Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:

R.C. Landingham of Hat Creek, California, has been one of the hottest bareback riders in the PRCA lately. This past Saturday he won first place and nearly $6,000 at the California Rodeo in Salinas. On Monday, he earned $25,000 and a gold medal at the Utah Days of 47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City. Although that money doesn’t count in the PRCA standings, it still fattens the pocketbook. He’ll be looking to continue that streak on Dakota Rodeo’s Gun Powder today. Will Lowe won the CFD bareback riding title in 2009, 2012 and 2018. At age 39, the three-time world champion is still riding well and can’t be overlooked to win another CFD title and hold the record for most bareback wins here. (He currently shares with Joe Alexander and Clint Corey who each have three championships.) Six-time world champion Kaycee Feild has won almost everything there is to win in bareback riding, except he has never won the “Daddy of ‘em All.”

Hometown favorite Brody Cress won the saddle bronc riding title here three years in a row. He’s currently ranked second in the world and would love to win in front of the hometown crowd again. Another crowd favorite is 2018 world champion Wade Sundell of Boxholm, Iowa, who won The Daddy in 2013. Californian Lefty Holman who is ranked 9th in the standings would love to win a saddle bronc riding title in Cheyenne, just as his uncle Joe Marvel did in 1981. Logan Hay’s dad Rod won the CFD bronc riding title in 2000. The Canadian cowboy just won the Calgary Stampede and is 10th in the standings.

Shane Proctor won the bull riding world title, the Calgary Stampede Championship and the CFD championship all in 2011. Earlier this month he won his second title in Calgary, and he’d love to do the same here in Cheyenne. Josh Frost continues the momentum his 2021 National Finals Rodeo average and reserve world title started and currently sits second in the world standings. Frost won the Linderman Award last year, given to the cowboy with the highest season earnings who wins at least $1,000 in three events, including both a rough stock and a timed event. Despite the many accomplishments of his famous cousin Lane and his older brother Joe, Josh could become the first in his family to win a CFD championship. Watch for Trevor Reiste. The ambidextrous cowboy decides which hand to ride with depending on what bull he has drawn.

Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing

One of the most successful barrel racers in the history of Cheyenne Frontier Days is Nellie Miller from Cottonwood, California. Nellie won back-to-back championships here in 2018 and 2019. Her title in 2018 was as the reigning world champion and both of her wins in Frontier Park helped her qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo again last December. She didn’t win anything during qualifying, is 20th in the world standings and is hoping for success in the Quarter Finals to give her an opportunity to cash in.

One of the things that makes Cheyenne the “Daddy of ‘em All” is the opportunity for newcomers to compete against world champions and NFR qualifiers with equal chances. One of those newcomers is Laura Mote, the daughter of Bobby Mote who was the bareback riding champion here in 2004, one year after she was born. Laura has leaned on her dad for her mental game and also gotten experience from her barrel racing mom. She is ninth in the rookie of the year standings and if she finishes among the top four here today, it could be a game changer for the recent high school graduate.

Stevi Hillman, had barrel racing fans on the edge of their seats when she won the championship here in 2017 riding I’m a Sharp Guy an amazing gray gelding. This year, she has her solid gelding Cuatro Fame “Truck” in her trailer as well as a super palomino mare Famous Lemon Drop. Whatever she is riding, Stevi will be doing it with her whole heart and gratitude for the opportunities rodeo has provided her to share her faith.

The seasoned veterans will be trying to show the youngsters how it is done in the tie-down roping today. Mike Johnson has earned titles here in 1997 and 2003. At 58-years-old, he has a wealth of experience that he shares with others by hosting competitions and training horses. He has been to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo a record 23 times in his event. The other veteran in the field today is Blair Burk who will go down in history as the first header to ever win a championship in the team roping here. That happened in 2007. He was here consistently after that but has yet to win a title in his signature event – the tie-down roping. That could change in 2022, 15 years after he won the team roping title.

Steer wrestling should get fast today as former CFD champion’s Curtis Cassidy (all-around 2010,) Eli Lord (2019 and J.D. Struxness (2016) are in the mix. Eli is the only one of these that hasn’t been to the NFR, but he could be in contention this year if he has some success here. He is currently 24th in the world standings.

Add in Blake Mindeman, Rowdy Parrott, Tanner Milan who have all been to the NFR and 2021 college champion Gavin Soileau and it will be the timed-event of the day to watch. They have all come to play and have everything to gain today.

Eli will be watching the team roping today too as his brother Levi Lord will be roping with Jr. Dees. One of the most exciting headers in the industry to watch, Dustin Egusquiza, will be here with veteran heeler Travis Graves. They are looking for their first CFD title and their first gold buckles. Chad Masters and Paul Eaves have each won gold buckles, but not together. If their world-championship skills mesh at CFD, it would be the first title for Paul and the third for Chad who won here in 2009 and 2018.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 26, 2022) –Andrea Busby’s Wyoming roots run nearly as deep as Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) itself, so winning Quarter Finals 4 in barrel racing at the 126th edition was even more meaningful for the Brock, Texas, resident.

Busby’s family began The Bruch Ranch near Lusk (140 miles northeast of Cheyenne) in 1910, just 23 years after the first one-day roundup in Cheyenne and nearly a decade before Cheyenne Frontier Days earned the nickname the “Daddy of ‘em All.” Busby grew up near Lusk, then attended Montana State University.

On Tuesday she was the first barrel racer of the day. She stopped the clock in 17.20 seconds, one of the fastest times of the week, riding Blazinwithmydude, a six-year-old mare called Tito. That was the fastest time of the day and advanced her to this weekend’s Semifinals. She and her husband Jeff own Busby Quarter Horses and have connections to some of the top barrel racing horses in the industry. Famous Lil Jet, the 2021 AQHA Barrel Racing Horse of the Year, was purchased from the Busbys as a yearling by reigning world champion barrel racer Jordan Briggs.

Trey Kimzey of Strong City, Oklahoma, has an opportunity earn a bull riding accomplishment that has eluded his famous older brother – win a CFD championship. Although Sage Kimzey has won seven bull riding world championships and numerous other awards, he has never won a title at Frontier Park. Trey, 23, is having his best season in pro rodeo and is currently ranked sixth.

On Tuesday he topped the first section of bull riding with 88.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s bull Wolf of Wallstreet. Canyon Bass, an 18-year-old rookie from Johnson City, Texas, tied Kimzey’s score in the second section on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bull #625. The riders with Tuesday’s top six scores advance to this weekend’s Semifinals. Another high-marked ride in the Semifinals would advance Kimzey for Sunday’s Championship Finals and give him the chance to be the first in his family to win here.

The women’s breakaway roping featured Tuesday’s toughest competition. Only four of 13 ropers missed their calves. The other nine women roped their animals in less than seven seconds. The fastest of the day was Missouri cowgirl Emma Charleston. She stopped the clock in 3.1 seconds – just one-tenth slower than the CFD record set last week during the qualifying rounds. Charleston, who was part of the rodeo teams at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M and then Tarleton State University in Texas is a two-event cowgirl in pro rodeo. She’s currently ranked 28th in the barrel racing world standings but did not advance to the CFD quarterfinals in that event.

Taylor Hanchey of Carmine, Texas, was second with a time of 3.9. Hanchey has also made her mark in both women’s events. She was the first women to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in barrel racing and for the National Finals Breakaway Roping. Her husband Shane Hanchey won the tie-down roping title at CFD in 2018 and Taylor would love to add her own CFD title to the family trophy room.

The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (first performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 25. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., 86 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Cracked Pepper, $2,447. 2, Dean Thompson, Altamont, Utah, 85, $1,529. 3, (tie) Anthony Thomas, Houston, Texas, and Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 84, $1,070 each.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Emma Charleston, Reeds, Mo., 3.1 seconds, $2,951. 2, Taylor Hanchey, Carmine, Texas, 3.9, $2,213. 3, Lynn Smith, Elfrida, Ariz., 4.0, $1,475. 4, Paige Stout, Decatur, Texas, 4.3, $737.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Blane Cox, Cameron, Texas, 10.7 seconds, $2,000. 2, Quade Hiatt, Canyon, Texas, 11.2, $1,500. 3, Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 11.8, $1,000. 4, Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 12.1, $500.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (Round 1): 1, Denton Ward, Goowell, Okla., 77 points. 2, (tie) Jacob Benham, Dodge City, Kan., and Garret Long, Valentine, Neb., 73. 4 Carson Bingham, Rigby, Idaho, 72. (Round 2): Ira Dickinson, Rock Springs, Wyo., 81. 2, Bingham, 77. 3, Lavern Borntreger, Elsmere, Neb., 76. 4, Cauy Masters, Leon, Iowa., 75. (Total on two) 1, Bingham, 149. 2, (tie) Benham, and Dickinson, 146. 4, Masters, 145.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Riggin Smith, Winterset, Iowa., 85.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Klingon, $2,354. 2, Damian Brennan, Injune, Queensland, Australia, 82.5, $1,765. 3, Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan., 81.0, $1,177. 4, Kody Rinehart, Rienzi, Miss., 80.0, $588.

Team Roping: 1, Clayton Aken, Yoder, Wyo., and Jayden Johnson, Casper Wyo., 9.4 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Garrett Rogers, Baker City, Ore., and Justin Davis, Cottonwood, Calif., 9.6, $1,500 each. 3, Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 10.0, $1,000. 4, Marcus Theriot, Lumberton, Miss., and Cole Curry, Liberty, Miss., $500 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, (tie) Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore., and Bridger Chambers, Stevensville, Mont., 8.0 seconds, $1,750. 3, Rooster Yazzie, Coyote Canyon, N.M., 8.3, $1,000. 4, Rowdy Chance, Norwood, Colo., 8.9, $500.

Barrel Racing: 1, Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, 17.20 seconds, $2,353. 2, Jamie Chaffin, Burwell, Neb., 17.57, $1,865. 3, Cheyenne Wimberley, Stephenville, Texas, 17.59, $1,176. 4, Sarah Rose Waguespack, Gonzlaes, La., 17.70, $588.

Bull Riding: 1, (tie) Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Wolf of Wallstreet, and Canyon Bass, Wimberley, Texas, on Smith Pro Rodeos #625, 88.5 points, $2,097. 3, Clayton Savage, Banner, Wyo., 86, $1,198. 4, Cody Teel, 83.5, $599.

Wild Horse Racing: 1, Small Miracles, $678. 2, Alf’s Pub, $508.

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:

Contestants from the National High School Finals Rodeo are finding their way to Cheyenne. Among them is bareback rider Jacek Frost, whose older brothers Joe and Josh have been here in the bull riding and gone on to qualify for the NFR in that event. Jacek finished his high school career as the reserve world champion. Now, he is competing on one of rodeo’s biggest stages at the 126th “Daddy of ‘em All” and will be hoping that the momentum from Gillette carries on in Frontier Park.

Statler Wright became the fourth brother of his immediate family to win a high school championship on Saturday. Statler joins his brother Rusty and Ryder as saddle bronc riding champions at the NHSFR. Stetson, who has won four championships here in the last two events was the 2017 all-around champion there. Their uncles Jake and Spencer also earned those titles. Injuries have been an issue for the uncles and Rusty, but Ryder, Stetson and Statler will all compete in the saddle bronc riding today. Stetson is the first member of his family to earn a saddle bronc riding championship here and he did that last year along with the all-around championship. In 2019, he won the bull riding and the all-around.

Stetson will compete in the bull riding today and tomorrow. He is joined by his traveling partner and last year’s winner at Cheyenne, Ky Hamilton. The bull riding is star studded with 10 NFR qualifiers and two world champions. Stetson is one of those. The other is Cody Teel who won the PRCA’s world title 2012 has been focusing on the Professional Bull Riders. He will be competing at their event tonight as part of the Missouri Thunder team.

Last year, Montana’s Parker Breding rode more bulls at Cheyenne than any other contestant. However, his ride in the final round garnered him 85 points, four points shy of Ky Hamilton’s score so Hamilton got the champion’s package. Parker is just inside the top 40 in the world standings.

Clayton Savage is the oldest bull rider in today’s field. At 35, he is making a comeback after battling over 60 injuries and being diagnosed with epilepsy. Clayton has been to the NFR three times, the last ten years ago. He is currently in 35th place and needs to add at least $10,000 to move into the top 15, something that could happen at Frontier Park.

Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing

The team roping has two former champions in it today. Tyler Wade won it in 2016 roping with Dakota Kirchenschlager. Trey Yates was the 2019 champion heeling for Dustin Bird. This year, they are trying to win their second buckles here together with Tyler heading for Trey. They are each 25th in the world standings so any money they earn at Frontier Park could help move them up in the world standings and give them the opportunity to be in Las Vegas in December for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Tyson Durfey won the 2016 gold buckle in the tie-down roping and since then he has used his rodeo skills to build a social media audience and is a huge influencer in the western industry. He has 491 thousand followers on Facebook, 156 thousand on Instagram and another 20 thousand on Twitter. He has started a mentorship program called No Limits, has been working with life coaches and finding his own inspiration to share. He missed last year’s NFR, is in 45th place this year and really needs to win some big checks to be back there again this year. Durfey told his followers that he still gets goosebumps when he backs his horse in the box at Cheyenne. Hopefully he advances to the Semi-Finals and then the championships and gets to do that two more times after today.

Steer wrestling should be fast today. Ty Erickson, the 2019 world champion from Montana would love to add a CFD title to his rodeo resume. After winning the gold buckle, he missed the 2020 and 2021 NFR, got married, added a daughter to his family and is ready to be back there again. Ty is currently 5th in the world standings, just two spots behind Will Lummus who has been one of the most consistent steer wrestlers in the PRCA since 2018 when he qualified for his first NFR. He has been there every year since and has his eye on that buckle. Will is currently in 3rd place. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin and went on to get his certification as a physical therapist.

Trell Etbauer is trying to be the first member of his famous bronc riding family to get to the NFR in a different event. He has been traveling hard this year and is currently 20th in the world standings. Etbauer has competed here in the saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and steer wrestling. He was the best multi-event cowboy here in 2014 winning the all-around championship.

In 2019, a dream came true for Shali Lord when she and her great horse “Can Man,” tied for the win in the women’s barrel race. She and Can Man went on to qualify for the NFR. Lord is currently outside of the top 100 in the WPRA world standings. She will be riding a mare she calls CeCe today. A win here would help her move up in the standings and meet qualification guidelines for the 2023 big winter rodeos.

Also in the mix today is Emily Beisel who has been a fan favorite at the last three NFRs. Beisel was raised on a farm and is the first in her family to compete in rodeos.