July 18-27, 2025
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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.
This month’s Cheyenne Frontier Days Tech Backgrounds are brought to you by Public Relations Photography Volunteers!
Miss Frontier
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Ridin’ in the Rain
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Trick Rider
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Saddle Bronc’n
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Turn n Burn
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Speed
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No, I don’t just sit there
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Reflection
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Fast
What’s it like to be Miss Frontier? Find out as host Mariah Johnson, Indian Committee Chairman, welcomes Jordan Johnson, Miss Frontier 2023, and Rachelle Hayes Zimmerman, Miss Frontier 1993, to share the highlights from their individual reigns… including advice for those Miss Frontier hopefuls listening today!
In 1931, Jean Nimmo Dubois became the first Miss Frontier—making Cheyenne Frontier Days history, and paving the way for a legacy nine decades strong… and still counting.
Whether making her grand entrance during the rodeo, greeting the cheering crowd during a parade, or talking with fans at events around the nation, Miss Frontier is an icon of the Western way of life, and those who have held the title carry that honor with them for decades.
Today, Mariah Johnson, Indian Committee Chairman, welcomes two women who not only earned the title of Miss Frontier, but also made it a family tradition: Mother-daughter duo Jordan Johnson, Miss Frontier 2023, and Rachelle Hayes Zimmerman, Miss Frontier 1993.
Listen in to hear:
How the role of Miss Frontier—and the process of earning the title—has evolved through the years
The story behind the red buckskins you’ll see Miss Frontier wearing today
What it’s like to be Miss Frontier, and what inspired Rachelle and Jordan to each pursue the title
Rachelle and Jordan’s favorite memories from their individual reigns
Advice for the next generation of Miss Frontiers
For more on the history of Miss Frontier, tune in to “Eras of Western Women: 1930-1960.”
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be one of the Dandies, or what it takes to earn your spot in their ranks… have we got a treat for you!
A sisterhood spanning generations, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Dandies have served as goodwill ambassadors of our event since 1970.
In addition to keeping up with the bustling 10-day schedule of Cheyenne Frontier Days—including appearances at the Coronation Ball, pancake breakfasts, grand parades, rodeo performances and night shows—our spirited and sparkling Dandies represent Cheyenne Frontier Days at rodeos, fairs and other celebrations throughout the Rocky Mountain Region year-round.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be one of these legendary ladies, or what it takes to earn your spot in their ranks… have we got a treat for you!
Today, Dandies alumnus Lisa Murphy (‘84-’86) welcomes fellow alumnus Shirley Holmes Churchill (‘75-’77) and current Dandies Director Halley Redman to share:
The origins of the Dandies, and the “tried and true cowgirl” who founded the group
What it was like to be one of the very first Dandies
What it takes to be able to carry the (surprisingly heavy) sponsor flags you see Dandies ride with in the arena
How the Dandies, and even the type of riders they look for, have evolved over the past 55 years
The skills Dandies learn that stay with them for a lifetime
What Halley looks for when selecting new Dandies
Shirley and Lisa’s most cherished memories from their time in the group
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
What defines a Wyoming cowgirl?
It’s the way she approaches the world with strength, confidence, and resilience.
It’s in her passion for the Western way of life.
It’s a definition as vast and ever-evolving as the West itself—even into the newest generation of Wyoming cowgirls, out blazing their trails as we speak.
The bold, barrier-breaking women you’ve met in our past three “Eras of Western Women” episodes aren’t always the typical “cowgirl” you’d expect… and yet, each represents her own brand of cowgirl authentically, unapologetically, unequivocally.
For generations, Women of the West have been trailblazers, shaping history with each step. Today, that pioneering spirit lives on as countless remarkable women continue to make their mark on the world.
Today, you’ll get to meet even more.
In our fourth and final episode of the “Eras of Western Women” series, honoring the Year of the Cowgirl, Diane Shober (Executive Director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism) and Mike Kassel (Associate Director and Curator of Collections at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum) share stories about:
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
With the rise in popularity of Western films in the late 1920s and early 1930s, our nation was enamored by the romance and intrigue of the American West.
It was no longer enough to simply watch the action on a screen; people wanted to have an authentic, boots-on-the-ground Western experience for themselves.
And where better than Cheyenne Frontier Days?
Between 1930 and 1960, both Cheyenne and Frontier Park played host to a wide array of women breaking barriers left and right—and it’s their stories we celebrate today.
In our third of four special podcast episodes honoring the Year of the Cowgirl, Diane Shober (Executive Director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism) and Mike Kassel (Associate Director and Curator of Collections at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum) share stories about:
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
Welcome to the era of the cowgirl:
A ground-breaking time in Western history that saw women stepping boldly into the world of rodeo… and never looking back.
In our second of four special podcast episodes honoring the Year of the Cowgirl, Diane Shober (Executive Director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism) and Mike Kassel (Associate Director and Curator of Collections at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum) highlight:
Stream The Official Podcast of Cheyenne Frontier Days any time, anywhere, on: SPOTIFY | APPLE
