Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

We expect the saddle bronc riding to be very exciting today. It’s hard to imagine that Zeke Thurston has never been interviewed as the champion here in that event. He has won four world titles and earlier this month won the Calgary Stampede for the fourth time. He is currently fifth in the world standings. He is nearly assured an 11th trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), and he would like to go to Las Vegas in December with the Cheyenne title on his rodeo resume. His father, Skeeter Thurston, won the Rookie Bronc Riding here in 1982.

Fellow Canadian, Dawson Hay is currently 2nd in the world standings and like Zeke, has never won a title here. Dawson’s father, Rod Hay, won the saddle bronc riding in 2000, and Dawson would love to add his name to the champions list at Frontier Park. The third Canadian in this set is another NFR qualifier, Kolby Wanchuck who is 13th in the world standings.

The final Wright to make an appearance in the saddle bronc riding is the oldest of Cody’s boys, Rusty Wright. He has struggled with injuries and hasn’t qualified for the NFR since 2020. He is currently 21st in the world standings and is hoping to move into the top 15 and ride against his three brothers in Las Vegas. Any money he wins here will help him achieve that goal.

Tim O’Connell knows exactly how hard it is to win a championship in this arena. He’s done that three times, in 2017, 2021 and 2022. The three-time world champion has struggled with injuries and is currently unranked in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings. A win here could change that and set him up for success in 2026.

Jacek Frost just won the NFR open in Colorado Springs’ Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, the first national title of his career. The first year that Jacek competed here, he was also competing at the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2022. He has momentum on his side now and will be ready to show the fans here his winning ways.

They rode eight bulls yesterday, and the best six punched their tickets to the Semi-Finals. The remainder are trying to add their names to that list today, including Ruger Piva who was the champion here in 2018.

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

We have seen fast breakaway roping at Frontier Park already this year, and today’s field promises to add to that. National Finals Rodeo barrel racer Kassidy Dennison won the breakaway roping at the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2010 before she started running barrels in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. Dennison advanced out of the Qualifier and is one of three women from the Navajo Nation in today’s field. That list also includes National Finals Breakaway Roping qualifier Danielle Lowman and Bailey Bates.

Suzanne Williams was raised on ranches in Nevada, was twice the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association women’s all-around champion, and now is a rodeo coach at Lassen College in Susanville, California. She is the youngest of six children and the only girl in her family, so growing up, she did everything she could to keep up with her brothers. That serves her well in the rodeo arena and in raising a family.

Since Shad Mayfield won the tie-down roping at Frontier Park last year, he went on to earn the most prestigious title in all of rodeo – world champion all-around cowboy. That was his second gold buckle. He also won the tie-down roping in 2020. He won the Calgary Stampede and is at the top of the world standings. His goal is to get back to the NFR in Las Vegas, have a big lead and a good showing and let the competition and his fans know just how badly he wants to win.

Riley Pruitt hasn’t been to the NFR since 2019 and is ready to get back and compete in the tie-down roping for the third time. Riley won the Qualifier here and has already added $5,315 to his checking account. He is currently 7th in the world standings after winning the NFR Open, and we look for him to be fast today.

Veteran team roping header Clay Smith has a new heeler that is quickly gaining a reputation as a demon in the roping pen. Smith is roping with Nicky Northcott, the son of world champion heeler Steve Northcott. Smith won the title here in 2021 roping with Jade Corkill. Nicky can’t wait to add his name to champion lists across the country.

Levi Rudd won the steer wrestling here in 2018 when it was a muddy mess, and it didn’t bother him a bit. He’s hoping to get a good steer today and have a repeat. Levi is currently 35th in the world, and he won’t let last night’s rain stop him from doing his job if we base that on past experience.

Summer Kosel loves Cheyenne Frontier Days and so does her horse Apollo. They set the arena record here twice before Sue Smith’s run in 2023. And while she has had a lot of success in Frontier Park, she has yet to make the victory lap as the champion. Neither has reigning world champion Kassie Mowry or the sensational Anita Ellis who won the Calgary Stampede. And we can’t count out Leslie Smalygo who made a big impression here in 2022, dyed her hair and ran like her hair was on fire. Barrel racing is going to be worth watching for sure.

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

We expect another great day of bareback riding this afternoon. While we have a star-studded lineup, the only former CFD champion on the roster is Clayton Biglow, who won the title in 2019 and went on to win his first gold buckle that year. He also tied for the championship here in 2023. A lot happened between those two titles: Clayton got married, became a dad and is carrying on the tradition of raising the next generation of cowboys.

The next generation of bareback riders is all looking for successful rides today. Weston Timberman, who won the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in 2023 and 2024 and qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last year as well as the reigning college champion Cooper Filipek are in the mix. Filipek won that title in June representing Wyoming’s Gillette College.

Also riding today are the 2022 world champion Jess Pope and NFR qualifier Garrett Shadbolt. Jess is currently sixth in the world standings. Garrett has a bit of an advantage at third place and took some time off to be at home when his wife, Katie, gave birth to their fourth child and third girl, Prairie Ann.

Ruger Piva’s favorite rodeo is Cheyenne Frontier Days because it is the first big rodeo where the bull rider got a big check. He joined the PRCA in 2016 and won the bull riding here two years later. He won the title at Wyoming’s Cody Stampede, and if he were to win another title in the Cowboy State, he might just look for some property to invest in. There are several newcomers on the list who are hoping for those big checks that jump start a career.

The saddle bronc riding is stacked with talent with six NFR qualifiers, some contenders and a former world champion and CFD champ. Jacobs Crawley won the title here in 2016 and earned his first world championship the same year. Of the 12 competitors on today’s roster, six are among the top 15 in the world standings including Wyoming’s own Brody Wells who competed at his first NFR last December.

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

We have another all-around candidate competing in the steer wrestling and team roping today. Eli Lord competed in those two events on Tuesday and advanced in the steer wrestling. Today, Rooster Yazzie is among the steer wrestlers and then will do the heading for Shawn Murphy. He would love to represent the Navajo Nation on stage on Sunday as a champion here. Erich Rogers won the title here in 2017 heading for Cory Petska. This year he is roping with Kollin VonAhn who was the champion heeler here in 2015.

Jace Mayfield had success here a year ago and wants to build on that this year. Mayfield is the grandson of world champion Frank Shepperson and nephew of NFR qualifier Les Shepperson. He recently competed at the College National Finals Rodeo, competing for Central Wyoming College at Riverton, where he finished as the reserve champion all-around cowboy.

Tucker Allen qualified for his first NFR last December and is looking for his first steer wrestling gold buckle. Allen won RodeoHouston last March, moved to the top of the world standings with that and has remained in the top spot since then. Allen also does the hazing for other competitors. He is known for his horsemanship and cowboy try, two things that serve any competitor well here.

San Angelo, Texas, has become known as the tie-down roping capital of the world, and Dylan Hancock is solidifying the moniker. Dylan was one of three competitors from the town to compete at last year’s NFR. Hancock is on the roster today and hoping to take a title from the “Daddy of ‘em All” back home to celebrate his cowboy skills.

Sierra Spratt may list San Tan Valley, Arizona, as her home, but really the breakaway roper is a Wyoming Cowgirl. She grew up near Shoshoni, Wyoming, then attended Cal Poly State University and earned her master’s degree in communications. Along with competing at rodeos, she is also a broadcaster and television producer for Teton Ridge, owner of the Cowboy Channel.

Hope Thompson didn’t grow up in a rodeo family but has been making a living with a rope through breakaway competitions and clinics. She qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping in 2020. She is just outside the top 50 in the world standings, and a win here could change her whole season.

Today’s barrel race has two major family connections. Taylor Baize, a rising star, is competing in the same arena her father won the bull riding title over 20 years ago. Casey Baize won that title in 2003.

Kelly Yates watched her brother J.D. Yates win the steer roping here in 1994, then the all-around awards in 2016. Three years later, her nephew, Trey Yates, J.D.’s son, won the team roping with Dustin Bird. Kelly would love to add her own name to the list of Cheyenne’s champions and continue the Yates legacy in Frontier Park.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 22, 2025) — The first Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Xtreme Bulls event at Cheyenne Frontier Days saw excited fans, motivated contestants and big payoffs.

Competition was held during the night show portion of the Western celebration on July 21 and 22. Forty of the world’s best competed for a total purse of over $100,000. Night one saw world champion Stetson Wright from Beaver, Utah, score 92.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Rank Frank. Oklahoma’s Wacey Schalla finished in second place with a 90.5.

The second night, Schalla, who makes his home in Arapaho finished at the top of the board with a 91.5-point ride on Universal Pro Rodeo’s Debo. The 2023 world champion, Ky Hamilton finished second and Wright was third.

The title here was awarded based on a total score from the two rides and Schalla narrowly edged Wright for the historical win. Schalla had a total score of 182 earnings $28,607. Wright, who has earned numerous championships at Cheyenne’s rodeo had 181.5 points. He earned $24,127.

Hamilton finished third with 180 points earning $18,612. There were five of the riders who were successful on two rides.

The following are results from the second night of the Cheyenne Frontier Days PRCA Xtreme Bulls.

Round 2: 1, Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla., 91.5 points on Universal Pro Rodeo’s Debo, $10,340. 2, Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, 90.5, $7,927. 3, Stetson Wright, Beaver, Utah, 89, $5,859. 4, Clayton Sellars, Fruitlandpark, Fla., 88.5, $3,791. 5, (tie) Wade Tuni, Rock Point, Ariz., and Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif., 88, $2,068. 7, Ramon De Souza, Decatur, Texas, 87, $1,379. 8, (tie) Cooper James, Erda, Utah, and Colton Byram, Mound City, Kan., 86.5, $517.

Total on two: 1, Schalla, 182, $10,340. 2, Wright, $7,927. 3, Hamilton, 180, $5,859. 4, Sellars, 174.5, $3,791. 5, Colten Fritzlan, 174, $2,413. (on one) 6, Coy Pollmeier, Fort Scott, Kan., 89.5, $1,723. 7, J.R. Stratford, Byers, Kan., 89, $1,379. 8, (tie) Ernie Courson Jr., Okeechobee, Fla., and Hudson Bolton, Milan, Tenn., 88.5, $517 each.

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

If yesterday’s bull riding was any indication of what is in store for today, look out. We had 18 contestants and 12 of them got scores. The six high scores advance to the Semi Finals, and the rest of the field is trying to score high enough today to secure their spots. Hayes Weight, the number four man in the PRCA’s world standings, was at the top of the board with an 87. Last year’s bull riding champion here, TJ Gray, had an 82 yesterday and that was not high enough to advance. He is hoping to be among the top six today.

These bull riders are all pulling double duty as they are competing in Cheyenne Frontier Days’ first-ever Xtreme Bulls Monday and Tuesday night. Someone could go down in history as champion at both events.

In 2023, there was a three-way tie for the bareback riding champion, and fans got to see Kade Sonnier, Cole Reiner and Clayton Biglow share the stage. Today, Kade and Cole are both in the field. The win at Frontier Park helped all three of these men qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo that year. It would certainly help them in their quest to be in Las Vegas in December again this year. Kade is 12th in the world standings and Cole is 24th. Winning at Frontier Park was especially gratifying for Cole who is a native Wyoming cowboy.

That was also the year that Ryder Sanford set a new saddle bronc riding record at Frontier Park with a 92.5-point ride. That score got him the championship saddle and winner’s package and helped him qualify for his first NFR. Sanford will be here today hoping for a repeat, but he has a bunch of Canadians who also want to be at the top of the leaderboard. Of the 12 riders here today, seven are neighbors from north of the border. That list includes several NFR qualifiers and one Canadian with Wyoming ties. James Perrin, from Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, won the saddle bronc riding at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) representing Casper College.

The 2024 CNFR champion Gus Gaillard is 16th in the saddle bronc riding world standings. A year ago, Gaillard was competing for Tarleton State University. Now, he’s hoping to do well enough to advance to the Semi Finals here, earn a big check and move inside the top 15 in the world standings. If that happens, he will be competing at his first NFR.

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

Nobody has had more success in this arena in team roping than heeler Jade Corkill. The event has been a regular part of the rodeo competition since 2001, and Corkill has earned titles here three times with three different headers. His first title here came in 2009 with Chad Masters. Then he won in 2013 with Clay Tryan and in 2021 with Clay Smith. This year he advanced out of the Qualifier with Clint Summers doing the heading. Jade took a break from rodeoing but is back big time. He and Clint recently won the Cody (Wyoming) Stampede and are currently ninth in the world standings.

Hayes Smith knows about winning in this arena and his memories are very fresh. He won the rodeo last year heading for Justin Davis. This year, Hayes has Jason Duby as his heeler. Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nunes Nogueira are always crowd favorites and that should be true in Cheyenne today. Kaleb and Junior have won two gold buckles together, and fans love it when this duo does their thing together. Junior is known to lay back on his horse when he ropes well, and he has never had the opportunity to do that in front of a crowd in Frontier Park.

Eli Lord knows how to win at Frontier Park, and he is looking good for an all-around title here this year. He won the steer wrestling in 2019 then came back and did it again in 2023. It was no fluke for the South Dakota talent. This year, he placed second in the steer wrestling Qualifier and has already earned over $4,000. Along with the steer wrestling, Lord is also heading in the team roping for Jason James today.

Anything can happen in the steer wrestling here and often does. A lot of first-time contestants are hoping to add their names to the Semi-Finals qualifiers, and several of them have the opportunity today, including, Cinch Painter, who competed at the CNFR in June and Traver Johnson, who is leading the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings.

Sue Smith won this rodeo two years ago and is back ready for another title. Currently 30th in the world standings, if she has another run here like she did in 2023, she could move up in the standings and have the opportunity to compete at the NFR in December. Smith is a cancer survivor who is known for her grittiness, work ethic and ability to uplift others. LaTricia Duke and Halyn Lide both qualified for the NFR last year and would like to be there again. LaTricia is 16th in the world standings. Halyn has more ground to make up at 41st.

Shelby Boisjoli-Meged made history in breakaway roping as the first winner at the Calgary Stampede. She is hoping to keep that momentum going and add a CFD title to her resume. She currently leads the world standings and is in contention for her second world title. She will be competing today with Wyoming cowgirl Haiden Thompson who has had a very successful college career. She tied for first place in the breakaway roping qualifier with a time of 4.2 seconds. Thompson’s younger sister Hadley just won the breakaway, goat tying and women’s all-around titles at the National High School Finals Rodeo.

Not only are contestants hoping to be among the top fifteen in the world standings that qualify for the NFR, but many of them are also trying to be inside the top 40 so they can compete at limited-entry building rodeos next winter. Having a good winter can jump start a contestant’s season and give them momentum before they ever get to Cheyenne to compete at the “Daddy of ’em All.”

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

We think today’s bareback riding is worth the price of a ticket! And the competition could be a game changer for a number of those contestants. The 2014 – 2016 Cheyenne Frontier Days champions are all on the roster.

Richmond Champion won the title here in 2014, the first year that he qualified for one of nine Wrangler National Finals Rodeos (NFR). Champion is 25th in the world standings and needs to get some big checks to make his 10th trip to compete at rodeo’s championships in Las Vegas next December.

Tanner Aus won this rodeo in 2015 and Orin Larsen in 2016. Aus is 16th in the world while Larsen is currently 28th. Then there are newcomers Waylon Bourgeois and Nick Pelke, who are inside the top 15 and looking for their first NFR qualification. Throw in Tucker Carricato, who won two National High School Rodeo Finals titles representing the Cowboy State and his traveling partner, Roedy Farrell. Eyes will also be on Wacey Schalla as he competes in bareback riding and bull riding looking for that all-around champion saddle and trophy package awarded here. Any of the other bareback riders have an opportunity to win, and they are likely to be some upsets in this event today.

Last year’s CFD bull riding champion T.J. Gray is fifth in the world standings, and the smiling Oregonian would like to be the first competitor to win back-to-back titles in this decade. Gray finished ahead of Wacey Schalla, who will do everything in his power to be at the top of the leaderboard. The success that these two men had in Frontier Park last year helped them qualify for their first NFR. Wacey is also coming off of a big win at the Calgary Stampede and leads the world standings.

The first time Ky Hamilton came to the U.S., he was in junior high and had qualified for the finals. Since then, he has competed successfully at every level and earned the buckle in Frontier Park in 2021. A year later he won the world championship. Ky is sixth in the world standings and very likely headed to his fifth NFR.

There are two Wrights in today’s field of saddle bronc riding, Statler, the youngest of Cody’s boys and Ryder and Stetson’s brother, and Spencer Wright who is an uncle. Spencer was the best saddle bronc rider in the world in 2014 and would like nothing more than to beat his nephews in Frontier Park. There is a slew of NFR qualifiers in the mix, and this is another event that will be worth watching.

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

The headers and heelers are going to be slinging their ropes today, and times should be fast with this field. The past two years, Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp have finished their seasons at the top. Tyler also has a championship here. He won here in 2016 heading for Dakota Kirchenschleger. Wesley has three gold buckles in the heeling and two of those were won with Tyler.

There is another world champion earning team here today in Aaron Tsinigine and Jeremy Buhler. Tsinigine of the Navajo Nation won the heading in 2015. Buhler was part of the first team roping world champions representing Canada in 2019. And we can never count out header Luke Brown, who has been to the NFR 15 times and won this rodeo in 2015. Luke is roping with Trey Yates, the 2019 heeling champion here. Trey has been to the NFR three times.

It doesn’t matter how many world titles you have or other rodeos that you have won, the steers don’t care about a cowboy’s resume. If they did, they would all pack their bags and leave if they saw Tyler Waguespack coming. Tyler has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo ten times and left with the gold buckle that says you are the world champion half of those. But he has never won this rodeo. He was out a good part of 2024 with a torn bicep tendon. He had a season-ending surge that saw him back in Las Vegas last December where he finished 14th. He is completely back to form and hoping to add a CFD title to his rodeo resume.

Andrea Busby checked a big item off of her bucket list in 2022 when she earned the championship here. It’s always a goal for anyone who enters, but for Andrea, who grew up on a Wyoming ranch, it was very special. Even though she lives in Texas now, Wyoming is in her blood. Cheyenne Frontier Days might be in Jordon Briggs’ blood. Her mother Kristie Peterson won this rodeo four times and three consecutive from 1996 – 1999 with Jordon watching. Last year, Jordon was on stage as the barrel racing champion, and it was a full circle moment.

Katie Jolly tied for first in the Qualifying round in the breakaway with a 4.2 to already earn $4,142 here. The ranch-raised cowgirl knows how to rope and ride and is hoping to put it all together here again today. Over 20 years ago, the dynamic team roping duo of Speed Williams and Rich Skelton won the title here. Now, their children are competing, and it’s no surprise to anyone that Speed’s daughter Hali Williams is making her own name in the arena. Hali will also be one to watch in the breakaway roping today. Jordan Hollabaugh was the very first breakaway champion crowned in this arena. Her name was Fabrizio at the time, and she was wearing her future husband, Raymond Haollabaugh’s Cheyenne Frontier Days tie-down roping buckle. Now she is one of six women to have earned one.