Cowboys to Watch Archives - Cheyenne Frontier Days

CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 26, 2024 — Two rides in the rare 90-point range highlighted Semi Finals 1 at the 128^th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) on Friday.

Newly crowned collegiate all-around and bull riding champion Wacey Schalla of Arapaho, Oklahoma, became the first bull rider at Frontier Park this year to score above 90 points. Schalla was matched with Dakota Rodeo’s bull Sneaky Situation for the second time this month. Over the 4^th of July Schalla scored 86.5 points on Sneaky Situation to tie for first place in Mandan, North Dakota.

His ride on the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) bull at the Daddy of ‘em All was even better – 91 points. Schalla earned nearly $3,100 and advanced to Championship Sunday. He will compete in Saturday’s Semi Finals in the bareback riding with a chance to make the final round in both events.

Canadian Kolby Wanchuk scored the second 90-point ride of this year’s rodeo to win the round in saddle bronc riding. Wanchuk rode Brookman Rodeo’s NFR bucking horse named Apollo. Fellow Canadian Zeke Thurston marked 90 to win Quarterfinals 3 on Monday.

Wanchuk, who lives in Sherwood Park, Alberta, added more than $3,000 to his season earnings for the Semi Finals win. Every dollar is important since he is currently ranked 16^th in the world championship standings and needs to be in the Top 15 by the end of the season to qualify for his third NFR.

Reigning world champion team ropers Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp each earned $5,200 when they won their event with an 8.3-second run. The Texas ropers are currently ranked 10^th in the world championship standings.

Recent college graduate, Tayla Moeykens of Three Forks, Montana, and her horse named KN Fames Best Yet clocked the fastest time in Frontier Park this year to win the barrel racing Semi Finals. Moeykens and the six-year-old gelding that she calls Yeti won the reserve national championship at the College National Finals Rodeo the past two years for Montana State University. She is already putting her newly minted degree in business marketing for two businesses that she owns – Cool Nerd Marketing and Four M Performance Horses.

Another recent college graduate, breakaway roper Kinlie Brennise of Craig, Colo., was among the last two cowgirls to compete in the Semi Finals. The Tarleton State University alumna caught her calf in 3.9-seconds to win more than $6,100 and qualify for Championship Sunday.

Other event winners in Semi Finals 1 were bareback rider Jacob Lees of Caldwell, Idaho, with 88.5 points on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Hot Money; tie-down roping world standings leader Shad Mayfield of Clovis, New Mexico, with 10.1 seconds and steer wrestler Denton Good of Long Valley, South Dakota with 5.9.

Semi Finals 2 begins Saturday at 12:45 p.m. where the six best rides or times in each event will advance to Championship Sunday. They will compete against those who advanced from Semi Finals 1 for the bulk of the more than $1 million purse.

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 26, 2024)- The following are unofficial results from Semi Finals 1 (seventh performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Friday, July 25. The top six in each event advance to Championship Sunday.

Bareback Riding: 1, Jacob Lees, Caldwell, Idaho, 88.5 points on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Hot Money, $3.154. 2, (tie) Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta, Canada, and Lane McGehee, Victoria, Texas, 87, $2,055 each. 4, (tie) Brayze Schill, West Columbia, Texas, and R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 82.5, $908 each. 6, Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La., 84.5, $478 .

Breakaway Roping: 1, Kinlie Brennise, Craig, Colo., 3.9 seconds, $6,105. 2, Chenoa VandeStouwe, Weatherford, Okla., 4.2, $4,625. 3, Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, Miles City, Mont., 5.5, $3,330. 4, Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, Springtown, Texas, 5.7, $2,200. 5, (tie) Kaydin Finan, Wickenburg, Ariz., and Amanda Coleman, Stephenville, Texas, 6.0, $1,110 each.

Tie Down Roping: 1, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 10.1 seconds, $5,200. 2, Cash Fuez, Eureka, Kan., 10.5, $4,300. 3, Cash Fretwell, Pleasanton, Texas, 10.6, $3,400. 4, Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, Okla., 10.7, $2,500. 5, Dylan Hancock, San Angelo, Texas, 11.8, $1,600. 6, Chet Weitz, London, Texas, 13.7, $900.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, 90 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Apollo, $3,035. 2, Lefty Holman, Visalia, Ca., 88, $2,299. 3, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, 86.5, $1,655. 4, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 85, $1,104. 5, Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 84, $644. 6, Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas, 83, $460.

Team Roping: 1, Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas, and Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas, 8.3 seconds, $5,200 each. 2, Wawa Ben Jr. and Brandon Ben, Peridot, Ariz., 8.6, $4,300 each. 3, Dawson and Dillon Graham, 9.1, $3,400 each. 4, Ed Shearer and Taylor Brower, Parshall, N.D., 9.2, $2,500 each. 5, Hayes Smith, Central Point, Ore., and Justin Davis, Cottonwood, Calif., 9.3, $1,600 each. 6, Clayton Van Aken, Yoder, Wyo., and Culler Teller, Ault, Colo., 9.6, $900 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Denton Good, Long Valley, S.D., 5.9 seconds, $4,060. 2, Jacob Wang, Laramie, Wyo., 6.2, $3,360. 3, (tie) Caden Camp, Belgrade, Mont., and Colton Swearingen, Cowlesville, N.Y., 6.5, $2,310 each. 5, (tie) Walt Arnold, Coleman, Texas, and Jeremy Burkhalter, Humble, Texas, 6.9, $980 each.

Barrel Racing: 1, Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 17.00 seconds, $5,375. 2, Tiffany Lujan, Stephenville, Texas, 17.27, $4,449. 3, LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, Texas, 17.16, $3,522 . 4, Sabrina Ketcham, Yeso, N.M., 17.33, $2,595. 5, Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, 17.44, $1,668. 6, Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., $927.

Bull Riding: (four rides) 1, Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla., 91 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Sneaky Situation, $3,076. 2, Jackson Ward, Goddard, Kan., 87.5, $2,331 . 3, Brandon Ballard, New Hope, Ky., $1,678 . 4, Hayes Weight, Goshen, Utah, 50, $1,119.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round winners: 1, Hank Whitaker, 81 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s 463, $1,219. 2, (tie) Clint Read, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, and Dylan Young, Sturgeon County, Aberta, Canada, 79. $794 each. 4, (tie) Skinny Parsons, Springdale, Ark., and Sid Skiver, Nogales, Ariz., 78, $351 each. 6, Tucker Bourdet, Hollister, Calif., 76, $185. Second round leaders: 1. Drew Bordelon, Ville Platte, La., 84 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s 507. 2, Tucker Bourdet, Hollister, Calif., 82. 3, Read, 80. 4, Skiver, 75. Josue Molina, Pampa, Texas, 74. Overall leaders: 1, Read, 159. 2, Bourdet, 158. 3, Skiver, 153. 4, Molina, 148. 5, Whitaker, 149. 6, (tie) Ford, and Parsons, 147.

Wild Horse Race: No qualified rides.

Barrel racer Tayla Moeykens grew accustomed to winning while at Montana State. She made it to the college finals four consecutive years and at her first Cheyenne Frontier Days Moeykens captured the victory in the first day of semifinals competition Friday. She finished faster than anyone thus far.

Idaho bull rider Tristen Hutchings spiraled after winning Reno a month ago but a never-quit mentality kept the internal flame lit. Cheyenne Frontier Days was just where Hutchings needed to be on Wednesday. He won the day and plans to do everything he can to win ‘The Daddy’ for the first time.

CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 23, 2024 — The 128^th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo will wrap up its six Quarterfinals on Thursday when the final spots in Friday and Saturday’s Semi Finals will be determined. On Wednesday the top contestants from Quarterfinals 5 earned their semifinals berths.

R.C. Landingham of Hat Creek, Calif., is in the middle of the best pro rodeo season of his 15-year career. He is currently ranked fourth in the world championship standings after big wins in June and early July at the Reno Rodeo, Calgary Stampede and Sheridan’s WYO Rodeo.

His 85-point ride on Stace Smith Rodeo’s bucking horse named JBC Bent Rail Sourdough won Quarterfinals 5 and advanced him to the Semifinals. As soon as Landingham finished his winner’s interview in the arena, he was off to Salt Lake City to compete in the Gold Medal Round of the Days of ’47 Rodeo there.

Landingham has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) four times in his career, but injuries have kept him out of rodeo’s grand finale since 2022. His current standings make him a virtual lock to return to the spotlight in Las Vegas this December. He also has the opportunity to do what few have done – win both the iconic Daddy of ‘em All at Cheyenne and the Calgary Stampede in the same year.

Another cowboy who is having a great season is bull rider Tristen Hutchings of Monteview, Idaho. Hutchings, who is ranked sixth in the world, rode Universal Pro Rodeo’s bull named Grey Fox for 87 points and first place in Quarterfinals 5.

Hutchings is on track to make his third consecutive trip to the NFR, and he also notched a big win in June at Reno.

The final breakaway roper to compete in Quarterfinals 5 was Kinlie Brennise of Craig, Colo. Brennise, who is from Craig, Colorado, roped her calf in 3.8 seconds to win the round and tie the fastest time of the Quarterfinals thus far. In May she graduated from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, with a degree in marketing and while in college she competed in three events for the Texans rodeo team.

Quarterfinals 6 begins Thursday at 12:45 p.m. where new contestants in every event except bull riding will be vying for the remaining spots in the Semi Finals and a share of the more than $1 million purse.

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 24, 2024)- The following are unofficial results from Quarterfinals 4 (fourth performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Wednesday, July 24. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 85 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s JBC Bent Rail Sourdough, $2,448. 2, Jacek Frost, Browns Valley, Calif., 82, $1,836. 3, Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta, Canada, 80, $1,224. 4, Brayze Schill, West Columbia, Texas, 79, $612.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Kinlie Brennise., Craig, Colo., 3.8 seconds, $2,960. 2, (tie) Brooke Ladner, Poplarville, Miss., and Kaydin Finan, Wickenburg, Ariz., 4.1, $1.850 each . 4, Chenoa Vandestouwe, Weatherford, Okla., 4.5, $740.

Tie Down Roping: 1, Cash Fuesz, Eureka, Kan., 11.8 seconds, $2,000. 2, Darnell Johnson, Fowler, Colo., 12.5, $1,500. 3, Bryan Moon, Rosharon, Texas, 12.6, $1,000. 4, (tie) Cash Fretwell, Pleasanton, Texas, and Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, Okla., 13.2, $250 each.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah, 84 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Carney Girl, $2,354. 2, Kole Ashbacher, Arrowwood, Alberta, Canada, 81, $1,766. 3, Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta, Canada, 80, $1,177. 4, Mitch Pollock, Winnemucca, Nev., 78.5, $589.

Team Roping: 1, Brayden Schmidt, Benton City, Wash., and Pace Blanchard, Albuquerque, N.M., 9.2 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Brian Dunning, McClave, Colo., and Justin Price, LaVeta. Colo., 9.4, $1,500 each. 3, Dawson and Dillon Graham, Wainwright, Alberta, Canada, 9.8, $1,000 each. 4, J.C. Yeaquo, Mandaree, N.D., and Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas, 10.4, $500.

Steer Wrestling: 1, (tie) Denton Good, Long Valley, S.D., and Jeremy Burkhalter, Humble, Texas, 6.6 seconds, $1,750 each. 3, (tie) Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D., and Jayce Doan, Hazelton, N.D, 7.2, $750.

Barrel Racing: 1, Taryn Boxleitner, Loveland, Colo., 17.55 seconds, $2,471. 2, (tie) Kaycee Killingsworth, Thrall, Texas, and Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, 17.66, $1,545 each. 4, Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla., 17.69, $618.

Bull Riding: 1, Tristen Hutchins, Monteview, Idaho, 87 points on Universal Pro Rodeo’s Grey Fox, $2,380. 2, Jace Trosclair, Chavin, La., 85.5, $1,785 . 3, Cooper James, Erda, Utah, 83.5, $1,190 . 4, Jake Gardner, Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, 83, $595.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round leaders: 1, Hank Whitaker, 81 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s 463. 2, Clint Read, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, 79. 3, (tie) Skinny Parsons, Springdale, Ark., and Sid Skiver, Nogales, Ariz., 78. 5, Josue Molina, Pampa, Texas, 74. 6, Jackson Ford, Sturgis, S.D., 73. Second round leaders: 1. Drew Bordelon, Ville Platte, La., 84 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s 507. 2, Read, 80. 3, Skiver, 75. 4, (tie) Ford, Beau Ryan Scarborough, Pine Bluffs, Wyo., and Josue Molina, Pampa, Texas, 74. Overall leaders: 1, Read, 159. 2, Skiver, 153. 3, Molina, 148. 3, Whitaker, 149. 4, Molina, 148. 5, (tie) Ford, and Parsons, 147.

Wild Horse Race: 1, Turquoise Rose, $600. 2, Gibson Boyz, $450. 3, Billy Scharton, $300. 4, Stillbroke, $150.

CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 22, 2024 — Reigning world champions Zeke Thurston and Ky Hamilton dominated their signature events in Quarterfinals 3 of the 128^th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.

Thurston, who won his fourth world title last December, notched the first 90-point ride of the 2024 Daddy of ‘em All when he rode Brookman Rodeo’s Ragin Lunatic to win the round by four points.

While Thurston, who lives in Big Valley, Alberta, has won nearly every legendary rodeo at least one time, he has come close, but never captured a championship at Frontier Park. He advanced to the Semi Finals (July26 and 27) and would love to add this title to his list of career achievements.

Australian bull rider Ky Hamilton of Mackay, Queensland, injured his shoulder enroute to winning his first world championship at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in December. He tried to continue competition but had to take a break for shoulder surgery and rehabilitation. He returned to competition earlier this month. In Cheyenne he won Quarterfinals 3 with an 88-point ride on Dakota Rodeo’s bull named Regular Joe. Hamilton was the 2021 CFD bull riding champion and winning a second title at Frontier Park this year would put him on the list of two-time winners here.

Macon Murphy of Keatchie, Louisiana, qualified for the NFR in 2022 and is currently ranked 16^th in the world championship standings. He won a tough round of tie-down roping with a time of 10.8 seconds to advance to the Semifinals and have a chance at more of the more than $1 million purse in Cheyenne.

Quarter Finals 3 begins on Tuesday at 12:45 where new contestants in every event except bull riding will be vying for their spots in the Semi Finals.

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 22, 2024)- The following are unofficial results from Quarter Finals 3 (third performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Monday, July 22. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, Jacob Lees, Caldwell, Idaho, 85 points on Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeo’s Half Moon, $2,448. 2, (tie) Roedy O. Farrell, Thermopolis, Wyo., and Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, Canada, 84, $1,530 each, 4, Bryce Eck, Redfield, Kan., 83, $612.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Eryn Maddock, Adrian, Ore., 5.3 seconds, $2,960. 2, Tiffany Schieck, Floresville, Texas, 5.5, $2,220. 3, Taniah Nez, Ganado, Ariz., 6.6, $1,480. 4, Jade Kinney, Canyon, Texas, 6.8, $740.

Tie Down Roping: 1, Macon Murphy, Keatchie, La., 10.8 seconds, $2,000. 2, Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas, 11.1, $1,500. 3, Booker McCutchen, Harrison, Ark., 12.3. 4, Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 14.3, $500.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, 90 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Ragin Lunatic, $2,354. 2, Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas, 86, $1,766. 3, Ross Griffin, Tularosa, N.M., 83.5, $1,177. 4, (tie) Zac Dallas, Las Cruces, N.M., and Cauy Pennington, Kiowa, Colo., 83, $294 each.

Team Roping: 1, Wawa Ben, Jr., and Brandon Ben, Peridot, Ariz., 8.3 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 9.4, $1,500 each. 3, Billy Bob Brown, Carbon, Texas, and Josh Patton, Shallowater, Texas, 9.7, $1,000 each. 4, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M., 10.2, $500 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Colton Swearingen, Cowlesville, N.Y., 7.0 seconds, $2,000. 2, Trisyn Kalawaia, Hilo, Hawaii., 7.3, $1,500. 3, Seth Peterson, Wellington, Colo., 7.9, $1,000 . 4 Austin Hurlburt, Norfolk, Neb., 8.0, $500.

Barrel Racing: 1, Tiffany Lujan, Stephenville, Texas, 17.23 seconds, $2,471. 2, Jordon Briggs, Tolar, Texas, 17.29, $1,854. 3, Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 17.46, $1,236. 4, Katelyn Scott, Odessa, Texas, 17.47, $618.

Bull Riding: 1, Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, 90 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Regular Joe, $2,578. 2, Fulton Rutland, Westville, Okla., 85, $1,785. 3, Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 84, $1,190. 4, TJ Gray, Dairy, Ore., 82.5, $595.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: First round leaders: 1, Hank Whitaker, 81 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s 463. 2, Clint Read, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, 79. 3, Skinny Parsons, Springdale, Ark., 78. 4, Josue Molina, Pampa, Texas, 74. Second round leaders: 1. Read, 80 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s 483. 2, Skiver, 75. 3, (tie) Beau Ryan Scarborough, Pine Bluffs, Wyo., and Josue Molina, Pampa, Texas, 74. Overall leaders: 1, Read, 159. 2, Molina, 148. 3, Parsons, 147. 4, Scarborough, 144.

Wild Horse Race: 1, Team Meanus, $600. 2, Team Agin, $450. 3, Kicked in the Belly, $300, 4, Team Chizzie, $150.

Tuesday bareback riding at Cheyenne Frontier Days was a hard act to follow. Buffalo, WY bareback rider Cole Reiner was last to go spurring his way into the top four that move on to semifinal competition this weekend. High drama and high scores included three 88-point rides. One of them was put in the books by Gillette College star Cooper Filipek just starting his pro career. It was Filipek’s first ride at ‘The Daddy.’

Canadian saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston is on a mission to win Cheyenne Frontier Days and the former Sheridan College General mustered up major gumption to take on a great bucking horse Monday. Thurston advances to the semifinals with the high-marked ride at ‘The Daddy’ so far.