ore., 8.2, $250 each.
Barrel Racing: 1, LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, Texas, 17.16 seconds, $2,471. 2, Sage Kohr, Gillette, Wyo., 17.18, $1,854. 3, (tie) Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas; and Lindsay Sears, Lipan, Texas, 17.31, $927.
Bull Riding: 1, Brandon Ballard, New Hope, Ky., 83 points on Harper & Morgan Rodeo Co.’s Rondo, $2380. 2, Wilson Tipton, Jackson, Wyo., 78.5, $1,785. 3, Grayson Cole, Fredonia, Pa., $1,190. 4, Cannon Cravens, Porum, Okla., 66, $595.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, (tie) Hank Whitaker, Deeth, Nev., and Clint Read, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, 79 points. 3, Skinny Parsons, Springdale, Ark., 78. 4, Josue Molina, Pampa, Texas, 74.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Team Headless Horseman, $600. 2, 3 of a Kind, $450. 3, Team Nowland, $300.
Oklahoma barrel racer Leslie Smalygo and her horse ‘Gus’ are no strangers to success at Cheyenne Frontier Days. They finished second in 2023 and were third in the qualifying round. They boosted their output to the #1 spot today, beating the field by nearly two-tenths of a second. About 220 barrel racers were entered at ‘The Daddy’ and that number has been trimmed to 72. Smalygo knew she had a dynamo in her hands but kept him in line for a run of 17.09 seconds.
It was a big day of breakaway roping at Cheyenne Frontier Days with contestants split into two groups of 100 and Nicole Hadley from Kansas won the first qualifying round section with a time of 3.1 seconds which is just a tenth of a second from an arena record. She earned a check for more than $4,300. Hadley started dating husband Jhett when they were on the University of Wyoming rodeo team and as a pro Nicole chose to compete in the Mountain States Circuit. Hadley earned her degree at UW in animal science and felt comfortable handling the morning Frontier Park ground that was blitzed by a thunderstorm Monday night.
There may not be a better ambassador for rodeo than Oklahoma roper Coleman Proctor and he’s smiling at Cheyenne Frontier Days having already won nearly $11,000 finishing second in each of two steer roping qualifying rounds on Saturday. He leads the aggregate by a full three seconds. Proctor and team roping partner Logan Medlin were out Sunday and will continue to advance.
Haylie Turley has been named Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) Lady-In-Waiting 2024 after a selection process including submitting a written application, an accomplishment book, a horsemanship skills demonstration, and an interview.
Haylie is the daughter of Sherry and George Anadiotis and Scott and Crystal Turley. She is a 2022 graduate of Cheyenne East High School. Haylie dedicated her high school years to 4H cattle showing and FFA leadership and showmanship. Currently, she is attending Laramie County Community College, where she is pursuing a degree in nursing with a goal of transferring to the University of Wyoming to obtain her BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) and eventually a doctorate in nursing practice, which will allow her to further serve Wyoming.
It has been Haylie’s lifelong dream to be a part of Cheyenne Frontier Days. She has looked up to the men and women dedicated to the western lifestyle. When she started riding, she realized this was her chance to be the next generation to live and breathe the brand. Haylie was a CFD Dandy and drill leader for four years. She also continued her volunteerism on the Parades Committee for a year as a Mounted Marshall assisting in the safety of spectators and participants on parade days.
“It is with the utmost pride and honor that I have been selected as the 2024 Miss Lady-In-Waiting! Representing Cheyenne Frontier Days is a timeless tradition that I am more than grateful to be a part of. I am beyond excited to represent and serve 3,000+ volunteers, the people of Cheyenne and the legacy of rodeo. I hope to always put the interests of the people, contestants, and volunteers first, as they are the heart and foundation of CFD. I promise as Miss Lady-In-Waiting to do my best in educating and promoting this beautiful way of life,” Haylie said.
Haylie Turley will work with Miss Frontier, Caitlin Garcia in 2024 to represent Cheyenne Frontier Days.
They say records are made to be broken, and that certainly was the case at the 127th Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD).
The event that started in 1897 is a full-blown celebration of the Western Lifestyle that includes rodeos, concerts, parades, Indian Village, trade shows, carnival and more.
National Day of the Cowboy has become synonymous with CFD’s opening Saturday, the first performance of the rodeo. July 22 and the second Saturday, July 29 rodeos were sold out.
Rodeo competition started July 15 with contestants qualifying for a spot in the Quarter Finals of the tournament-style rodeo. Throughout the competition nearly 1,600 competitors were after a piece of the $1.2 million purse.
The rodeo’s Quarter Finals were July 22 – 27 with the highest scores and fastest times advancing to the Semi Finals July 28 – 29. Championship Sunday featured 12 contestants in each event where the highest score or fastest time won. Two records were set during that performance. In the saddle bronc riding, Louisiana’s Ryder Sanford rode world champion bucking horse The Black Tie for 92.5 points beating the previous 91 set in 2010. The barrel racing was extremely fast with South Dakotan Summer Kosel beating the arena record she set here last year. Kosel stopped the clock in 16.97 seconds. Then Sue Smith, from Idaho, had her turn and had a 16.89-second run.
Through nine rodeo performances, 116,960 fans were in attendance, a significant increase from 108,662 last year. The Quarter Finals, Semi Finals, and Finals were broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel. Additionally, RFD-TV broadcast competition and qualifying rounds were available on The Cowboy Channel+ app.
CFD officials continued their quest to bring light to suicide prevention and awareness through the Pick-Up Man Initiative Combats Suicide and yellow feathers on cowboy hats were prevalent. It encourages people to “pick up” someone in need. “The World Needs More Cowboys” is a very popular song that Wyoming’s own Chancey Williams wrote and performs. CFD is behind that and partnered with Williams to promote anti-bullying, respect, and kindness.
All branches of the military were honored on Military Monday with active personnel and veterans receiving free admission. Special opening ceremonies featured military personnel and their families bringing in a big American Flag, a parade on the track of military vehicles and recognition of Gold Star families.
Frontier Nights was very popular with 134,134 in attendance compared to 103,798 last year. Part of the entertainment was Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Team Series. This year’s PBR had 18,448 in attendance, slightly down from 19,756. It was broadcast on CBS Sports Network and Ride Pass on Pluto TV. In addition to rodeo and night show tickets, there were 32,399 gate admission tickets sold bringing total attendance to 283,493.
Animals are the centerpiece of Frontier Days with approximately 6,500 of them included in the rodeo, parades, and bull riding. On-site veterinarians checked animals multiple times daily. Only four animals required treatment and unfortunately two did not recover.
Four parades and three pancake breakfasts were part of the celebration in downtown Cheyenne. Fans lined the streets for the parades featuring all kinds of horsepower and celebrating CFD’s history. The Kiwanis worked to feed 18,588 pancake breakfasts.
The Native American Indian Village on Frontier Park had activities for all ages, from storytelling, hoop dancing, flute playing and seeing authentic crafts. Approximately 46,824 people made their way through the village.
“Wow, just wow,” said John Contos, CFD General Chairman who is finishing the first of his three-year term. “This marks my fortieth year of being involved with Frontier Days and it is an incredible event. We have amazing volunteers and a very supportive community. CFD has a legendary reputation, and we couldn’t do it without everyone involved, from volunteers to sponsors, staff, competitors, and performers. There are a lot of cogs in the wheels that turn, and we are dedicated to making the world’s best Western celebration even better next year. We can’t thank everyone involved enough.”
From three bareback riding champions to unheralded first-time winners to repeat champions to arena records, Championship Sunday at the 127th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) was a day to remember.
The record-setting day began in the bareback riding when, for the just the third time since the event began here in 1936, three cowboys were crowned champions at the “Daddy of ‘em All.” Louisiana’s Kade Sonnier, Wyoming’s Cole Reiner and California’s Clayton Biglow shared the winning stage after they each scored 87.5 points. Biglow won the title here in 2019; Sonnier is a rookie competing here for the first time and Reiner, who grew up in Buffalo and attended college in Sheridan and Casper, has three Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifications since turning pro in 2019.
Both Sonnier and Reiner felt lucky to even have a chance at the title. CFD advances 12 contestants to the finals in each event, but in the rough stock events those who tie for sixth also advance. Of the 14 bareback riders who competed on Sunday, Sonnier and Reiner were two of the three who advanced on a tie in Semi Finals 1.
Joey Williams, a rancher from Volberg, Montana, won the breakaway roping with a time of 3.8 seconds. The mom of three is a former collegiate champion who has qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping twice. Williams, who earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of South Dakota, won nearly $20,000 in Frontier Park.
Luke Potter of Maple City, Kansas, ranked 24th in the tie-down roping world standings when Cheyenne Frontier Days began. He started in the qualifying round July 17 on a borrowed horse since his main mount was injured last month and did well enough to qualify for the Quarter Finals last Thursday. On Wednesday he purchased an experienced roping horse called Katniss and finished third with both his quarter-final and semi-final runs. His time of 10.6 seconds on Sunday gave him the CFD title as well as a big boost in the standings which could put him in contention for his first NFR berth.
The CFD record in saddle bronc riding had been 91 points since Louisiana’s Cody DeMoss set it in 2010 and it took another Louisianan to break the record. Ryder Sanford of Sulphur bested the mark by one and a half points when he scored 92.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls’ horse named The Black Tie. Sanford, who ranked 24th in the world when the rodeo began, was thrilled to win the championship here in the same year as Sonnier. They competed together on the McNeese State University rodeo team in their home state where Sanford earned a degree in civil engineering.
Texas team ropers Billy Bob Brown of Carbon and Kirby Blankenship of Lampasas may not be household names, but their time of 8.0 seconds gave them the CFD championship. The duo spent most of the past four years competing part time at rodeos and stand-alone ropings near home. They decided to make a month-long trip to major rodeos this month and success here has them altering their plans and staying on the rodeo trail.
Eli Lord of Sturgis, South Dakota, became the first of three men to win a repeat championship here. Some of Lord’s earliest memories are of Cheyenne Frontier Days as his father J.B. competed here for more than two decades, coming close but never winning a title. Lord took an early lead in the steer wrestling with a time of 5.9 seconds Sunday, then watched the rest of the field, including two world champions, try unsuccessfully to best his time. Lord, the 2019 winner, earned his second CFD championship.
Cheyenne Frontier Days steer roping runs in Troy Tillard’s veins. His grandfather competed here for the first time 80 years ago. “As a kid we worked all summer and got to spend the (rodeo) week in Cheyenne,” Tillard said. “Cheyenne is a huge deal for most rodeo people, but for our family it’s like 10 times.”
Tillard’s uncle Marty won the steer roping title here in 1991; his father Tim won the senior steer roping championship in 2010; and Troy won his first CFD title in 2004. Nineteen years later he was back on the winner’s platform with a 14.6-second run.
Records also fell in the barrel racing. Summer Kosel of Glenham, South Dakota, broke the long-standing record for the fastest barrel racing time here in 2022 with a 17.02-second run. On Sunday, she broke her own record with a 16.97 and it looked like she was on track to win the championship. But Sue Smith of Blackfoot, Idaho, and her mare Dashs Centerfold had other plans. They beat Kosel’s time by .08 seconds and set a new record with a time of 16.89 to win the championship.
This was the first time for Smith to run Centerfold in Frontier Park and “she likes it,” Smith said. A trainer of futurity horses who generally competes at rodeos in the Wilderness Circuit, Smith earned more than $200,000 at futurities on Centerfold and has won a similar amount at futurities on one of the sorrel mare’s colts.
Seven of the 12 bull riders made qualified rides in the finals with Tyler Taylor of Stephenville, Texas, taking the lead when he scored 89 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s bull named Tom Horn. Stetson Wright of Beaver, Utah, who was the 2019 bull riding champion here, bumped Taylor to second with a 91.5-point ride on Dakota Rodeo’s bull Trump Train. The closest anyone came to Wright’s score was an 89.5 by Josh Frost of Randlett, Utah on Stace Smith’s Let’s Gamble.
Wright, the two-time world champion bull rider, won the bull riding here as a rookie in 2019 and added another CFD bull riding title to his trophy case this year. Wright won the saddle bronc riding at CFD the past two years and also won the all-around title in both 2019 and 2022. Although he missed qualifying for the finals in saddle bronc riding in 2023, he earned enough in that event, when added to his bull riding winnings, to take home the CFD all-around championship for the third time.
Other champions at Frontier Park included Slade Keith of Stanfield, Arizona, who earned the Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding Championship on Saturday, and Team Agin who were crowned Wild Horse Race champions for the third time.
The 128th edition of Cheyenne Frontier Days will be held July 19-28, 2024, at Frontier Park.
Bareback Riding – (tie) Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., $10,225
Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La., $9,298
Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo., $8,074
Breakaway Roping – Joey Williams, Volberg, Mont., $19,589
Tie-Down Roping – Luke Potter, Maple City, Kan., $15,737
Saddle Bronc Riding – Ryder Sanford, Sulphur, La., $12,114
Team Roping – Billy Bob Brown, Carbon, Texas, and Kirby Blankenship, Lampasas, Texas, $10,600 each
Steer Roping – Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo., $11,291
Barrel Racing – Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, $14,296
Bull Riding – Stetson Wright, Beaver, Utah, $15,133
Rookie Bronc Riding – Slade Keith, Stanfield, Ariz., $1,543
All-Around – Stetson Wright, $15,722 in saddle bronc and bull riding
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 29, 2023)- The following are unofficial results from Championship Sunday at the 127th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Sunday, July 30.
Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La., on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls’ MLW’s Irish Eyes; Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls’ Atomic Blonde; and Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo., on New Star Pro Rodeo’s Chosen One, 87.5 points, $6,470 each. 4, Ben Kramer, Max, N.D., 87, $3,065. 5, (tie) Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, La., and Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas, 86.5, $1,022 each.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Joey Williams, Volberg, Mont., 3.8 seconds, $11,966. 2, Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 3.9, $9,065. 3, Shayla Hall, Belle Fourche, S.D., 4.0, $6,527. 4, Brandy Schaack, Chadron, Neb., 4.4, $4,351. 5 Bryana Lehrmann, Lexington, Texas, 4.5, $2,538. 6, Cassidy Boggs, Stephenville, Texas, 4.7, $1,813.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Luke Potter, Maple City, Kansas, 10.6, $9,200. 2, (tie) John Douch, Huntsville, Texas, and Britt Bedke, Oakley, Utah, 10.9, $7,400 each. 4, Marcos Costa, Tolar, Texas, 11.2, $5,600. 5, Carsyn Sunvision, McDade, Texas,12.0, $4,400. 6, Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif, 13.0, $3,200. 7. Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Texas, 14.6, $2,000. 8. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 15.7, $800.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ryder Sanford, Sulphur, La., 92.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Black Tie, $8,068. 2, (tie) Q Taylor, Casper, Wyo., and Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 89.5, $5,256 each. 4, Lefty Holman, Visalia, Calif., 88.5, $2,933. 6, Stu Wright, Coalville, Utah, 85.5, $1,711. 7, Cameron Messier, Herald, Cali., 85.5, $1,222.
Team Roping: 1, Billy Bob Brown, Carbon, Texas, and Kirby Blankenship, Lampasas, Texas, 8.0 seconds, $9,200. 2, Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil, 8.2, $8,000. 3, Bubba Buckaloo, Kingston, Okla., and J.R. Gonzales, Maypearl, Texas, 9.0, $6,800. 4, Clayton Van Aken, Yoder, Wyo., and Cullen Teller, Ault, Colo., 9.5, $5,600. 5, Edgar Aguilar, Greeley, Colo., Edgar Villegas, Denver, Colo., 10.6, $4,400. 6. Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas; Billy Bob Brown, Carbon, Texas, 13.2, $3,200. 7, Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla., and Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas, 14.6, $2,000. 8. Corben Culley, Muse, Okla., and Blayne Horn, McAlester, Okla., 14.8, $800.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D, 5.9 seconds, $6,900. 2, Tristan Martin, La, 6.6, $6,000. 3, Walt Arnold, Coleman, Texas, 6.7, $5,100. 4, Tate Petrak, Martin, S.D., 6.8, $4,200. 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., and Cameron Moorman, Glen Ullin, N.D., 7.3, $2,850 each. 7. (tie) Chisum Docheff, Mead, Colo., and Newt Novich, Twin Bridges, Mont., 7.5, $1.050 each.
Steer Roping: 1. Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo., 14.6 seconds, $11,291. 2. Duck Benson, Worden, Mont., 15.5, $9,597. 3. Paul Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla., 16.4, $7,904. 4, Tuff Hardman, Atoka, Oka., 16.80, $6,775. 5. Austin Posey, Jourdanton, Texas, 18.0, $5,645. 6, Don Eddleman, 20.90, $3,952.
Barrel Racing: 1, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 16.89, $10,495. 2, Summer Kosel, Glenham, S.D., 16.97, $8,685. 3, Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 17.16, $6,876. 4, Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo, 17.54, $5,066. 5, Tarryn Lee, St. David, Ariz., 17.55, $3,257. 6, Taycie Matthews, Wynne, Ark., 17.56, $1,809.
Bull Riding: 1, Stetson Wright, Milford, 91.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Trump Train, 8,334. Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah, 89.5, $6,314. 3, Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho, 89.0, $4,546. 4, Trey Holston, Fort Scott, Kansas, 87.0, $3,030. 5, Parker Breding, Edgar Mont., 86.5, $1,768. 6, Riggin Shippy, 86.0, $1,262.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Cowboy Chaos, $880. 2, Team Agin, $660. 3, CLS Team, $440. 4, Wagon Burners, $220. (Total money) 1, Team Agin, $4,510. 2, Cowboy Chaos, $3,382. 3, CLS Team, $2,255. 4, Wagon Burners, $1,127.
Idaho’s Sue Smith won her first Cheyenne Frontier Days title aboard her great mare that she calls Centerfold on Sunday. The duo also set a new arena record with a blazing fast time of 17.89. PRCA photo by Click Thompson
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.
