July 18-27, 2025
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
The General Committee spent some time on what would’ve been the final Saturday of Cheyenne Frontier Days™ visiting downtown businesses and thanking them for making Cheyenne Legendary
@thedesperadodepot | @swirlsandpearlswy | @weitzelswings | @cheyennegunslinger | The Albany Cheyenne | @wyominghome
CHEYENNE – Fire up the barbecue and plan to party on your patio this Fourth of July!
Cheyenne Frontier Days™ has partnered with ANB Bank, Union, Cheyenne Beverage, Cowboy Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, First Interstate Bank, Swire Coca-Cola and Black Hills Energy to host the annual fireworks display for the City of Cheyenne.
The 2020 fireworks show is designed to maximize aerial displays for visibility from locations all over Cheyenne. Frontier Park will not be open as viewing locations this year, 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. Carey Avenue will be closed and Lions Park will be open to foot traffic only.
Tune in to local radio station KFBC at 1240 AM and 97.5 FM to hear the patriotic broadcast accompanying the fireworks display.
We know entertainment options are limited this year, and we would like for you to enjoy a bright spot with an evening of aerial entertainment. 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.
For more details please go to cfdrodeo.co/July4th
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – When the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) bucks back into Cheyenne, Wyoming for Last Cowboy Standing July 20-21, fans will see one of the marquee stops on the elite series tour as the world’s top bull riding athletes take on the rankest bucking bulls in the business at the premier celebration of cowboy life and Western entertainment.
The 2020 summer season Major, a higher-profile regular-season event offering more world standings points and prize money, is the second year of partnership between the leading bull riding league and world’s largest outdoor rodeo.
For two nights, the Top-40 bull riders in the world will attempt to conquer the sport’s rankest bulls on the historic Wyoming dirt in Cheyenne, strapping in for their shot to make the buzzer and gain crucial world points.
The 10-day iconic Cheyenne Frontier Days festival features the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, concerts by top name entertainers, dining, shopping, educational exhibits, Native American Indian performances, a Western Art show, U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds performance, pancake breakfasts, parades that feature antique carriages and Western pageantry galore.
In 2019, fans attending the inaugural PBR Last Cowboy Standing stop in Cheyenne saw some of the season’s best bull riding capped by an epic win for a fiery athlete from Arkansas with an incredible comeback story. Just one-year prior Chase Outlaw suffered what some considered a career-ending blow when he was pulled down on a bull named War Cloud in the very same arena.
Breaking 30 bones in his face, requiring emergency surgery to insert 11 plates and 68 screws, Outlaw was advised by some to find another profession. Determined to prove them wrong and continue his quest for his first world title he turned in a monster performance in 2019’s Round 2 – a remarkable 93.5-point ride aboard Smooth Wreck – earning him the high marked ride of the year and helping carry him into the final three rounds. Outlaw’s other qualified ride came in Round 4 when he rode Rising Sun for 90.5 points. The 27-year-old came off before the 8 in Round 3 on Budakon and in Round 5 atop Cochise.
As the two nights of passionate bull riding under the lights came to a close, he stood in the historic arena with tears streaming down his face claiming the title of 2019 Last Cowboy Standing.
Riders just like Outlaw from around the world will descend upon the “Daddy of ‘em all” to vie for the 2020 title.
The bull riding action begins at 7:45 p.m. on Monday, July 20 and 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21. Tickets for the two-day event go on sale Saturday, Nov. 9. They range in price from $22 to $102 and can be purchased through www.cfdrodeo.com, at PBR.com or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
PBR Elite Seats are available for avid bull riding fans who want a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s top bull riding circuit. These tickets offer premium seats and the VIP experience of a lifetime, including a reception; pre-show backstage and chute tour by a PBR Stock Contractor, a question and answer presentation with some of the top bull riders in the world, special meet and greets and a visit with the sport’s bovine athletes; a 2020 PBR program; and the opportunity for photos and autographs from top PBR stars and the coveted trophy.
The PBR Elite Seats are available for $300 both nights and can be purchased through www.cfdrodeo.com or by contacting the PBR Customer Service Department at 800-732-1727.
About PBR
PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 700 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast Tour (UTB), which features the top 35 bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. PBR’s digital assets include RidePass, which is home to Western sports. PBR is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports and content company. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Mandi McCary / mandi@mmgnv.com
By Senior Airman Braydon Williams, 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. — A presence of achievement fills the room, with walls covered in patches and awards of all sorts. Lt. Col. Chris Picinni, 90th Operation Support Squadron director of operations has led a 20-year career within the ICBM enterprise, but never thought he would be leading the charge in planning an airshow for the USAF Thunderbirds.
It started all started at a very early time in Picinni’s life, when his father served in the Air Force working electronic counter measures, during the Vietnam War, from then on, he knew the air force was right for him.
“Growing up with my dad enlisted in the Air Force, is what drove my desire to serve as well,” said Picinni. “His work on aircraft made me fall in love with the idea of flying and I had the goal of becoming a pilot.”
Soon after commissioning through ROTC in June 1999, Picinni’s plan to become a pilot was halted due to his vision not meeting Air Force standards.
“With my eyes not being quite good enough to fly, I ended up choosing missile operations and became a missileer.” Said Picinni
Picinni executed the primary mission of Air Force missileers from 2000 to 2004 when he moved between a few different duties before becoming a part of the Airborne Command Post on the U.S. Navy E6-B Mercury.
The ABNCP primarily functions as a communications relay platform for U.S. Navy submarines, it also serves as an Airborne Launch Control System. The ALCS is joint-manned by U.S. STRATCOM battle staff mission members from the Navy and Air Force.
“It took me 15 years in the Air Force to get the chance to fly, and it was on a Navy plane, but I made it,” said Picinni. “I served as the mission commander and was in charge of the battle staff for 4 years.”
When Picinni finished his tour with the E6B, he later moved to F.E. Warren AFB as the 90th OSS DO, where he was selected as the project officer for the annual Thunderbirds airshow during Cheyenne Frontier Days the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and wester festival.
“I was put up for this by Lt. Col. Christopher Maroney the former commander of OSS,” said Picinni. “He recommended me and from the looks of it, base leadership agreed with him that I was right for the job.”
2019 marks the first year in 25 years that the Thunderbirds will be flying in the skies above F.E. Warren, instead of the fields around Laramie County Community College.
“Air show planning is a very involved process,” said Picinni. “I’ve been working with people from all walks of Air Force life, from civil engineers and helicopter pilots to security forces and vehicle operators. Every person I’ve worked with as been vital to getting this airshow up and running, and I am grateful for their hard work.”
Cheyenne Frontier Days refreshed an economic impact study last year to quantify the economic benefits generated from visitors outside of Laramie County to the City of Cheyenne and Laramie County. Dean Runyan Associates, of Portland, Oregon conducted the research using data generated from the 2018 event; prior studies were conducted in 2015 and 2012. Dean Runyan Associates also produces economic impact research for the Wyoming Office of Tourism.
The 2018 edition of the Daddy of ‘em All was a solid year for attendance despite heavy, daily rainfalls. A total of 543,705 people attended all combined events during the ten-day celebration and a total of 247,655 tickets were sold.
Economic impacts resulting from direct visitor spending surrounding the event totaled approximately $27.1 million, down slightly from $28 million in 2015, which was a record year for attendance.
Chief Executive Officer Tom Hirsig said, “We are pleased to report this economic benefit to our city and county. Our mission is to bring visitors to Cheyenne and Laramie County to support economic well-being for the entire community. We continue to focus on this priority and deliver consistent results.”
“We are proud of our volunteers and the work that we do to support Cheyenne and Laramie County,” said Jimmy Dean Siler, General Chairman. “In collaboration with city and county officials, we host visitors from across town, all fifty states and around the globe, to experience the history and traditions of the iconic American West.”
2018 Economic impacts of visitors who reside outside of Laramie County
● Visitors to Cheyenne Frontier Days spent $27.1 million in Laramie County.
● These visitors spent approximately $5.3 million on food and beverages in restaurants and bars, $5.1 million on overnight accommodations, $7.8 million on entertainment and recreation, including ticket sales, and $8.8 million on retail purchases, including motor fuel and groceries.
● Other direct economic impacts include approximately 302 full- and part-time jobs, $5 million in earnings (wage and salary disbursements), $633,000 in local tax revenue, and $683,000 in state tax revenue.
● Total economic impacts resulting from direct visitor spending which include secondary impacts, also known as “multiplier effects,” resulted in approximately $35 million of business activity generated for Laramie County.
2018 Profile of Cheyenne Frontier Days Attendees
● The majority of Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees participated in a Frontier Nights/Concert (72%) and/or the Rodeo (74%).
● A large portion (68%) attended Cheyenne Frontier Days during a previous year.
● Attending Cheyenne Frontier Days was the primary purpose for travel to Laramie County for the vast majority of overnight (79%) and day (97%) visitors.
● Just under half (49%) of Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees stayed overnight while traveling.
● Among overnight visitors, over half (68%) stayed in a hotel, motel, lodge, or B&B; most of the reminder stayed in private homes with friends and relatives, or in campgrounds.
● Cheyenne Frontier Days attendees traveled to or through a number of Wyoming communities and places including: Laramie, Casper, Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, Snowy Range, and Cody.
Unique Attendees and Attendees from Outside of Laramie County
|
Unique Attendees Outside of Laramie County Attendees 2012 144,000 112,313 2015 149,300 125,397 2018 142,000 105,689 |
Cheyenne Frontier Days is a major Rocky Mountain regional event with numerous Western heritage activities and experiences; while some events charge admission, many events are free. Attendance measures include totals that track both paid attendance and total attendance. It is recognized as the consummate Western heritage, cultural, and entertainment experience in the world. Cheyenne Frontier Days is a top attraction in the state of Wyoming behind Yellowstone National Park, Jackson and Grand Teton National Park.
“It’s no surprise Cheyenne Frontier Days attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe,” said Diane Shober, Executive Director for the Wyoming Office of Tourism. “As one of Wyoming’s most treasured events, CFD brings the cowboy history and spirit to life during its ten-day celebration.”
Hirsig recognizes the importance of Cheyenne Frontier Days to the rest of Wyoming as a travel destination. “This study shows that many travelers incorporate CFD into their summer plans that include other destinations, or a road trip, in Wyoming. In this way, we deliver a positive economic impact not only to our community, but to our entire state, as part of a larger itinerary.”
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — July 29, 2018 — It’s been 86 years since a saddle bronc rider won back-to-back championships at Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD), but local favorite Brody Cress was not intimidated by history.
The 22-year-old from nearby Hillsdale won his hometown rodeo in 2017, an accomplishment that fueled the rest of his season and helped him win his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo championship last December. Cress is sponsored by CFD and proudly wears the legendary rodeo’s iconic arrowhead logo on his chaps and his shirts. “There’s no other rodeo I’d want to represent,” he said.
Last year he came into Championship Sunday in second place and had to ride two broncs after being awarded a re-ride. He won the title by half a point. This year he came in with the overall lead and had to wait on Texan Wyatt Casper’s re-ride to see if his lead would hold for his second, record-setting CFD Championship. The crowd of 12,401 erupted with cheers and were on their feet when Cress took his victory lap around the arena.
The biggest money winner at the 122nd “Daddy of ‘em All” was steer wrestler Levi Rudd. The Chelsea, Oklahoma, cowboy earned $21,396. When the day began he had already collected more than $11,000 in the first and second rounds. He added nearly $900 for fourth place in the final round and about $9,500 for winning the overall championship by 1.1 second.
Rudd had competed at CFD twice in the past but had never done well. “I was happy after I won the first round since I’d never done any good here,” he said. Rudd started the week ranked 50th in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) steer wrestling standings. He more than doubled his season earnings after his win here and jumped about 20 spots in the standings.
Three-time world champion bareback rider Will Lowe started the day in sixth place, but an 88-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Black Tie earned the Canyon, Texas, cowboy his third CFD championship and nearly $16,000. He previously won here in 2009 and 2012. Lowe, who has qualified for 14 National Finals Rodeos (NFR) is grateful to still be riding at the highest level 10 years after winning his first title in Frontier Park.
“It’s so awesome to be able to still be here, riding with these guys and still be competitive,“ he said. The win here should help his quest for a 15th NFR berth.
Lowe joins three legendary cowboys – Jim Shoulders, Joe Alexander and Clint Corey – as the only ones to win three bareback riding championships here.
Idaho bull rider Ruger Piva has accomplished something in the past year that many bull riders never will in their entire careers. Last September Piva, now 23, won the Pendleton Round-Up in Pendleton, Oregon. This week he competed for the first time at CFD, rode all three of his bulls and left with more than $10,000 in prize money and a Cheyenne Frontier Days title. The 23-year-old former high school and college wrestler can now claim wins at two of the most historic and prestigious rodeos in North America.
“If you had told me two years ago that I would win Pendleton and Cheyenne within a year, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Piva said. “Cheyenne felt a lot bigger than I expected. I hid in the ready room and watched the action on the tv screen.
He received congratulations from four-time world champion J.W. Harris, who finished second. As Harris walked away, Piva asked Harris for an autograph. “He’s one of my heroes,” Piva explained.
For the second year, weather affected the Championship Sunday competition. Last year it rained, but this year a tornado warning issued during the rodeo resulted in a weather delay of about 20 minutes. When competition resumed, rain and hail came down, particularly during the barrel racing.
World champion Nellie Miller and her horse Rafter W Minnie Reba, that she calls “Sister,” were on the course during some of the worst of the weather, but the California duo made a solid run. Although they did not win money in the final round, their total time of 53.21 seconds earned Miller the championship. She won $19,530 and helped boost her lead in the 2018 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) standings. Miller and her father, Sam Williams, raised and trained Sister, who got her name because she is a half-sister to the horse Miller rode to her first NFR in 2010.
Second-generation rodeo athlete Brodie Poppino of Big Cabin, Oklahoma, came into Championship Sunday ranked fifth in steer roping. It was the first time he qualified for Championship Sunday in seven years of trying.
Poppino won the final round by nearly six seconds, riding his 22-year-old horse named Shaggy, a full brother to the horse his mother, Tana Poppino, rode to qualify for the NFR in barrel racing. “He stays in the pasture most of the year and about a month before we start legging him up for Cheyenne,” Poppino said.
“This is one of the most prestigious, one of the oldest rodeos in the world. It’s called “The Daddy” for a reason,“ he said. “Everybody wants to win this one. It’s a dream come true.”
Tie-down roper Shane Hanchey credits his horse Si, the 2017 horse of the year, for helping him come from seventh place to win his first CFD title. The former world champion and eight-time NFR qualifier had the second-fastest time on Sunday. Although he did not place in the first two rounds, he earned more than $13,000.
“I never really dreamed of winning this rodeo,” he said. “I weigh 140 pounds. All I’ve ever heard since I was about four years old is how big the calves were and how little people didn’t fare very well (at Cheyenne). I don’t show emotions very much, but this win’s got me shook up.”
Coming from the middle of the field to take the title was a trend in the roping events. Tennessee’s Chad Masters and Oklahoma’s Joseph Harrison were sixth in team roping when the day began, but out-paced the rest to win the final round. Their total time of 26.4 earned Masters his second CFD title (his first was in 2009) and Harrison his first.
Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, won his eighth CFD championship when he took home the all-around title for the fourth time. He has also won a team roping and three steer roping championships at CFD.
Results
Cheyenne Frontier Days has announced plans to build a new multi-purpose building on Frontier Park. The ground breaking is scheduled for early August. This building will house space for the General Committee, Headquarters Staff, increase meeting space for CFD Volunteers and contain a rentable Conference Center.
In 2015, CFD conducted a Master Land Use Plan study that mapped future construction plans and space allocation on Frontier Park to maximize park layout and available space. This jump-started thinking for the vision of the future for Frontier Park.
In 2017, CFD completed the Trail Guide to the Future. This document identified volunteer satisfaction, continuation of community partnerships, relationships with sponsors, maximizing development of Frontier Park, upgrading park infrastructure and creation of state-of-the art facilities as key priorities.
The Cheyenne Frontier Days organization has outgrown existing volunteer meeting space, staff space, sponsor areas and hospitality space. Breaking ground on the multi-purpose building represents progress for volunteers, staff, sponsors and embraces the future-focused themes in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Master Land Use Plan and Trail Guide to the Future.
A year-round, rentable conference facility provides space to increase opportunities for sponsor and community hospitality that will yield a revenue stream to offset future projects. This supports the Cheyenne Frontier Days mission to promote economic vitality to our city and this facility allows us to host events on park that we have not been able to accommodate in the past.
