Frontier Park is an 88-acre testament to generations of volunteerism. There are over 125 years of hard work, time, talent, and pride on these hallowed grounds. We have cared for this home that celebrates the culture and history of the American West so that future generations can experience them.
We now have a way to honor family members, and volunteers past and present, with the donation of a Memorial Bench through the Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation. This new program will place 50 memorial benches throughout Frontier Park.
The benches are steel park benches, 6 feet in length, with a back and arm rests. An optional, engravable cast bronze plaque will allow for three lines of text to formally acknowledge an entire family or an individual. These benches will give guests a place to rest while honoring those who have given time and talent to the celebration.
Benches are available for $5,000 and support the Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation. The CFD Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit set up to support the philanthropic activities and educational opportunities of Cheyenne Frontier Days for its continued growth and relevance as the preeminent Western celebration.
Honor family and volunteers past and present with the donation of a Memorial Bench at: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/CFDMemorialBench
The CFD Foundation is uniquely qualified to tell the stories and provide the economic platform to facilitate growth for today and the future of the Cheyenne Frontier Days, Western Heritage, and Western values. The Foundation is the advocate for the educational needs across all aspects of the event to ensure its sustainability. The Foundation supports the philanthropic activities of the event in a way only CFD can. The Foundation provides a powerful collaboration connecting the CFD events and the people who care for them to stimulate interest in the enduring legacy of the American West. We are the keepers of Western heritage through the stories we tell and how we help others.
Cheyenne Frontier Days is donating the proceeds from the 2022 Pick Up Man campaign for suicide awareness and prevention, to Grace for 2 Brothers and the Wyoming Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Each organization will receive $4,690 which was raised from the sale of yellow feathers and yellow feather jewelry in support of the campaign.
Country music star Garth Brooks also helped the effort by creating a message to elevate the theme of the role of the rodeo Pick Up Man in the arena. The campaign encourages people to “reach out to a Pick Up Man or be a Pick Up Man for someone in need.” The new nationwide 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline information is also included. Individuals who see friends, family members, or neighbors struggling with mental health are encouraged to reach out.
The Pick Up Man campaign will continue as part of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation and its mission to support the educational and philanthropic activities of Cheyenne Frontier Days, Inc. “Suicide touches everybody. It’s critical we all become a Pick Up man for someone else or reach out to our Pick Up man when life feels overwhelming. Yellow feathers help start the conversation of bringing awareness to suicide prevention and highlighting the need to reach out when needed,” said Renée Middleton, Executive Director of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation.
“Our western culture of independence and self-reliance may inhibit people from seeking help, or people from offering help,” Tom Hirsig, CFD CEO said. “In rodeo, we call the pick up man a lifesaver in the arena. Every cowboy knows the pick up man is out there to help, to give a hand. And the athletes do not hesitate to reach out for help. We want everyone to use that example in their lives.”
The campaign acknowledges that suicide rates in the Rocky Mountain West are among the highest in the nation. “We wanted to raise awareness about these high rates in our state and region and make sure that individuals are connected to the national 988 hotline, where appropriate counseling can be provided,” said Rick Schum, CFD Foundation Board.
CFD will continue selling “Pick Up Man” hat feathers and necklaces as part of the campaign with net proceeds being given to local suicide prevention efforts.
Cheyenne Frontier Days, Inc. has named Renée Middleton, to the Executive Director position for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation.
Renée has a long history of involvement with CFD. She carried State flags for Saddle Tramps in the parades and Grand Entries and was a long-time member of the CFD Public Relations committee which serves both the media and the public. Most recently, she has served on the CFD Board of Directors and the CFD Foundation Board.
Renée has thirty years of experience in both marketing and management with Taco John’s International, Unicover Corporation and Sierra Trading Post. In addition to her marketing career, Renée has been in the field of nursing since 2018. She is a RN who works on the Oncology Floor at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.
In addition to her volunteer work with CFD, Renée has participated as a volunteer at the Davis Hospice Center, was a Foundation Board Member of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and as a Board Member of the Cheyenne Symphony Board.
Please congratulate Renée on her new position within the Foundation the next time you see her around the park.
The Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation, Inc. was established in 2015 to support the charitable and educational aspects of Cheyenne Frontier Days. The Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) and can receive cash, real estate, and other properties, with the goal of providing support to charitable and educational Cheyenne Frontier Days activities.
Recently the Foundation was instrumental in erecting the Chris LeDoux statute at the Front Gate, the refurbishing of the new Marietta Dinneen Carriage Barn and is currently working on a significant upgrade to the Indian Village.
If you would like to donate to the Foundation, please visit https://cfdrodeo.com/cheyenne-frontier-days-foundation/
Cheyenne Frontier Days, Inc. has named Tucker Fagan, to its newly-created Executive Director position for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation.
The Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation, Inc. was established in 2015 to support the charitable and educational aspects of Cheyenne Frontier Days. The Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) and can receive cash, real estate, and other properties, with the goal of providing support to charitable and educational Cheyenne Frontier Days activities.
Fagan spent 30 years in the United States Air Force, where he was head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nuclear Section. In this position, he prepared the “football” for President Reagan, and taught the President the plan’s procedures, timing, and options. Fagan was also Strategic Air Command, Wing Commander, and Vice Commander of 20th Air Force.
Upon retirement Fagan was immediately hired as Director of the Department of Commerce, where he restructured it into the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. Within the year, Fagan moved into the role of Wyoming Business Council CEO, where he stayed for eight years. Fagan then helped Cynthia Lummis with her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. Lummis won, and he continued as her Chief of Staff through her eight years in the House.
He is no stranger to the Cheyenne Frontier Days organization. Fagan has served on the General Committee, Board of Directors, as President of the CFD Volunteer Crisis Fund, and was inducted into the CFD Hall of Fame in 2013.
Fagan is currently on the Board of ALIGN, CFD Foundation Board, CFD Building Authority, City of Cheyenne and Laramie County Joint Powers Board – Frontier Park Improvements, and the Air Force Chief of Staff Civic Leader Group.
Fagan said of his new role, “The Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation has been instituted to preserve and promote the legacy of the West. The Western heritage personified by rodeo exemplifies community involvement, willingness to help a neighbor, and dedication to doing what is right. Highlighting this spirit and fostering it is an objective of Cheyenne Frontier Days and the recently created Foundation. I am honored to work for Cheyenne Frontier Days and to help make the Foundation an integral part of the rodeo family and the agricultural community.”
The Cheyenne Frontier Days™ (CFD) Foundation kicked off the 365 to 125 Campaign on July 22, 2020. This campaign will support initiatives for the 125th celebration, which is scheduled for July 23 – August 1, 2021.
The CFD Foundation is dedicated to supporting the charitable and educational aspects of Cheyenne Frontier Days™. The campaign will focus on two major projects to mark the 125th anniversary of Cheyenne Frontier Days™.
A bronze statue of Chris LeDoux will be added to the sculpture collection on Frontier Park. This sculpture is by D. Michael Thomas from Buffalo, Wyoming and memorializes the tie of Chris LeDoux to the rodeo and music worlds and his place in CFD history.
In addition, work will begin to refurbish Barn 15 to house the world-class carriage collection. These rolling pieces of history are displayed in the CFD Old West Museum galleries until they are used in the Grand Parades in July. The improvements to Barn 15 will allow the carriages to be stored in a protected environment and will keep these artifacts out of the elements between parade runs, when they are not on display.
Legendary country music entertainer Garth Brooks talked about his memories of performing with Chris LeDoux at CFD in a video he created. Brooks asked CFD organizers to supply a 125th buckle to match the buckle from the 100th annual celebration.
Donations to the 365 to 125 Campaign will be matched up to $200,000. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit cfdrodeo.co/foundation or email Roger Schreiner at foundation@cfdrodeo.com