Orin Larsen began his quest for a second Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) bareback riding championship on Monday when the Canadian bareback rider took first place in Monday’s Quarter Finals. The six-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier won his first title at the Daddy of ‘em All in 2016.

Larsen, the reigning Canadian champion and two-time collegiate champ, scored 86.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s bucking horse Rylee’s Rasin Cane. That was good enough to edge past 2019 world champion Clayton Biglow by half a point. Biglow, from Clements, California also rode here on Monday and his 86-point effort will see him vying for another Cheyenne buckle.

With the pandemic closing the border and canceling all rodeos in Canada, Larsen based his 2020 rodeo travels from his home in Gering, Nebraska, — just 100 miles from Frontier Park — where his wife Alexa is an ICU nurse.

His win on Monday guaranteed Larsen a berth in one of two Semi Finals on this Friday and Saturday. If he finishes among the top six then, he moves on to Championship Sunday and a one-in-12 chance at a second CFD title.

Three-time world champion barrel racer Hailey Kinsel of Cotulla, Texas, took first in the barrel racing. She and her superstar palomino mare DM Sissy Hayday (Sister) rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 17.22 seconds — the fastest time of more than 200 barrel racing runs so far this year at Frontier Park. Kinsel is in contention for her first CFD title by moving on to the Semi Finals.

Bradi Good of Abilene, Texas, finished second. Good, a second-generation rodeo competitor, is the first woman to win money in multiple events at the rodeo here in the modern era. She won Monday’s breakaway roping with a time of 4.1 seconds, giving her $4,651 in combined earnings and a solid chance to be the first woman to win the CFD All-Around title. Her father Shay Good was the 2015 CFD Steer Roping champion and competed here in that event this year.

The number of bulls ridden in a performance here on Monday was higher than the number of cowboys who hit the ground before the eight-second horn sounded, a rarity. Eleven of 20 bull riders tallied a score. Four-time NFR cowboy Jordan Spears of Redding, Calif., scored 86 points to take the lead in section one on United Pro Rodeo’s bull Diamond Cutter. His lead held until the final bull of the second section. Chase Dougherty, a 2018 NFR contestant and reserve world champion, is a native of Oregon  who is now living in Texas. He rodeo Dakota Rodeo’s bull Sun Dog to match Spear’s score.

Quarter Finals four will start at 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday with a new set of contestants in all events, except bull riding. The same bull riders who competed Monday, including reigning world champion Stetson Wright and six-time world champion Sage Kimzey, ride again on Tuesday.

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The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals three (third performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, 86.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Rylee’s Rasin Cane, $2,4484. 2, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 86, $1,836. 3, Mason Clements, Spanish Fork, Utah, 83, $1,224. 4, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 80, $612.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Bradi Good, 4.1 seconds, $2,952. 2, Anna Calloway, Billings, Mont., $2,214. 3, Tana Johnson, Kersey, Colo., 5.1, $1,476. 4, Amanda Coleman, Stephenville, Texas, 18.0, $737.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Bo Pickett, Caldwell, Idaho, 11.3 seconds, $1,899. 2, Trenton Smith, Bigfoot, Texas, 12.9,  $1,424. 3, Garrett Busby, Steamboat Springs, Colo., 13.7, $949. 4, (tie) Tanner Green, Cotulla, Texas, and Lane Livingston, Seymour, Texas, 14.0, $238 each.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round leaders– 1, Colt Cunningham, Rose, Okla., 80 points. 2, Jade Taton, Kersey, Colo., 78. 3, Dylan Schofield, Philip, S.D., 77. 4, (tie) Wyatt Lohman, Weatherford, Okla., and Rowdy Dunklin, Malakoff, Texas, 76. Second round leaders – 1, Bailey Bench, Oakley, Idaho, 71 points. 2, Locky Shepherd, Snyder, Texas, 67. 3, Caleb Meeks, Geraldine, Mont., 64. 4, Lucas Macza, High River, Alberta, 62.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Ben Anderson, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, 88 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Bridal Shower, $2,354. 2, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 87.5, $1,766. 3, Cash Wilson, Wall, S.D., 84.5, $1,177. 4, Mitch Pollock, Winnemucca, Nev., 83.5, $589.

Team Roping: 1, Britt and Jake Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., 8.4 seconds, $1,847 each. 2, Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla., and Billie Jack Saebens, Nowata, Okla., 11.5, $1,386 each. 3, Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 15.3, $924 each. 4, Nick Sartain, Bandera, Texas, and Reagan Ward, Edmond, Okla., 16.4, $462 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 5.9 seconds, $1,951. 2, Reed Kraeger, Elwood, Neb., 6.2, $1,463 . 3, Marc Joiner, Loranger, La., 7.0, $975 . 4, Grady Payne, Stephenville, Texas, 7.6, $488.

Barrel Racing: 1, Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 17.22 seconds, $2,225. 2, Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas, 17.55, $1,669. 3, Tarryn Lee, St. David, Ariz., 17.66,  $1,112. 4, Jamie Chaffin, Burwell, Neb., 17.80, $556.

Bull Riding: 1, (tie) Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., on United Pro Rodeo’s Diamond Cutter, and Chase Dougherty, Decatur, Texas, on Dakota Rodeo’s Sun Dog, 86 points, $2,098 each. 3, J.C. Mortenson, Paulden, Ariz., 85.5, $1,198. 4, (tie) Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Queensland, Australia; Sage Kimzey, Salado, Texas, and Dustin Boquet, Bourg, La., 84 points, $200 each.

Wild Horse Race: 1, New Mexico Playboys, $782. 2, Lazy Hatted J, $587. 3, 3-N, $391. 4, Butin Pump, $196.

The second performance of Cheyenne Frontier Days saw some first timers rising to the top of their events.

Seth Peterson had the fastest time of the steer wrestling at 7.6. Peterson grew up near Minot, North Dakota, moved to Laramie to attend the University of Wyoming where he is a recent graduate with degrees in agricultural business and finance. While at school his favorite class was finance because the movement of money was interesting.

Now, he may be putting those lessons to use. Peterson earned $1,951 for his fast time in steer wrestling and also finished second in the tie-down roping with a time of 11.7 to add another $1,424 to his bank account. He has advanced to the Semi Finals in both events and is in contention for Cheyenne Frontier Day’s All-Around Championship.

Fans couldn’t tell that it was breakaway roper, Josey Murphy’s first time in front of an audience at Frontier Park. Murphy has the fast time of the rodeo breaking the record set at the first performance by Josie Eichler who had a 4.3. This is the second year that the rodeo has included breakaway roping, so records could fall again before the Championship Finals. Murphy had a picture-perfect run stopping the clock a full second faster at 3.3 seconds. The sophomore at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, kept looking back at the scoreboard in disbelief while praising her horse as she rode out of the arena. Fans will have another chance to watch her during the Semi Finals.

Saddle bronc rider Sage Newman is having the best year of his four as a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association member. He is currently 11^th in the world standings and could improve on that with success here. He won the second Quarter Finals with an 87-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s California Kiss. Newman, from Melstone, Montana is headed to the Semi Finals after his very first appearance at Frontier Park.

Quarter Finals three will start at 12:45 p.m. on Monday with a new set of contestants.

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The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (third performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Wild River and Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., on Carr Pro Rodeo’s First Kiss, 83 points each, $2,142 each. 3. Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah, 82, $1,224. 4, Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 78.5, $612.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Josey Murphy, Keachi, La., 3.3 seconds, $2,952. 2, Kerby Lane Anderson, Grover, Colo., 4.77, $2,214. 3, (tie) Tibba Smith, Hobbs, N.M., and Jordi Edens, Gatesville, Texas, 5.1,  $1,106 each.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas, 11.0 seconds, $1,899. 2, Seth Peterson, Wellington, Colo., 11.7, $1,424. 3, Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 11.9, $949. 4, Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas, 12.2, $475.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round – 1, Colt Cunningham, Rose, Okla., 80 points. 2, Dylan Schofield, Philip, S.D., 77. 3, Wyatt Lohman, Weatherford, Okla., 76. 4, Damian Brennan, Snyder, Texas, 75. Second round – 1, Bailey Bench, Oakley, Idaho, 71 points. 2, Locky Shepherd, Snyder, Texas, 67. 3, Caleb Meeks, Geraldine, Mont., 64. 4, Lucas Macza, High River, Alberta, 62.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s California KISS, $2,354. 2, (tie) Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, and Tegan Smith, Winterset, Iowa, 86.5, $1,471 each. 4, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 82.5, $589.

Team Roping: 1, Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 10.1 seconds, $1,847 each. 2, Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 10.3, $1,386 each. 3, Curry Kirchner, Ames, Okla., and Austin Rogers, Crescent, Okla., 10.6, $924 each. 4, Philip Schuman, Johnstown, Colo., and Josh Fillmore, Penrose, Colo., 11.1, $462 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Seth Peterson, Wellington, Colo., 7.6 seconds, $1,951. 2, Richard Coats, Hastings, Neb., 10.2, $1,463 . 3, Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 12.0, $975 . 4, Mike McGinn, Huston, Idaho, 12.4, $488.

Barrel Racing: 1, Jimmie Smith, McDade, Texas, 17.61 seconds, $2,225. 2, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.64, $1,669. 3, Lindsay Stock, Bozeman, Mont., 17.78,  $1,112. 4, Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 17.89, $556.

Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 82 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Touch N Go, $2,397. 2, Jesse Hopper, Mangum, Okla., 80, $1,798. 3, Laramie Mosley, Palestine, Texas, $1,198.

Wild Horse Race: (one qualified ride) Team Meanus, $782.

Montana’s Sage Newman has been having a very successful year and that continued at the “Daddy of ‘em All,” on Sunday. The Melstone resident rode Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s horse California Kiss for 87 points. His top spot-on Sunday’s leaderboard will see him competing in the Semi Finals at the end of the week. CFD photo by Dawn McDonnell

 With 125 years of history behind it, the rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days is where legends are made and that gets contestants’ blood pumping any time they get in the arena.

It certainly was the case for Texan John Douch in the tie-down roping. Douch joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2017. The very next year, the Huntsville resident finished one spot out of qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at number 16.

This year he is on a mission to be in Las Vegas in December and compete for a gold buckle that says he is the world’s best. He’s very familiar with those gold buckles. His mentor Joe Beaver has won eight of them, five in the tie-down roping and three all-around championships.

Douch is on pace to do something that his mentor never accomplished, win a championship at the “Daddy of ‘em All.” He stopped the clock in 14.0 seconds in the qualifier round to advance to the Quarter Finals which began at the first performance on Saturday afternoon.

In front of a sold-out crowd, he was at the top of the leaderboard with an 11.3-second run. He now will be competing at the Semi-Finals that starts on Friday. Douch is currently in 18^th place in the world standings so anything he wins is going to help him achieve his goal of competing for rodeo’s championships in December.

Jessica Routier has become a very familiar face in barrel racing circles, thanks to her great horse Fiery Miss West, “Missy.” The 10-year-old palomino mare has taken her to three NFRs and earned Routier many rodeo championships. One from Frontier Park would be among the biggest.

The barrel racing here started out with a field of over 200. Routier qualified for the Quarter Finals by being among the top 72. She will now be competing at the Semi Finals after stopping the clock in 17.41 seconds, one of the fastest times of the rodeo so far. She and her husband have five children and raise cattle near their home in Buffalo, South Dakota.

The second performance of the Quarter Finals will start at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday with another great crowd expected.

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 24, 2021) – The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (first performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 24. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, Mat Turner, Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia, 77 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dodge Avenger, $2,448. 2, Bodee Lammers, Stephenville, Texas, 75, $1,836. 3, Mike Fred, Wamego, Kan., 73.5, $1,224. 4, Keenan Reed Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 73, $611.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Josie Eichler, Newburg, Mo., Newburg, Mo., 4.3 seconds, $2,952. 2, Jayme Marcrum, Springtown, Texas, 5,1, $2,214. 3, Kayelen Helton, Stephenville, Texas, 5.2, $1,476. 4, Kirsten Smith, Fruita, Colo., 5.7, $737.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, John Douch, Huntsville, Texas, 11.3 seconds, $1,899. 2, Chance Oftedahl, Pemberton, Minn., 11.6, $1,424. 3, Jase Staudt, Nathrop, Colo., 12.4, $949. 4, Craig Leonard, Sonora, Texas, 12.6, $475.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (one ride) 1, Kody Rhinehart, Rienzi, Miss., 71 points.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, Huntsville, Texas, 85.5 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hired Gun, $2,354. 2, Logan Cook, Alto, Texas, 84, $1,766. 3, Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla., 81.5, $1,177. 4, Cameron Messier, Herald, Calif., 80, $589.

Team Roping: 1, Jason Stewart, Pendleton, Ore., and Jason Duby, Klamath Falls, Ore., 9.3 seconds, $1,847 each. 2, Tanner Baldwin, Vail, Ariz., and Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 9.5, $1,386 each. 3, Logan Olson, Flandreau, S.D., and Matt Kasner, Cody, Neb., 12.1, $924 each. 4, Cooper Bruce, Springer, Okla., and Reed Lewis Boos, White Cloud, Kan., 14.9, $462 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Chance Howard, Sadler, Texas, 6.0 seconds, $1,951. 2,(tie) Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., and Jay Williamson, Iowa, La., 8.2, $1,219 each. 4, Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D., 8.8, $488.

Barrel Racing: 1, Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 17.41 seconds, $2,225. 2, Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, 17.75, $1,669. 3, (tie) Jana Bean, Ft. Hancock, Texas, and Shelly Mull, Amity, Ore., 17.79, $834 each.

Bull Riding: 1, Mason Spain, Forney, Texas, 84 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Outer Limits, $2,397. 2, Braden Richardson, Carthage, Texas, 82.5, $1,798. 3, Jesse Hopper, Mangum, Okla., 79.5, $1,198. 4, Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 78.5, $599.

John Douch, of Huntsville, Texas,  won the tie-down roping at the first performance of Cheyenne Frontier Days. He stopped the clock in 11.3 seconds to advance from the Quarter Finals to the Semi Finals. – PRCA photo by Click Thompson.

Cheyenne Frontier Days™ will drive nearly 200 head of Corriente steers from the pasture north of Cheyenne along I-25, and through the city streets into Frontier Park on Sunday, July 18. The drive begins at approximately 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of I-25 & Horse Creek Road north of the city. It then moves along I-25 on the Eastern frontage road to Hynds Blvd, turns south to Central Ave., to Kennedy Road, and then moves from Kennedy Road to Carey Ave., and into Frontier Park.

Approximate arrival times at the following areas are as follows:

• I-25 and Horse Creek Rd/Iron Mountain     7:30–7:45 a.m.
• I-25 frontage road and Riding Club Road   8:15 a.m.
• I-25 and Vandehei Road                              8:45 a.m.
• I-25 and Central Avenue                             9–9:15 a.m.

Please note: The Wyoming Highway Patrol will not allow parking along I-25 at any time during the Cattle Drive. Central Ave., between Kennedy Road and Hynds Blvd., will be closed while the cattle are on Central Ave.

The 2021 Cheyenne Frontier Days General Committee has dedicated this year’s Cattle Drive to the memory of Buddy Hirsig.

Buddy loved rodeo and Cheyenne Frontier Days in particular.  Buddy took over as Arena Director for Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1958 after his father had served in that role, and he joined the HEELS organization that same year.  Buddy volunteered on the Rodeo (formerly Contestants) Committee for 60 years.

“The Hirsig family has been involved with CFD since the beginning.  We are proud to honor Buddy’s memory and involvement in this event that is near and dear to all of our hearts,” said General Chairman Jimmy Dean Siler.

Vitalant blood donors in the Cheyenne area will get an exciting opportunity to win a pair of Garth Brooks concert tickets when they give blood at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Blood Drive on Monday, June 28. The blood drive will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Exhibit Hall located at 1312 W. 8th Ave. Each person who gives blood at the drive will automatically be entered to win two grandstand tickets to see Garth Brooks perform at Cheyenne Frontier Days on Friday, July 23, courtesy of Cheyenne Frontier Days.

If you can’t make it to the blood drive on Monday, you can give blood at Vitalant’s Cheyenne donation center located at 112 E 8th Ave. Monday, June 28 through Saturday, July 3, and still be entered to win Garth Brooks tickets. Just mention you are giving blood on behalf of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Blood Drive.

There is currently a critical blood shortage, and donated blood is going to hospitals at a faster pace than donors are coming to give. Patients who need a transfusion depend on volunteer blood donors year-round. All types are needed, but especially type O blood donations—the most transfused blood type.

Across the Wyoming region –which extends into Colorado and South Dakota, Vitalant needs to collect approximately 450 units each day. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Across the United States, Vitalant needs to collect about 5,300 blood, platelet and plasma donations to help save lives.

“The pandemic disrupted many peoples’ routines, but we are asking that new and existing donors make a commitment to give blood regularly to ensure a constant supply of blood for patients in need,” said Vitalant Mountain Division Vice President Anne Burtchaell. “We are grateful for the support of community partners like Cheyenne Frontier Days, which hosts blood drives to help ensure a steady supply of blood for patients in Wyoming and beyond.”

“We are eager to do our part to help our community,” said Tom Hirsig, Cheyenne Frontier Days CEO. “It’s not often that we get a chance to give someone the gift of life. The more of us who donate, the more lives we can potentially save.”

Donors are encouraged to make an appointment to give blood at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Blood Drive by visiting donors.vitalant.org, and using the blood drive code: C0124. Donors can also call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825) and mention the Cheyenne Frontier Days blood drive. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Those who received a Food and Drug Administration authorized COVID-19 vaccine can give blood immediately if other eligibility requirements are met. Vitalant follows strict protocols to ensure the safety of donors, patients, and staff, including social distancing and other precautions. Vitalant is asking donors who are not fully vaccinated to wear a mask at this time.

About Vitalant

Vitalant (“Vye-TAL-ent”) is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit blood services provider exclusively focused on providing lifesaving blood and comprehensive transfusion medicine services for about 900 hospitals and their patients across the U.S. Every day, Vitalant needs to collect about 5,300 blood, platelet and plasma donations to help save lives. For more information and to schedule a donation appointment, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Cheyenne Frontier Days

With roots dating back to 1897, Cheyenne Frontier Days™ draws top rodeo professionals who compete for more than $1million 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 and a Western art show 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.

CHEYENNE – Fire up the barbecue and plan to party on your patio this Fourth of July!

Cheyenne Frontier Days ™ has partnered with the City of Cheyenne to bring this display to our community. The 2021 fireworks show will be similar to the 2020 format and is designed to maximize aerial displays for visibility from locations all over Cheyenne.

Frontier Park will not be open as viewing locations this year, as the facilities are under construction for the 2021 event. Lions Park will be open to foot traffic only, and Carey Avenue will be closed between 8th Avenue and Kennedy Road. So, plan to enjoy the show from your own neighborhood or other open, flat areas.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Laramie County School District have offered their parking lots for those who wish to view the fireworks.

Tune in to local radio station KFBC at 1240 AM and 97.5 FM to hear the patriotic broadcast accompanying the fireworks display.

We are pleased to be able to offer the fireworks show and accompanying music where it can be enjoyed from your own backyard, porch, patio, or wherever you choose to watch this great Cheyenne tradition.

The fireworks display will begin at 9:35 p.m.

In 1971, as a young cowboy on the professional rodeo circuit, Chris LeDoux discovered another one of his passions and began writing and performing authentic, lived-in songs about his western lifestyle and the American West. With the help of his parents, he launched his own record label, American Cowboy Songs, to release his first album, the aptly titled Songs Of Rodeo Life. Eventually, the world champ’s successful rodeo career, which included a slew of regional awards and a coveted, and long sought-after, Gold Buckle for the World Bareback Title at the 1976 National Finals Rodeo, was overtaken by an even more successful music career as LeDoux traded the thrill of riding broncs for the thrill of life on the road and performing his songs to thousands of adoring fans.

By the end of the 1980s, despite multiple offers to sign to a label, LeDoux had self-released 22 albums with sales of more than a quarter of a million copies. That same year, following a name check by rising country star Garth Brooks, in which he sang, “A worn out tape of Chris LeDoux, lonely women and bad booze/Seem to be the only friends I’ve left at all,” in his first top 10 country hit, “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” LeDoux received recognition and a degree of fame well outside the rodeo world. He rode the newfound popularity like one of his prized ponies and signed with Capitol Records subsidiary Liberty and in 1991 released his major label debut, Western Underground. LeDoux would release another 18 albums for the labels, with sales of more than six million around the world, before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2005 at just 56 years old.

In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of Chris LeDoux’s debut album, Capitol Nashville/UMe and the Chris LeDoux Estate will release a new 13-song collection on July 2 titled Wyoming Cowboy – A Collection, compiling some of his best-known songs with a handful of rarities and other studio and live gems. The compilation, assembled by LeDoux’s longtime friend and guitar player Mark Sissel, will be released digitally for streaming and download as well as on vinyl, marking the first time many of these songs, which were released in the CD era, will be available on vinyl. Two rare tracks – “Oklahoma Hospitality,” self-released in 1978 on a UK-only album and never released in the U.S., and “Album Intro,” from an equally long out-of-print 1975 record, will receive their digital debuts.

Pre-order Wyoming Cowboy – A Collection now: https://ChrisLeDoux.lnk.to/WyomingCowboy

Cheyenne Frontier Days™, the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration, held in Cheyenne, Wyo., will celebrate LeDoux’s life and legacy at their 125^th annual festival, which is dedicated to the legendary entertainer and rodeo world champ. The 10-day event will feature a sold-out, opening night performance by Garth Brooks and Ned LeDoux on July 23. The festivities will kick off earlier that day with the unveiling of a bronze statue of LeDoux, which will be added to the sculpture collection on Frontier Park to honor his ties to the rodeo and music worlds and his place in Cheyenne Frontier Days™ history where he rode bucking horses and graced the stage with his band, Western Underground. Designed by artist D. Michael Thomas, who also created a similar sculpture of LeDoux for the Chris LeDoux Memorial Park in his hometown Kaycee, Wyo., the life and a half size bronze statue depicts LeDoux riding his horse Stormy Weather to the 1976 World Bareback Riding Championship, along with a guitar that sits atop an arrow shaped base representing CFD’s logo.

Serving as both a gift to longtime fans and an introduction to those unfamiliar with LeDoux’s music, which he called a combination of “western soul, sagebrush blues, cowboy folk and rodeo rock ‘n’ roll,” Wyoming Cowboy brings together some of the country star’s most popular songs like “County Fair,” “Cadillac Cowboy” and the epic “This Cowboy’s Hat” from Western Underground, his first major label album released on Liberty Records in 1991 along with “Western Skies,” “Look At You Girl,” “Hooked On An 8-Second Ride” and his top 10 country hit with Garth Brooks, “Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy,” from his 1992 gold-selling album of the same name.

The album also includes LeDoux’s rollicking duet with Charlie Daniels, “Even Cowboys Like A Little Rock And Roll,” from 1993’s Under This Old Hat and originally released in a different incarnation on his 1984 album, Melodies and Memories. In addition to the aforementioned rarities, “Oklahoma Hospitality” and “Album Intro,” Wyoming Cowboy also boasts a special posthumous collaboration between LeDoux and his son Ned with the song “We Ain’t Got It All.” Sung and performed by Ned, the song was co-written by him and Nashville producer and songwriter Mac McAnally using some of LeDoux’s songwriting notes, resulting in a true father and son co-write. With a remarkably similar singing voice and delivery, the song traverses much of the same subject matter that endeared the elder LeDoux to so many and that Ned proudly carries the torch for. The album ends with a thrilling live version of fan favorite “Little Long Haired Outlaw” from 1997’s Live, perfectly capturing the pyrotechnic-filled, rodeo rock and roll shows he loved to play.

“My dad’s catalog of music is timeless and includes so many great records and I love each one of em,” says Ned LeDoux. “This new collection honors the 50^th anniversary of when he first started making music and is a nice snapshot of who he was and the subject matter he loved writing about – cowboys, rodeo life, true love and staying positive.”

WYOMING COWBOY – A COLLECTION TRACK LISTING

Side A

1. Western Skies
2. County Fair
3. Look At You Girl
4. Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy (featuring Garth Brooks)
5. Even Cowboys Like A Little Rock and Roll (featuring Charlie Daniels)
6. We Ain’t Got It All (Ned LeDoux)
7. Oklahoma Hospitality

Side B

1. Album Intro
2. Seventeen
3. Hooked On An 8 Second Ride
4. Cadillac Cowboy
5. This Cowboy’s Hat
6. Little Long Haired Outlaw (Live)