July 17-26, 2026
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
July 17-26, 2026
Cheyenne Frontier Days ™ (CFD) has initiated a project to reconstruct and relocate the Native American Indian Village on Frontier Park grounds. CFD revealed preliminary sketches of the new facility named Morning Star American Indian Village today, celebrating a donation from the Hughes Charitable Foundation.
Today’s announcement reflects years of planning on ways to improve the portion of Cheyenne
Frontier Days that features Native American Indians during the 10-day show. The donation will
allow for full construction of a new facility located near the Old West Museum. CFD will raise
the funds necessary to complete cultural features.
“Since the beginning days of CFD, we have featured Native American Indian dancers,
performers and storytellers,” Tom Hirsig, CFD CEO said. “This contribution allows us to begin
construction on a facility that will serve as a cultural destination and a showcase for all of
Cheyenne and Wyoming.”
CFD released architect drawings at an event ending with a cedar ring blessing conducted by Pat
Iron Cloud, a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, and a prayer by Sandra Iron Cloud, member of
the Northern Arapaho Tribe.
The goal of this project is to shine a brighter spotlight on the role of Native American Indians at
CFD. The new space will offer a much-improved venue for Indian performers, as well as an
upgraded space for craftsmen who travel to CFD and sell their goods in the village. Beyond the
10-day show, CFD will work to provide the venue for various cultural events.
“The Hughes Charitable Foundation is active in many Wyoming communities, and their projects
always lift up the people and projects that support our Wyoming values,” Renée Middleton, CFD
Foundation Executive Director said. “This new village will reach hundreds of thousands of
visitors who come to Cheyenne Frontier Days, and it will focus on a part of our western story
that deserves more attention. We are proud to celebrate Native American Indians and bring an
exciting cultural facility to the community of Cheyenne.”
Morning Star American Indian Village Fact Sheet
The Morning Star American Indian Village is a planned cultural facility that is dedicated
to the heritage of the American Indian.
The existing village is 1.2 acres. The new village will be roughly 3.8 acres.
The existing Dance Arbor holds 600, the new Dance Arbor will hold 800-1000 with
shade.
The new site will feature improved amenities for our American Indian performers.
Improved vendor space as well as more intimate stages featuring Native artists, crafts
people, and storytelling are part of the new design.
The new facility is planned to be open year-round.
The village will serve as a Memorial for our American Indian veterans and service
members.
A flag promenade of the Nomadic Tribes who passed through this area of the Plains is
planned.
“State of The Art” Integrated Sound System will improve sound for visitors.
There are opportunities for locals and lovers of this village to show their support with
additional fundraising activities.
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
Desktop | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | iPad/Tablet
Ridin’ in the Rain
Desktop | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | iPad/Tablet
Trick Rider
Desktop | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | iPad/Tablet
Saddle Bronc’n
Desktop | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | iPad/Tablet
Turn n Burn
Desktop | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | iPad/Tablet
Speed
Desktop | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | iPad/Tablet
No, I don’t just sit there
Desktop | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | iPad/Tablet
Reflection
Desktop | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | iPad/Tablet
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
