CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 24, 2023 — Canadian Dawson Hay started July by becoming the third member of his family to win the saddle bronc riding at the Calgary Stampede. His goal is to end the month by winning the family’s second Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) bronc riding championship.

He took the first step to that goal by winning Quarter Finals 3 with the highest score thus far this year. He rode Dakota Rodeo’s consistent bucking mare Cover Girl for 88.5 points.

Hay, who is known for not waiting for the pickup men to dismount after a successful ride, is currently riding with torn ligaments in his ankle that require a walking boot when he’s not on a bronc.

The three-time National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier is currently ranked seventh in the standings and is in good shape for a fourth trip to Las Vegas in December. His win today advances him to the Semi Finals this weekend. His older brother Logan tied for first in Quarter Finals 1 on Sunday and will join Dawson in the Semi Finals.

Barrel racer Jessica Routier of Buffalo, S.D., and her palomino mare Fiery Miss West, known as Missy, took first in the barrel racing with a time of 17.69. Routier, a mom of five, has qualified for every NFR since 2018. She is currently ranked in the top 10 with a good chance to continue her NFR streak.

Landon Beardworth of Red Deer County, Alberta, may not be a household name but he wrestled his steer to the ground in 5.7 seconds to win Quarter Finals 3. That tied for the second-fastest run so far at the 127th Daddy of ‘em All. He bested 2019 world champion Ty Erickson and 2022 college champion Walt Arnold for Monday’s win.

Quarter Finals 4 begins on Tuesday at 12:45 where new contestants in every event except bull riding will vie for spots in the Semi Finals.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 24, 2023)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (third performance) and Semi Finals qualifiers at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Monday, July 24. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, Mark Kreder, Claremore, Okla., 86.5 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s Mr. Harry, $2,448. 2, Tristan Hansen, Dillon, Mont., 83.5, $1,836. 3, Trevar McAlester, Ronan, Mont., 81, $1,224. 4, Ben Kramer, Max, N.D., 80.5, $612.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Laramie Johnson, Shreveport, La., 4.4 seconds, $2.901. 2, Tammy Barnes, Larkspur, Colo., 4.5, $2,176. 3, K.L. Collmorgen, Lysite, Wyo., 5.0, $1,450. 4, Misti Brown, Valentine, Neb., 5.4, $725.

Tie Down Roping: 1, Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., 11.3 seconds, $2,000. 2, Tyson Durfey, Millsap, Texas, 13.1, $1,500. 3, Kalai Nobriga, Kealakekua, Hawaii, 14.1 , $1,000. 4, Carsyn Sunvision, McDade, Texas, $500.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 88.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Cover Girl, $ 2,354 . 2, (tie) Cameron Messier, Herald, Calif., and Zac Dallas, Las Cruces, N.M., 86 points, $1,471 each. 4, Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 84, $589.

Team Roping: 1, (tie) Miles Kobold, Huntley, Mont., and Cole Sherwood, San Tan Valley, Ariz.; and Mitch Barney, Blair, Neb., and J.W. Nelson, Alta, Iowa, 9.4 seconds, $1,750 each. 3, (tie) Clayton Van Aken, Yoder, Wyo., and Cullen Teller, Ault, Colo.; Curry Kirchner, Ames, Okla., and Billie Jack Saebens, Nowata, Okla.; and Teagan Bentley, Casper, Wyo., and Hunter Karlson, Garrison, N.D., 9.7, $500 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Landon Beardworth, Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada, 5.7 seconds, $2,000. 2, Walt Arnold, Coleman, Texas, 6.2, $1,500. 3, Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 7.3, $1,000. 4, Billy Boldon, Oglala, S.D., 8.1, $500.

Barrel Racing: 1, Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 17.69 seconds, $2,413. 2, Cheyenne Allan, Mabton, Wash., 17.97, $1,810. 3, Manchi Nace, Laurel, Mont., 17.99, $1,206. 4, Tracy Nowlin, Nowata, Okla., 18.02, $603.

Bull Riding: 1, Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho, 88 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Touch and Go, $2,397. 2, Canyon Bass, Johnson City, Texas, 87, $1,798. 3, Kase Hitt, Ardmore, Okla., 86, $1,199. 4, Conner Murnion, Jordan, Mont., 84.5, $599. Other Semi Finals qualifiers: Grayson Cole, Fredonia, Pa., 83, and Junior Souza, Sonora, Brazil, 81.5.

The following events do not have Semi Finals.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Lavern Borntreger, Elsmere, Neb., 79 points. 2, Jacob Benham, Dodge City, Kan., 70. 3, Carter Sandberg, Casper, Wyo., 62.
Wild Horse Race: No finishers

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

If you think the rough stock events at Cheyenne Frontier Days have been exciting so far, pull down your hat. The fourth performance is stacked with talent, especially in the saddle bronc riding. At the top of the list is hometown favorite and three-time Frontier Days champion Brody Cress.

Add four members of the famous saddle bronc riding Wright Family and another four Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers and finding the four that advance from the Quarter Finals to the Semi Finals could be a real challenge for the judges. If the fourth position finds more than one person in it, all of those that are tied will advance.

Canada will be well represented in the bareback riding again with nearly half of the competitors coming from north of the border. The lone rider from Quebec is Pascal Isabelle who is one of the few rodeo competitors who is fluent in French. Orin Larsen grew up in Manitoba and has been competing in rodeos in both countries since 2010. He also came to Twin Falls, Idaho, to junior college then transferred to Oklahoma Panhandle State University. He won college championships for both of those institutions. He won the championship in Frontier Park in 2010 and has been to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo nine times. He is coming off a big win last Sunday in Salinas, California, and hoping the momentum keeps him winning.

Kody Lamb is another College National Finals Rodeo competitor who is trying to qualify for the NFR for the first time. Lamb grew up in Alberta and when it came time to further his education chose Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, where he earned his masters’ degree. When he’s not climbing aboard bucking horses, he can be found with a guitar and writes and sings about the cowboy way of life.

Yesterday’s bull riders are making their second appearance. Eight of them got scores and those top six have secured their spot in the Semi Finals. The rest of the field will be doing their best to ride for another eight seconds and add their names to the rosters on Friday and Saturday.

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

The tie-down roping is also star-studded today. The field includes former world champions Haven Meged, Monty Lewis and Shad Mayfield as well as 2023 world standings leader Riley Webb. Webb, Mayfield and Meged are ranked 1-2-3 in the current standings with Webb leading over Mayfield by nearly $80,000.

The second time that the “Daddy of ‘em All” hosted breakaway roping, a South Dakota cowgirl walked away with the title. Sawyer Gilbert won the breakaway championship in 2021 helping her qualify for the National Finals Breakaway Roping that season in second place. Then she came from behind to win the world championship and the finals championship. Reigning CFD co-champion Tiffany Schieck also competes today as does reigning Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world champion Martha Angelone.

Three-time world champion heeler Jade Corkill has won four CFD team roping championships. The first one was with Chad Masters in 2009, then in 2021 with Clay Smith. In 2013, and again last year he and Clay Tryan got to take the victory laps. In the 21 years that team roping has been part of CFD, Corkill has won nearly a fifth of the heeling titles. A win this year with Cody Snow would cement his place in the CFD record books. Andrew Ward and Buddy Hawkins II (ranked fifth in heading and fourth in heeling respectively) have ties to Wyoming. In 2019 they married sisters who grew up in Laramie.

Arkansas barrel racer Taycie Matthews barely missed last year’s NFR and is aiming to do so this season. In June she won the college national championship for the University of West Alabama and on Sunday she took first at California Rodeo in Salinas. Lisa Lockhart, won this rodeo in 2015 aboard her great horse Louie. She’s had success here on Rosa and will likely be riding her speed demon gray gelding “Levee” here today. She is a 15-time NFR qualifier and money won in Frontier Park has helped her secure several of those qualifications.

In 2010, Canadian Curtis Cassidy won the all-around championship here roping calves and steer wrestling. It’s a favorite win of the eight-time NFR qualifier as it is the only buckle awarded that says cowboy on it. He is only entered in the steer wrestling this year and has the horse power to get him or one of his buddies the title. His horse Tyson is a two-time AQHA horse of the year. Jesse Brown, who is second in the world standings will also be riding Cassidy’s horse.

NFR qualifier Dakota Eldridge is 13th in the world standings, lower in the standings than he is comfortable with. He is a two-time NFR champion as well for having the fastest total time on 10 head. A gold buckle and a buckle from Cheyenne have eluded the talented athlete. A good run here today could change all of that.

Bareback rider Tim O’Connell has already done that and after his success here on Sunday in Quarter Finals 2, he is on track to be the only contestant in his event to win the “Daddy of ‘em All” four times. If O’Connell, from Zwingle, Iowa, does that he will also be the first bareback rider to win the title three consecutive times after earning it in 2021 and 2022.

O’Connell’s winning ride on Sunday came aboard Stace Smith Rodeo’s horse named Mr. Harry. His score of 86.5 points put him at the top of the board and added nearly $2,500 to his earnings. Prior to Cheyenne’s rodeo he was fifth in the world standings and is on track to qualify for his tenth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with his eye on a fourth world championship. Money he earns here will help him work toward both of those goals.

Two contestants that have already had success in the Cowboy State this month are continuing that trajectory here, and they are both from Oklahoma. Cannon Cravens, from Porum, posted the highest marked ride in the bull riding so far at 91.5 points earning him a spot in the Semi Finals. He won the Xtreme Bulls competition in Cody and he will be back here for the Semi Finals.

Also punching her ticket to the Semi Finals was barrel racer Paige Jones from Wayne. Jones had the fastest time in Frontier Park on Sunday at 17.52 seconds. Jones won the Cody Stampede over the Fourth-of-July and then won the Central Wyoming Fair in Casper. She also placed in qualifying rounds here. Since July 4th, she has earned a whopping $27,230 in the Cowboy State.

Steer wrestler Rowdy Parrott grew up in the bayous of Louisiana at Mamou before moving to Bellville, Texas. He has become a fan favorite in the big man’s event simply because he is not the biggest. At 5 feet 11 inches and maybe weighing 180 pounds, he is one of the smaller athletes in this event. What he lacks in size he makes up in talent and determination.

He proved that in Frontier Park on Sunday when he brought a 600-pound steer to the ground in 5.4 seconds. Not only was that the fastest time of the day, it also earned him $2,000 and punched his ticket to the Semi Finals.

Quarter Finals 3 begins on Monday at 12:45 where new contestants in every event will be vying for their spots in the Semi Finals. It is a special performance that salutes all military.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 23, 2023)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (second performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Sunday, July 23. Payoff subject to change.

Oklahoma barrel racer Paige Jones has been winning across Wyoming this month with wins in Cody and Casper. She continued that streak with a win in Quarter Finals 2 of Cheyenne Frontier Days with a time of 17.52 seconds to advance to the Semi Finals next week at Frontier Park. PRCA photo by Jackie JensenCHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 23, 2023)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (second performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Sunday, July 23. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 86.5 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s Mr. Harry, $2,448. 2, Tristan Hansen, Dillon, Mont., 83.5, $1,836. 3, Trevar McAlester, Ronan, Mont., 81, $1,224. 4, Ben Kramer, Max, N.D., 80.5, $622.

Breakaway Roping: 1, (tie) Brooke Winward, Grace, Idaho, and KeAnn Hayes, Blanchard, Okla., 5.0, seconds $2,538 each. 3, Jenna Dallyn, Nanton, Alberta, Canada, 5.2, $1,450. 4, (tie) Brandy Schaack, Chadron, Neb., and Kennedy Buckner, Redmond, Ore., 5.4, $363 each.

Tie Down Roping: 1, J.D. McCuiston, Estes Park, Colo., 11.2 seconds, $2,000. 2, Joe Keating, Sour Lake, Texas, 12.8, $1,500. 3, Rafe Wientjes, Onida, S.D. , $1,000. 4, King Pickett, Weatherford, Texas, $500.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, (tie) Chris Williams, Greybull, Wyo., on Dakota Rodeo’s Little Sicillia, and Rosey Rosendahl, Meeker, Colo., on Stace Smith Rodeo’s Exposed Vegas, 79.5 points, $2,060 each. 3, (tie) Dylan Hancock, Clarendon, Texas, and Kole Ashbacher, Arrowwood, Alberta, Canada, 79, $883 each.

Team Roping: 1, Rowdy Jones, Tupelo, Okla., and Gage Williams, Foster, Okla., 8.8 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M., 9.0, $ 1,500 each. 3, Walt Arnold, Midway, Texas, and Michael Profili, Jacksonville, Texas, 9.2, $1,000 each. 4, Corben Cullen, Muse, Okla., and Blayne Horne, McAlester, Okla., 14.1, $500 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Rowdy Parrott, Bellville, Texas, 5.4, $2,000. 2, Tate Petrak, Martin, S.D., 6.2, $1,500. 3, Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., 6.4, $1,000. 4, Emmett Edler, State Center, Iowa., 6.5, $500.

Barrel Racing: 1, Paige Jones, Wayne, Okla., 17.52 seconds, $2,354. 2, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.62, $1,765. 3, Shyann Lucas, Jackson, Wyo., 17.93, $1,177. 4, Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 17.94, $588.

Bull Riding: 1, Cannon Cravens, Porum, Okla., 91.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Little Bit Crazy, $2,397. 2, Ernie Courson, Jr., Okeechobee, Fla., 89, $1,798. 3, Brody Yeary, Morgan Mill, Texas, $1,199. 4, Mazinho Jeremias Sousa, 86, $599.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Coleman Shallbetter, Gunnison, Colo., 82. 2, Tanna Ireland, Australia, 72. 3, Ben Kukowski, Kaycee, Wyo., 70. 4, Caleb Meeks, Geraldine, Mont., 69.

Ladies Ranch Saddle Bronc Riding World Championship: (tie) 1, Bee Underwood, Douglas, Wyo., and Allysa Spierings, Carthage, Mo., 76 points. 3, Pearl Kersey, Millarville, Alberta, Canada, 71. 4, Ilona Bercx, Westerlo, Antwerp, Belguim, 70. (total on two) 1, Spierings, 152 points (world champion), 2 Bercx, 141. (reserve world champion).

Wild Horse Race: 1, Team Ice, $550. 2, CLS Team, $412.50.

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

Saddle bronc riding is known as the classic event of rodeo and was one of the first included in Cheyenne Frontier Day’s rodeo. Today’s event promises to be exciting with second-generation stars making a bid for their own CFD buckle.

Zeke Thurston from Big Valley, Alberta is one of the winningest bronc riders going down the road today. The eight-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier is currently third in the world standings. He has three world titles to his credit including the one he earned in Las Vegas last December. Zeke is following in his father’s footsteps and they both have Wyoming ties. He went to college in Sheridan. His father Skeeter Thurston went to Casper. While Zeke has earned titles across the U.S. and Canada, CFD’s has eluded him. Skeeter never won the saddle bronc riding here either, but he did win the rookie bronc riding in 1982.

Rod Hay won this rodeo in 2000 and now he has two sons trying to get that buckle for the family. Logan rode in the first performance and is advancing to the Semi Finals. Today it is Dawson’s turn. The three-time NFR qualifier is coming off of a big win at the Calgary Stampede and is hoping that momentum continues at Frontier Park. He is currently fifth in the world standings and will be working towards the family’s first gold buckle at the NFR in December.

Also look for Wild West Wade Sundell to make his mark in the arena. Sundell tied for the title here in 2013 and would like to see his name alone at the top of the leaderboard. Sundell has been riding bucking horses in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 2007 and a stop at CFD has been part of his schedule for most of those years. He is among the top 40 in the world standings and a win here could give him a big boost.

Jess Pope is the reigning world champion bareback rider after finishing third in 2020 and second in 2021. Pope, from Waverly, Kansas, went to school at Missouri Valley College which has produced the likes of Tim O’Connell and Tanner Aus. He is currently 12th in the world standings and has some ground to make up. A win here would add his name to the list of MVU athletes that have won titles here. He is known for his positive outlook and lives by the saying, “The view from the windshield is a lot bigger than the one from the rearview mirror.”

Today’s bull riding sees the second group of contestants making the first of two performances. Among them is the reigning and two-time college champion Tristan Hutchings. Hutchings also qualified for last years’ NFR and finished third in the world standings. He is currently eighth in the world and is on track to be back in Vegas in December.

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

Rodeo action at Frontier Park started on July 15th with qualifying competition. That was where a jaw-dropping record-setting tie-down roping run was set on Monday, July 17. Tyler Milligan from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, stopped the clock in 9.3 seconds and won $5,172 to jump start his Cheyenne Frontier Days. Milligan is riding a mare that he bought from Ryan Thibodeaux who tied for the win here last year with Cory Solomon who is also competing here today. Tyson Durfey, the 2016 world champion is also in the mix. He has cut back his rodeos and is working as a coach and mentor for rodeo athletes.

Linsay Rosser Sumpter is playing double duty in her rodeo career. The Fowler, Colorado, resident has qualified for the Quarter Finals in breakaway roping, a spot she is very thankful to be in. She also has two full-time jobs, first as a rodeo coach at Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado and also as the commissioner of Women’s Rodeo World Championships which are produced in part by the Professional Bull Riders. Sumpter has made the finals here before and is looking to be there again this year.

Jess Tierney, another rodeo coach, has also advanced to the Quarter Finals in team roping. He oversees the rodeo program at Western Oklahoma State College. He will be roping here today with Jett Hillman who grew up in Sterling, Colorado, and now also lives in Oklahoma.

Barrel racing will see former NFR qualifier Tracy Nowlin who has been known for years for training her own horses. She will be on one of those today, a mare known as Dolly that she found on Facebook as a rope horse prospect for her son. When that didn’t work out, she followed her instincts and started her on barrels. Dolly is the mare that she went to the NFR on. She is 36th in the world standings and a win here would improve that position significantly. The rodeo committee is working hard here to keep ground conditions even and safe for barrel racers and are working the ground midway through the competition daily. Jessica Routier will be running at the top of the ground after the drag and we expect her to have a fast time. Routier is a former college champion and has qualified for the NFR for five consecutive years. Her qualifications started in 2018 and have come aboard Fiery Miss West, a 12-year-old mare known as Missy.

Steer wrestling is always exciting at Frontier Park and today promises to live up to its reputation. Along with several up and comers, the 2019 world champion Ty Erickson from Montana has yet to win a title here. Erickson was 6.1 in the qualifying competition and added $2,991 to his earnings. One of those rising stars is Walt Arnold, the 2022 college champion. He competed at the CNFR representing Tarleton State University shortly after graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice.

• Reigning CFD Champions who will be defending their titles today include saddle bronc riding, Stetson Wright; bareback riding, Tim O’Connell; steer roping, Cole Patterson; and team roping heeler, Jade Corkill who won with Clay Smith last year and is roping with Clay Tryan who he won the title with here in 2013.
• Jade Corkill has won three CFD team roping titles with three different partners. No other team roper has had as much success in Frontier Park as he has since they added the event in 2001. He won in 2009 with Chad Masters who also advanced to today’s rodeo roping with Paul Eaves.
• Today’s team roping will feature more world championships than any other event at 13. In the heading, Clay Tryan has three, Matt Sherwood and Chad Masters have two and Erich Rogers has one. Paul Eaves has won two in the heeling and Jade Corkill has three.
• Coleman Proctor is the favorite to win the all-around championship here. He leads the steer roping and has already won money in that event and the team roping. He didn’t advance past the Quarter-Finals in the team roping.
• Taycie Matthews had the fastest run of the College National Finals Rodeo in the barrel racing last June. She is at the top of the ground after the drag, a position that has seen a lot of women excelling at here. She is second in the WPRA Rookie Standings. Presley Smith is third and is the first competitor here today. They are in contention for their first NFR qualifications and today could be a game changer for both young women.
• Ty Pope won the college title in the bareback riding and is waiting to make a commitment to Pro Rodeo until next year. He plans on going back to school next fall, then making a run for the Resistol Rookie of the Year title in 2023. He was in a three-way tie for sixth place and the rodeo is taking them all in the bareback riding.
• CFD’s titles are prestigious for several reasons, the history, the legacy and the money for certain. They are also some of the hardest to win. The Myers family has multiple world championships to their credit, but none of them have ever won here. Cash Myers has a chance to change that today with a win in the steer roping.
• Ora Taton won the steer roping here in 2000. If he has the fast time today, he will go down in history as having the most time between multiple titles.
• Katie Pascoe could be a second-generation winner if she does well in the barrel racing today. The wife of former NFL football player, Bear Pascoe is the daughter of world champion steer wrestler John W. Jones who won the championship here in 1988 and 1989.
• In the bull riding Trey Kimzey is the younger brother of seven-time world champion Sage Kimzey. Josh Frost’s older brother Joe Frost is a multiple time NFR qualifier. Trey and Josh have watched their brothers win at rodeos across the country, but never here. Today it’s the younger brothers’ opportunity to gain some family bragging rights.
• Breakaway roper Lynn Smith is a college rodeo coach at Cochise College in Arizona. Prior to starting at Arizona, she was at Central Wyoming College in Riverton. She has mentored many young women across the nation in the goat tying and is taking advantage of opportunities for breakaway ropers.
• Jennifer Canik could be the second member of her family to win a championship here. She was in her twenties when her older brother Stephen Canik won the steer wrestling in 1997 and qualified for the NFR. She was the national all-around women’s champion in high school.

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:

Today is the final opportunity for any contestant to advance to Sunday’s Championship Finals. In the bareback riding, there are a bunch of rising stars including Rocker Steiner who just won the Calgary Stampede, is leading the Resistol Rookie of the Year race and is headed to his first NFR. The high school reserve champion, Jacek Frost is also on the list as well as Keenan Hayes who did well here the first time he entered, in 2021. Tim O’Connell will be trying to win his third CFD championship. He is the reigning champ. Other NFR qualifiers Caleb Bennett and Tilden Hooper will be doing their best to finish among the top half of the contestants and stay here through Sunday’s rodeo.

The reigning saddle bronc riding champion Stetson Wright will be here along with former champion Wade Sundell and Stetson’s older brother Ryder. Wyoming native Tanner Butner could have the ride of his life today. Butner who lives at Daniel is in the 15th spot in the world standings. If he is among the top six today and advances to Sunday, he would be the first Wyoming resident to win a saddle bronc riding title here since 2005 when Bryce Miller won it. Butner is a native. Miller claimed Wyoming as home while he was competing and spent much of his time with the Forbes family at Kaycee. Regardless, Butner is proud to represent the “Cowboy State,” and will be doing his best to keep the bronc riding title at home.

There is only one former CFD champ in the bull riding and it happens to be Ky Hamilton who won here last year. The native of Australia is traveling with Stetson Wright who came up short in this event. Garrett Smith has done well here almost every year he has competed and this year is no exception. The former high school rodeo all-around champion loves the western atmosphere and the big open arena. Cody Teel won the world title in 2015, the same year he got married. He is now a father, and while his focus has been on the PBR, he is very grateful to be doing well here and wants that momentum to continue today. He has been to the NFR five times, and has countless wins to his credit, but has yet to get the prestigious buckle from the “Daddy.”

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

Riley Webb is extremely happy he had the opportunity to compete at Cheyenne Frontier Days. The tie-down roper from Denton, Texas is one spot out of the top 15 that qualify for the NFR. That could change today. Riley is less than $1,000 out of the top 15 and is leading the Resistol Rookie of the Year race. He could increase his lead in that category and put himself in better position in the world standings with a win here.

Haven Meged grew up in Miles City, Montana, working cattle and basically being a working cowboy. Those skills have transferred over to the arena where he is one of the top tie-down ropers. The 2019 college and world champion will be trying to win his first CFD title. Tyson Durfey is another world champion hoping to cash in here. Durfey is a social media influencer that mentors others and is always looking for ways to improve.

Today’s team roping will see Paul David Tierney trying to win a title here and go down in history as the first from his rodeo family. His father, Paul Tierney, is a former world champion, his brother Jess will be here on Sunday in the steer roping. At the end of Sunday’s rodeo, there could be some bragging rights at stake. Chad Masters won the team roping here in 2009 with Jade Corkill who has already qualified for Sunday’s championships. This year Chad is roping with Paul Eaves. Both have two world championships to their credit and can be a very exciting team to watch.

Most of the fans won’t recognize Turner Harris who will be heading for Matt Kasner. Harris comes from a ranching family in North Dakota, mainly goes to circuit rodeos, but loves Cheyenne. He has roped here multiple times and has made the final round nearly every time he has come to Cheyenne. The big arena, long score and big cattle are perfect for this ranch cowboy.

The steer wrestling is full of talent starting with Trell Etbauer who is in the top 25 in the world standings, is a former all-around here and is trying to be the first of his bronc riding family to qualify for the NFR in a timed event. A win here would give him a significant boost in the standings and get his children each a buckle from the “Daddy.” Will Lummus is second in the world standings and is looking for his first gold buckle. The four-time NFR qualifier knows what it takes to be an athlete and take care of his body. His wife is a pharmacist and he is a certified physical therapist.

The reigning college champion is hoping to turn his professional season around here today. Walt Arnold won the title in Casper in June and is 43rd in the world. If he is among the top 6 today and advances to Sunday’s finals, he could win a college title and CFD championship the same year just like J.D. Struxness did in 2016. Struxness is also in the field and looking for his second CFD buckle

Taylor Hanchey was the first woman to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo racing and the National Finals Breakaway Roping. She competed in barrel racing in 2013 and 2015, but prior to 2013 considered herself more of a roper than a barrel racer. She hasn’t found her next great barrel racing horse, so she began roping again and qualified in breakaway last season. Her husband Shane won the tie-down roping title here in 2018 and she’d love to add her own to the family trophy room. Bradi Good qualified for the Finals last year in both breakaway and barrel racing. She missed the cutoff in barrels this year but has another shot in breakaway. Her dad Shay Good won the CFD steer roping title in 2015.

Lisa Lockhart was the barrel racing champion here at in 2015. She’s qualified for 15 consecutive and the South Dakota native is always a fan favorite. She is 23rd in the world standings and any money she wins here will help her get to a 16th NFR. Another fan favorite is Emily Beisel. The Oklahoman has qualified for the last three NFRs and rides horses that are known for their calm demeanor at the start. Shy-Anne Jarrett and her husband, tie-down roper Ryan Jarrett, are both competing today. Shy-Anne is in the barrel racing and Ryan is in the tie-down roping. If things go their way, they could have a chance to become the first spouses to win CFD titles in the same year.

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:

Cole Reiner would love nothing more than winning the rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days. The bareback rider is currently second in the world standings thanks in part to a win over the Fourth-of-July at Cody, Wyoming. A native of the Cowboy State, Cole makes his home at Buffalo. He has qualified for the NFR the past two years and finished fifth and seventh respectively. He has his eye on the gold buckle and a win here in Cheyenne would certainly help him accomplish that goal. Other bareback riders competing today that have qualified for the NFR include another Wyoming cowboy Seth Lee Hardwick, Garrett Shadbolt, Trenton Montero, Bill Tutor, Taylor Broussard and Cole Franks.

Today’s saddle bronc riding is also full of NFR qualifiers. Chet Johnson, another native of Wyoming has been a member of the PRCA for 22 years. Most of those he has competed in Frontier Park but he has never left with a championship. It would mean the world to Johnson who is on the back side of his career. He also is using his experience to help the sport of rodeo and saddle bronc riding as a member of the PRCA Board of Directors. There are two former CFD champions in the mix as well. Jacobs Crawley who won here in 2016 and Jesse Bail from 2011. Cort Scheer’s saddle bronc riding career got a jump start here when he won the rookie bronc riding in 2008. He would go down in history if he added a saddle bronc riding title from Frontier Park to his rodeo resume.

Bull riders will have one more chance to qualify for the Semifinals today with the top 6 scores advancing. Florida cowboy Ernie Courson, Jr., just missed the top 6 yesterday and will try to better himself when he matches up with Dakota Rodeo’s bull Ponotoc. Needing to put a big score on the board is former CFD and world champion Shane Proctor along with former cage fighter turned bull rider Cole Fischer of Jefferson City, Missouri, and several other cowboys. While the riders who snared a semifinal berth on Wednesday are facing less pressure, they would still like to earn a paycheck with a top four finish today, especially Minnesotan Reid Oftedahl who is currently ranked 15th and needs every dollar possible to qualify for his first NFR.

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

Marty Yates has won two tie-down roping championships at the “Daddy of ‘em All,” in 2015 and again last year. He would love to have his name in the record books as a three-time winner and for getting the buckle in back-to-back years. Known for taking chances and throwing fast, Yates will need to do that today as he has CFD champions Clint Robinson (2006) and Lane Livingston (2017) to rope against. Hunter Herrin who is one of the fastest men on the ground and is an NFR qualifier along with John Douch who has led the world standings most of the season and world champion Monty Lewis are all looking to be at the top of the leaderboard.

“Rope Like a Girl,” is a campaign that began because of Lari Dee Guy who will be in today’s breakaway roping. Guy is a nine-time world champion WPRA roper and has earned those in a variety of disciplines. Like many women who want to rope, she is excited to be participating in rodeos like Cheyenne and winning a title here would not only be a special one for her, but for all the women that she has inspired in her career.

A win here would also mean the world to Coralee Spratt who is a native of Wyoming. She finished in sixth place a year ago and if she would win would be the first Wyoming cowgirl to win a CFD breakaway roping title.

The team roping is star-studded today with six world champions and multiple NFR qualifiers here. What’s even more impressive is the list of former CFD champions on the roster. Jade Corkill has won the title three times with three different partners. One of those is Clay Tryan who he is roping with today. They earned the title here in 2013, then roped with other partners and are now back together again. Erich Rogers won the heading here in 2017 with Cory Petska. NFR qualifier Payden Bray will be heeling for Rogers today. Kollin VonAhn is a world champion heeler who got the CFD win in 2015 roping with Luke Brown. Today, Kollin will be roping with his younger brother Ryan who earned the college title in 2009, the same year Kollin won the gold buckle.

Barrel racer Kelly Yates hopes to add her name to the list of family members who have won titles here. She will compete in the WPRA sanctioned barrel race. Her brother J.D. was the all-around champion in 2016. Three years later, J.D.’s son and Kelly’s nephew, Trey won the team roping title.

Kyle Irwin has qualified for five NFRs in steer wrestling. After missing rodeo’s premiere event for the past two seasons, he is back among the top 10 this season with help from a Wyoming win at Cody. A winning streak in Cheyenne would virtually guarantee him a return trip to Las Vegas in December. Laramie cowboy Ty Everson competed on the University of Wyoming’s rodeo team and qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo three times finishing as high as fourth in 2019 as a junior. His favorite college course was equine nutrition because keeping horses healthy from the inside out is important to him. That course also helped him in his work as a farrier, where he shoes horses and helps their owners keep their equine partners sound.

Today’s competition completes the Quarter-Finals and will see the final list of contestants advancing to the Semi-Finals.

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:

Contestants from the National High School Finals Rodeo are finding their way to Cheyenne. Among them is bareback rider Jacek Frost, whose older brothers Joe and Josh have been here in the bull riding and gone on to qualify for the NFR in that event. Jacek finished his high school career as the reserve world champion. Now, he is competing on one of rodeo’s biggest stages at the 126th “Daddy of ‘em All” and will be hoping that the momentum from Gillette carries on in Frontier Park.

Statler Wright became the fourth brother of his immediate family to win a high school championship on Saturday. Statler joins his brother Rusty and Ryder as saddle bronc riding champions at the NHSFR. Stetson, who has won four championships here in the last two events was the 2017 all-around champion there. Their uncles Jake and Spencer also earned those titles. Injuries have been an issue for the uncles and Rusty, but Ryder, Stetson and Statler will all compete in the saddle bronc riding today. Stetson is the first member of his family to earn a saddle bronc riding championship here and he did that last year along with the all-around championship. In 2019, he won the bull riding and the all-around.

Stetson will compete in the bull riding today and tomorrow. He is joined by his traveling partner and last year’s winner at Cheyenne, Ky Hamilton. The bull riding is star studded with 10 NFR qualifiers and two world champions. Stetson is one of those. The other is Cody Teel who won the PRCA’s world title 2012 has been focusing on the Professional Bull Riders. He will be competing at their event tonight as part of the Missouri Thunder team.

Last year, Montana’s Parker Breding rode more bulls at Cheyenne than any other contestant. However, his ride in the final round garnered him 85 points, four points shy of Ky Hamilton’s score so Hamilton got the champion’s package. Parker is just inside the top 40 in the world standings.

Clayton Savage is the oldest bull rider in today’s field. At 35, he is making a comeback after battling over 60 injuries and being diagnosed with epilepsy. Clayton has been to the NFR three times, the last ten years ago. He is currently in 35th place and needs to add at least $10,000 to move into the top 15, something that could happen at Frontier Park.

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

The team roping has two former champions in it today. Tyler Wade won it in 2016 roping with Dakota Kirchenschlager. Trey Yates was the 2019 champion heeling for Dustin Bird. This year, they are trying to win their second buckles here together with Tyler heading for Trey. They are each 25th in the world standings so any money they earn at Frontier Park could help move them up in the world standings and give them the opportunity to be in Las Vegas in December for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Tyson Durfey won the 2016 gold buckle in the tie-down roping and since then he has used his rodeo skills to build a social media audience and is a huge influencer in the western industry. He has 491 thousand followers on Facebook, 156 thousand on Instagram and another 20 thousand on Twitter. He has started a mentorship program called No Limits, has been working with life coaches and finding his own inspiration to share. He missed last year’s NFR, is in 45th place this year and really needs to win some big checks to be back there again this year. Durfey told his followers that he still gets goosebumps when he backs his horse in the box at Cheyenne. Hopefully he advances to the Semi-Finals and then the championships and gets to do that two more times after today.

Steer wrestling should be fast today. Ty Erickson, the 2019 world champion from Montana would love to add a CFD title to his rodeo resume. After winning the gold buckle, he missed the 2020 and 2021 NFR, got married, added a daughter to his family and is ready to be back there again. Ty is currently 5th in the world standings, just two spots behind Will Lummus who has been one of the most consistent steer wrestlers in the PRCA since 2018 when he qualified for his first NFR. He has been there every year since and has his eye on that buckle. Will is currently in 3rd place. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin and went on to get his certification as a physical therapist.

Trell Etbauer is trying to be the first member of his famous bronc riding family to get to the NFR in a different event. He has been traveling hard this year and is currently 20th in the world standings. Etbauer has competed here in the saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and steer wrestling. He was the best multi-event cowboy here in 2014 winning the all-around championship.

In 2019, a dream came true for Shali Lord when she and her great horse “Can Man,” tied for the win in the women’s barrel race. She and Can Man went on to qualify for the NFR. Lord is currently outside of the top 100 in the WPRA world standings. She will be riding a mare she calls CeCe today. A win here would help her move up in the standings and meet qualification guidelines for the 2023 big winter rodeos.

Also in the mix today is Emily Beisel who has been a fan favorite at the last three NFRs. Beisel was raised on a farm and is the first in her family to compete in rodeos.

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding:

The bull riders are the only contestants in the CFD Rodeo Tournament that get two opportunities to ride during the Quarter Finals. Yesterday, seven were successful and six of those are guaranteed to advance to the Semi-Finals. At the top of the list was Jeff Askey, a four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Athens, Texas who scored 87.5 points. Jeff will be working to add to his earnings today as he matches up with Dakota Rodeo’s Little Coat. There are six spots in the Semi-Finals up for grabs today, but if less than six get scores, Cash Toews from Canton, Kansas, will get in by virtue of his seventh place finish yesterday.

Orin Larsen is looking for his second CFD championship in the bareback riding. He is currently 13^th in the world standings and any money won here will help him qualify for his 8^th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas next December where world champions are crowned.  Orin won two championships at the College National Finals Rodeo before embarking on his professional career. His first trip to the NFR was in 2015 and if he makes it this year, it will be his ninth consecutive. Bareback riding is the most physically demanding event in rodeo so for him to compete at rodeo’s championships consistently is a huge accomplishment.

Caleb Bennett knows a thing or two about those injuries. He has chronic wrist and elbow issues that bareback riding aggravates. The ulna bone in both of his arms is longer than normal and doctors told him they could shorten those and fix his problems. But he’d have to give up riding bucking horses, so he chose the horses. He is ninth in the world standings has qualified for the NFR nine times (not consecutive like Orin) and is hoping to make that 10 this year.

Leon Fountain and Ross Griffin are hoping to represent their home state of New Mexico well here today in saddle bronc riding. Both are in the top 30 in the PRCA world standings, looking for their first CFD title and their first trip to the NFR. Chuck Schmidt, Allen Boore and Mitch Pollock have all made that trip and are hoping to be back among the PRCA’s top 15 that qualify again. Pollock grew up in Nevada and played baseball in college until he started hanging out with the rodeo team. Kade Bruno is the saddle bronc rider that is highest in the world standings in today’s field. Prior to Cheyenne’s rodeo, he was eighth

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

Every person in the timed events had to compete to get to the Quarter Finals here. Just qualifying is an accomplishment. Among those that qualified are husband and wife, Ryan and Shy-Anne Jarrett. Ryan, the 2005 world champion all-around cowboy, will compete in the tie-down roping. Shy-Anne has qualified in the barrel racing. Ryan grew up on a dairy farm in Georgia and just wanted to be a cowboy.

He has 14 NFR qualifications to his credit, most in the tie-down roping. He also has been there in the steer wrestling and it was those two events that garnered is all-around buckle. Now he focuses on the tie-down roping and occasionally competes in team roping. He and Shy-Anne have a daughter Jurnee. Shy-Anne is often at home in Oklahoma carrying for their livestock while Ryan is off making money. If Shy-Anne does well here, they could be making a new game plan.

Women’s breakaway roping was added here as a non-sanctioned event in 2019 and the reserve champion was a young woman barely out of high school, Chloe Frey. She is back as a member of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and hoping to leave this year with the breakaway roping championship. Chloe will also be paying attention in the steer wrestling as her first-cousin Shane Frey is among the qualifiers.

Wyoming cowgirl Peggy Garman set the arena record in the breakaway roping during the wildcard round of qualification. Her 3.0-second run was her last-ditch effort to compete in front of the fans. She already has her sights set on Sundays Championship Finals, and after her success in getting here, has the confidence to back it up. Today will see if everything falls in place for her to stay on that path.

Coleman Proctor is a favorite for this year’s all-around championship in Frontier Park. He competed in the steer roping, placed in both rounds, and has qualified for the championships in that event. He already has earned $12,719 here in steer roping and team roping. He will be heading for Logan Medlin today. A fan favorite cowboy, Derrick Begay will be heading for Colter Todd who was the heading champion here in 2006 when he roped with Cesar de la Cruz. Derrick and Colter didn’t have much luck in the qualifier and finished 12^th in the Wildcard, so they were the final team to get into the performances. Because everyone starts with a clean slate and the top four advance from each performance, where they started is not nearly as important as where they finish.