July 18-27, 2025

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Hooper & Thurston advance to Semifinals

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (June 23, 2022) – The action at the 126th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) was fierce from the first crack of the chute gates at Saturday’s opening performance. A roaring crowd cheered as Tilden Hooper won the bareback riding Quarter Finals with a score of 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s bucking horse Knight Mare. The Texas cowboy finished as CFD reserve champion last year and took the next step in his quest to earn his first title at Frontier Park.
The eight-time National Finals Rodeo (NFR) bareback rider is currently ranked 17th. He needs to be among the top 15 at the end of the season to make a 9th trip to Las Vegas. Hooper will advance to the Semifinals next weekend along with two-time CFD and three-time world champion Tim O’Connell, newly crowned college champion Ty Pope and rookie leader Rocker Steiner.
Two-time world champion saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, is another veteran cowboy looking for his first CFD championship. Like Hooper, his quest is off to a good start after Thurston won Saturday’s Quarter Finals. He scored 87 points on Andrews Rodeo’s horse Cracker Jack to win the day by 3.5 points.
Oklahoma cowgirl Leslie Smalygo is having her best season in pro rodeo this year. She is ranked 15th in the world standings and seeking her first trip to the NFR in barrel racing. Riding her 12-year-old sorrel horse named Justaheartbeattafame that she calls Gus, she bested 11 other women with a time of 17.38 seconds. That guaranteed her a spot in the Semifinals.
Smalygo won nearly $14,000 over the July 4 “Cowboy Christmas” run of rodeos. Her success this season has her friends telling her she’s “on fire.” That prompted the barrel racer to dye her hair the colors of fire – mixing pink, orange and red with her blonde locks.
Bull riders at the “Daddy of ‘em All” compete on consecutive days and have two opportunities to advance to the Semifinals. The same 18 bull riders will return to compete tomorrow.
The second Quarter Finals begins at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, July 24.
CHEYENNE, Wyo (July 23, 2022)- The following are unofficial results from Quarter Finals 1 at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 23. Payoff subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Knight Mare, $2,447. 2, Ty Pope, Marshall, Mo., 86, $1,835. 3, (tie) Tim O’ Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, and Rocker Steiner, Weatherford, Texas, 84.5, $917 each.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Angie Green, Huntsville, Texas, 3.9 seconds, $2,951. 2. Rheagan Cotton, Fairfield, Texas, 4.3, $2,213. 3, (tie) Sierra Galusha, Warrensburg, N.Y., and Alli Masters, Leon, Iowa, 4.8, $1,106 each.
Tie Down Roping: Blake Ash, Aurora, Mo., 12.9 seconds, $2,000. 2, Kase Bacque, Huntsville, Texas, 13.3, $1,500. 3, Kalai Nobriga, Kealakekua, Hawaii, 13.6, $1,000. 4, Jade Lyon, Meadow, S.D., 13.7, $500.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: Results Pending
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 87 points on Andrew Rodeo’s Cracker Jack, $2,345. 2, (tie) Tanner Butner, Daniel, Wyo., and Q Taylor, Casper, Wyo., 83.5, $1,47 each. 4, Kolby Wanchuck, Sherwood Park, Alberta, 82.5, $294.
Team Roping: 1, Rio Nutter, Rapid City, S.D., and Daine A McNenny, Hereford, S.D., 10.4 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Jon Peterson, and Levi O’ Keeffe, Belle Fourche, S.D., 10.7, $1,500 each. 3, Britt Williams, Hammond, Mont., and Cayden Cox, Arroyo, Ariz., 11.6, $1,000 each. 4, Brayden Parker and Dustin Searcy, Scottsdale, Ariz., 13.0, $500 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Denard Butler, Checotah, Okla., 6.5, $2,000. 2, Walt Arnold, Coleman, Texas, 6.7, $1,500. 3, Colten Leech, 6.8, $1,000. 4, Emmett Edler, State Center, Iowa, 7.0, $500.
Barrel Racing: 1, Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 17.38 seconds, $2,353. 2, Paige Jones, Wayne, Okla., 17.50, $1,765. 3, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.67, $1,176. 4, Michelle Merrick, Las Vegas, Nev., 17.82, $588.
Bull Riding: 1, Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas, 87.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeo’s Roullette, $2,397. 2, Colton Kelly, Rhome, Texas, 87, $1,797. 3, Garrett Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, 86.5, $1,797. 4, Keith Gleaves, Amarillo, Texas, 85, $599.

Rodeo Contestants to Watch

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

Bareback riding will be one of the most exciting events to watch today as veterans Tilden Hooper and Tim O’Connell try to score higher than newcomers Rocker Steiner and Ty Pope. Tim’s set of accomplishments includes three world titles and a win here in Frontier Park in 2017 and 2021. Winning here is never easy and no one knows that more than Tilden. He competed here the first time as the reigning college champion in 2007. He was the runner up last year finishing 2.5 points behind Tim.

Ty Pope has been on a roll. He won the bareback riding at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper in June. He is attending school at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, the same place his older brother Jess went. Tim also went to school there and the college is gaining a reputation as bareback riding U because of the champions they are producing. Ty left Casper and hit the pro rodeo circuit. He had qualified for the NFR Open presented by Ram in Colorado Springs and earned his second national title of the year.

And then there is Rocker. The fifth-generation rodeo competitor bought his PRCA membership soon after turning 18. He proved he was ready when he immediately started winning. He won the National Western Stock Show Rodeo in Denver last January. Injuries kept him home in the spring, but he came back with a vengeance setting a new world record of 95 points at the Riggin’ Rally in June. He went to Calgary for the first time and just last week earned the title there. He has been here in the mini bareback riding, but this will be his first time to compete here as a PRCA member.

Canada will be well represented in the saddle bronc riding with one-fourth of the contestants coming from the north. All four have been to the NFR and the group includes two-time world champion Zeke Thurston. He will be competing with Dawson Hay, Kolby Wanchuk and Jake Watson. Zeke and Dawson had fathers that competed here. Dawson’s dad, Rod Hay, was the saddle bronc winner in 2000.

There are seven Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers in the bull riding. Garrett Smith has had success here nearly every time he has nodded his head. Cheyenne Frontier Days is among his favorites because of it’s legendary status. Garrett competed in all of the events growing up. He is one of three boys and his older brother Wyatt competed in steer wrestling. His younger brother Payson stays busy team roping and if Garrett didn’t love bull riding so much, he could be competing in the team roping or steer wrestling.

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

The winner of the tie-down roping qualifier will try to add to his earnings in Frontier Park today and he is a rookie. Cash Enderli had never been to Cheyenne before this year, then beat 197 other ropers to win $5,172. He is a student at Weatherford College in Texas and will not pursue a rodeo career until he graduates from college in one year. Then he plans on hitting the road and competing for the Resistol Rookie of the Year award in tie-down roping. If he advances from the Quarter Finals, he may be regretting that decision.

Tie-down ropers’ horses are some of the most highly-trained animals in rodeo. They do at least 70% of their jobs without anyone on their back. Horsemanship is right up Trevor Hale’s alley. He won the Reined Cowhorse competition at the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2020 and now is making his way up the roping ranks. He is currently 30th in the world standings and has the potential to move up if he adds earnings here.

Today’s breakaway ropers come from New York to Oregon and everywhere in between. Josie Goodrich’s dad, Brad Goodrich was a contender here in the tie-down roping for years. She is also following in her barrel racing mom’s footsteps. Josie qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in that event. Her only opportunity at Cheyenne will be in the breakaway roping and she will be working hard to make the most of it.

Brandon Beers won the team roping here in 2014 heading for Jim Ross Cooper. He has been providing team roping cattle for events and moved to the production side. He still ropes for fun and has been having that with Daniel Braman IV. Tinlee’s dad, Garrett Tonozzi will be roping today and her mom, Brittany will be competing in the barrel racing later this week. The couple’s young daughter has caught the rodeo bug too and will be hoping that dad and his partner T.J. Watts connect and advance to the semi-finals.

The reigning college champion steer wrestler is hoping to be among the NFR qualifiers this year and a win in Cheyenne could make that happen. Walt Arnold graduated from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, in May. Then he won the CNFR and headed to Reno and a full summer of rodeoing. Walt is inside the top 40 in the world standings. He won $1,902 during the qualifier and has an opportunity to add to that today.

Teneille Angland grew up in Australia, married a saddle bronc rider who had been competing in the U.S. and now she is doing the same. Except, she had to fly her horses over, while all he had to bring was his saddle. The couple has two young boys and traveling with them and taking care of horses keeps her on her toes. She is the first barrel racer out today so will be in first place when she rides out of the arena no matter what her time is. Just being here and competing is very exciting for her, so to be among the qualifiers is a big step.

Lisa Lockhart has consistently won money at this rodeo and is hoping to do that again here today. She is 32nd in the world standings so to have her 16th NFR, she has a big push to make. She typically wins most of her money in the summer and Cheyenne has been a very important rodeo for her. She got the champions package in 2015.

WATCH: Barrel Racing Qualifier

A mother of four from a town of 80 people in South Dakota set a new barrel racing arena record Wednesday at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Summer Kosel and her horse Apollo finished the big arena pattern in 17.02 seconds to win the qualifying round that trimmed the field from more than 190 barrel racers to 72. Kosel has never been to ‘The Daddy’ and came this year at the urging of a friend. She beat the previous Frontier Park time by one one-hundredth of a second.

WATCH: Breakaway Qualifier

Sundance, Wyoming’s Peggy Garman set a breakaway roping record at Cheyenne Frontier Days on Wednesday morning with a three-second flat run. She won the wild card round in which just twelve of 140 ropers advanced to afternoon performances starting Saturday at ‘The Daddy.’ Garman is an alum of Casper College where she spent two years on the rodeo team. It may be some time before a smile leaves her face.

WATCH: Steer Wrestling Qualifier

The Etbauer name has been synonymous with success at Cheyenne Frontier Days because a trio of Oklahoma saddle-bronc riding brothers ruled the roost for a long time. Robert Etbauer’s son Trell is a bit stouter, and he wrestles steers. Etbauer was faster than 130 of his bulldogging pals in qualifier Round 1 competition at ‘The Daddy’ Tuesday with a run of 5.7 seconds.

WATCH: Tie Down Roping Qualifier

Oklahoman Mike Johnson is Chute 9 royalty at Cheyenne Frontier Days. He won his first of two tie-down roping titles a quarter century ago and Johnson has entered ‘The Daddy’ for nearly four decades. He’s not going to many rodeos these days but the man who holds the NFR record for appearances in his event (23) was back in Cheyenne to easily advance out of the tie-down qualifying round with a solid 12.4 second run on Monday.

WATCH: Team Roping Qualifier

Those in the know say Sunday at Cheyenne Frontier Days was as good a display of team roping skill as you’d ever encounter. A total of 72 teams advanced out of the qualifying rounds to performances that begin next weekend and did so with runs ranging from seven to twelve seconds. A number of former Central Rocky Mountain Region college stars were among those to move on for a chance at a coveted buckle from ‘The Daddy.’ If you aren’t aware of strategy in team roping stick around for the last run here by Hershey, Nebraska’s Cooper and Tucker White. Cooper was an all-around cowboy for Gillette College.

Qualifying rounds of team roping Sunday at Cheyenne Frontier Days trimmed the field of more than 160 to 72 teams that advance to afternoon performances starting next weekend. Brothers Riley and Brady Minor from Ellensburg, Washington were fastest stopping the clock at 7.1 seconds. Heeler Brady has confidence in his horse no matter where they compete.

WATCH: Buckin’ Horse Roundup

Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo qualifying rounds see new records

PICK UP MAN INITIATIVE COMBATS SUICIDE

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 21, 2022) – Cheyenne Frontier Days is tackling suicide awareness and prevention with a new campaign aimed at individuals attending and participating in “Daddy of ‘em All” events. They have enlisted the help of country music star Garth Brooks in promoting a campaign built around the role of the rodeo Pick Up Man in the arena.

The campaign encourages people to “reach out to a Pick Up Man or be a Pick Up Man for someone in need.” People contemplating suicide are directed to the new nationwide 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline. Individuals who see friends, family members, or neighbors struggling with mental health are encouraged to reach out.

“Our western culture of independence and self-reliance may inhibit people from seeking help, or people from offering help,” Tom Hirsig, CFD CEO said. “In rodeo, we call the pick up man a lifesaver in the arena. Every cowboy knows the pick up man is out there to help, to give a hand. And the athletes do not hesitate to reach out for help. We want everyone to use that example in their lives.”

A public service video featuring Garth Brooks will be played during rodeo and night show performances. The video was recorded at the request of and specifically for the CFD Pick up Man campaign. “Words cannot express our deep appreciation to Garth Books for his assistance in this important effort,” Hirsig said.

The campaign acknowledges that suicide rates in the Rocky Mountain West are among the highest in the nation. The CFD effort is intended to raise awareness and places a priority on connecting individuals to the national hotline, where appropriate counseling can be provided.

CFD will be selling “Pick Up Man” hat feathers and necklaces with as part of the campaign with net proceeds being given to local suicide prevention efforts.