July 23-August 1, 2027
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July 23-August 1, 2027
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 26, 2026) — The 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) ended its 10-day run with an electric final championship round. Champions were crowned in all eight professional rodeo events, plus the all-around and the wild horse race.
Three champions were following a legacy at the Daddy of ‘em all beginning in the saddle bronc riding with three-time world champion Ryder Wright. The second-oldest son of Cody Wright, who won two world titles but never won the rodeo here, followed the success of his younger brother Stetson who has won the all-around, bull riding and saddle bronc riding at Frontier Park.
Three cowboys scored 92 points on Championship Sunday, beginning with four-time CFD champ Brody Cress on Summit Pro Rodeo’s horse called Heavy Feathers. Then Montana’s Sage Newman matched with Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ THE Black Tie, a horse that has carried the past three CFD champs to the title. Newman scored 92 and tied with Cress. Wright was next to leave the chute on Rafter S Rodeo’s horse named Cancun Moon. The bronc has a hard-to-track style, and Wright said he “had never seen a right-handed guy get along with this horse.” Wright, who rides right-handed, marked 92 points for a three-way tie which was broken by money won at CFD before the championship round.
“I’ve competed here 11 years and it finally went my way,” Wright said. He commented on the intense competition, adding that he “likes to beat people at their best, not when they fall off.”
In team roping the championship was also a close race with world champions Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira stopping the clock in 7.6 seconds to take the lead with one team to go. Texas young guns Tyler Tryan and Nicky Northcott, the final team, matched the champs’ effort. Both teams had earned the same in the earlier competition, so the championship went to the duo with the fastest time before the finals – the Texans.
Tryan, 20, and Northcott, 19, are sons of champion ropers Clay Tryan and Steve Northcott and have been roping together since they were about 10 years old. In May they decided to rope together professionally and that decision proved wise. They are ranked seventh and sixth respectively in the world standings. Tryan is the second roper in his family to win a CFD title. His father Clay won in 2013 and 2022.
Cole Eiguren of Fruitland, Idaho, earned the all-around title, competing in the tie-down and team roping. His grandfather Jack Hannum won the CFD all-around title in both 1977 and 1979, competing in steer wrestling and tie-down roping. Hannum also won event titles in both of those events in 1979 (steer wrestling) and 1977 (tie-down roping).
The first cowboy to compete on Championship Sunday was steer roper Slade Wood of Stephenville, Texas. He set the pace with a time of 12.3 seconds that none of the other ropers could beat to win the title. Wood, who has competed at the National Finals Steer Roping four times at age 23, had been concentrating more on team roping this year.
The bareback riding competition was tight with four rides in the 90s. The first to score 90 was former high school national champion Kash Loyd. Montana’s Trevar McAllister then scored 91.5. Oklahoma’s Jayco Roper, a third-generation rodeo athlete who has been to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) twice, came within half a point of tying the CFD record with 93 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s horse named CC Blue. Former CFD champ Kade Sonnier, the last to ride, scored 91.5 to tie McAllister.
Idaho cowboy Britt Bedke took the win in the tie-down roping with a time of 10.3 seconds. Bedke has competed at CFD four times, making the finals three of them. “This is a dream win for me,” he said. Bedke was riding an eight-year-old horse he calls Rico.
Cheyanne McCartney took the breakaway roping win in Cheyenne. The Louisiana native who now lives in Oklahoma is having her best pro rodeo season. She vaulted to the world standings earlier this month by winning the Calgary Stampede. The final roper on Sunday, McCartney roped her calf in 4.3 seconds for the championship.
Cole Pugh, a two time College National Finals Rodeo qualifier for Sam Houston State University in his native Texas, bested two-time NFR cowboy Tristan Martin by one-tenth of a second to win the steer wrestling.
Montana’s Tayla Moykens finished as reserve champion here in 2025. This year she was back on her horse KN Fames Best Yet that she calls Yeti who seems to love Frontier Park. Moykens, a former college national champion, was the 11th of 12 women to compete. She took the lead with a time of 17.41 seconds, but had to wait for reigning and two-time CFD champion Lisa Lockhart to run. Lockhart knocked over the first barrel and Moykens knew she had won the championship.
The bull riding winner, Luke “Colorado Kid” Mackey, was aiming for redemption after he was unsuccessful during the CFD Xtreme Bulls event this past Monday and Tuesday. His 90-point ride on Dakota Rodeo’s Tiger King took the championship. Mackey, who was 15th going into the end of last season, is ranked sixth in the current world standings and should avoid the nerve-wracking end-of-season race to qualify for his second NFR.
The 131st edition of Cheyenne Frontier Days is planned for July 2027.
Bareback Riding – Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., $15,800
Steer Roping – Slade Wood, Stephenville, Texas, $12,056
Tie-Down Roping – Britt Bedke, Oakley, Idaho, $11,950
Breakaway Roping – Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, Okla., $16,864
Saddle Bronc Riding – Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah, $14,633
Team Roping – Tyler Tryan, Lipan, Texas & Nicky Northcott, Stephenville, Texas, $12,600
Steer Wrestling – Cole Pugh, Jasper, Texas, $14,200
Barrel Racing – Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 17.41, $16,265
Bull Riding – Luke Mackey, Ignacio, Colorado, $13,650
All-Around – Cole Eiguren, Fruitland, Idaho, $11,100 in tie-down and team roping
The following are unofficial results from the Championship Finals, the 10th performance of the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Sunday, July 26.
Steer Roping: 1, Slade Wood, Stephenville, Texas, 12.3, $11,280. 2, Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif., 13.2, $9,588. 3, Tyrel Taton, Belle Fourche, S.D., 13.7, $7,896. 4, Tyler Hargrave, Canyon, Texas, 14.1, $6,768. 5, Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas, 14.7, $5,640. 6, Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo., 14.9, $3,948. 7, Tyler Waters, Stephenville, Texas, 20.0, $2,820. 8, Clay Long, Stephenville, Texas, 24.2, $2,256.
Bareback Riding: 1, Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., 83 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ CC Blue, $12,000. 2, (tie) Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La., and Trevar McAleeister, Ronan, Mont., 91.5, $8,000. 4, Kash Loyd, Cleburne, Texas, 90, $4,400. 5, Bryce Eck, Redfield, Kan., 89, $2,800. 6, Ethan Mazurenko, Thorhild, Alberta, 87.5, $2,000. 7, Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 87, $1,600. 8, Roedy Farrell, Thermopolis, Wyo., 86.5, $1,200.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Britt Bedke, Oakley, Idaho, 10.3, $9,200. 2, Macon Murphy, Keatchie, La., 10.5, $8,000. 3, Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 10.7, $6,800. 4, Cole Eiguren, Fruitland, Idaho, 11.0, $5,600. 5, Cash Endereli, Liberty, Texas, 11.4, $4,400. 6, Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 12.4, $3,200. 7, Brayden Roe, Wendell, Idaho, 12.6, $2,000. 8, Trenton Smith, Bigfoot, Texas, 13.0, $800.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, Okla., $11,915. 2, Jenna Dallyn, Nanton, Alberta, 5.0, $9,861. 3, Maddy Jacobs, Hope, N.M., 5.1, $7,806. 4, Jill Tanner, Stephenville, Texas, 7.1, $5,752. 5, Kirby Rawlinson, Waller, Texas, 7.6, $3,698. 6, Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D., 15.2, $2,054
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, (tie) Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah, on Rafter S Rodeo’s Cancun Moon; Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., on Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics The Black Tie; and Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., on Summit Rodeo’s Heavy Feathers, 92 and $9,333 each. 4, (tie) Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, and Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D., 90.5, $3,600. 6, Mitchie Story, Bayfield, Colo., 90, $2,000. 7, Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo., 88.5, $1,600. 8, (tie) Statler Wright, Beaver, Utah and Q Taylor, Nanton, Alberta, $600.
Team Roping: 1, Tyler Tryan, Lipan, Texas, and Nicky Northcott, Stephenville, Texas; and Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Sao Paulo, Brazil; 7.6 and $8,600 each. 3, Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 8.4, $6,800. 4, (tie) Coy Rahlmann, Ellsinore, Mo., and Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M.; and Brye Crites, Welch, Okla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas; 10.3, $5,000. 6, Austin Crist, Wiley, Colo., and Dave Tripp, Penrose, Colo., 10.5, $3,200.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Cole Pugh, Jasper, Texas, 5.3, $9,200. 2, Tristan Martin, Sulphur, La., 5.4, $8,000. 3, Cole Walker, Springtown, Texas, 5.8, $6,800. 4, Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho, 6.8, $5,600. 5, Quentin Wheeler, Baker, Mont., 7.3, $4,400. 6, Traver Johnson, Eltopia, Wash., 8.5, $3,200. 7, Clayton Culligan, Okeechobee, Fla., 9.4, $2,000. 8, Zach Hamar, Yuma, Colo., 12.1, $800.
Barrel Racing: 1, Tyla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 17.41, $12,148. 2, Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 17.44, $10,53. 3, Loralee Ward, Fort Lupton, Colorado, 17.48, $7,959. 4, Steely Steiner, Weatherford, Texas, 17.62, $5,864. 5, Kim Squires, Carnegie, Okla., 17.63, $3,770. 6, (tie) Heidi Gunderson, Murdock, Minn.; and Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas; 17.83, $1,047 each.
Bull Riding: 1, Luke Mackey, Ignacio, Colo., 90 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Tiger King, $12,000. 2, Braxton Whitesell, Walker, La., 88.5, $9,200. 3, (tie) Lane Vaughan, Klamath Falls, Ore., and Hudson Bolton, Milan, Tenn., 88 and $5,600 each. 5, Grady Young, Leader, Saskatchewan, 86, $2,800.
Wild Horse Race: (Sunday) 1, Team Again, $1,060. 2, Team Masi, $795. 3, Baty Bunch, $530. 4, Team Young Guns, $265. (overall champions) Team Masi.
Saddle bronc riders steal the show at Cheyenne Frontier Days
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 25, 2026) — Semi-finals Saturday was a warmup for the action to come in the finals at the 130th edition of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.
The dream of winning one of the most legendary rodeos in the world is one step closer for many contestants. Among them is Tory Johnson from Oklahoma City whose dreams of steer wrestling were nearly cut short two years ago.
In May of 2024, his head met the bucking chutes in an accident in Corpus Christi, Texas. The wreck was as dangerous as it sounds. He had four skull fractures and a spinal fluid leak among other injuries. Doctors didn’t know if he would ever be able to ride a horse again.
With his performance in Frontier Park on Saturday, he showed the world that he can not only ride a horse, he can compete with the best steer wrestlers and win. Johnson stopped the clock in 5.8 seconds to win Semi-Finals 3. That got him a check for $3,000 and put him in contention for a championship here. Johnson, who lost the hearing in one ear, competes with a specially made helmet. At 41-years-old, he has learned how to make the best of his situation and is very grateful for the opportunity to compete.
The bareback riding was exciting again with Montana’s Trevar McAllister taking the top spot with a 91-point ride on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Indecent Exposure. While the win was important for him, the men behind him also are excited to be riding for a title on Sunday. Among those is Kash Loyd who qualified in the fourth spot. Loyd, from Cleburne, Texas, had qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo when he got the last minute phone call that he could compete at Cheyenne’s rodeo. He earned the top spot the first time he competed here, advanced to the semifinals and now is riding for a championship at 18 years old.
Kim Squires from Carnegie, Oklahoma, was another replacement at this year’s rodeo. Her opportunity came in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association barrel race. Squires and her great horse Assuredly Epic competed on the first day, July 17, and had the second fastest time at 18.30 seconds. That gave them an opportunity to compete in Semi-Finals 3 where they improved their time dramatically. The clock stopped at 17.37 and she has now run the fastest time of the rodeo so far.
Championship competition begins at 12:45 on Sunday where the highest score or fastest time in the performance will be crowned the 2026 champion.
The following are unofficial results from Semi-Finals 3, the eighth performance of the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 25.
Bareback Riding: 1, Trevar McAllister, Ronan, Mont., 91 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Indecent Exposure, $3,000. 2, Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 90.5, $2,000. 3, Ben Kramer, Max, N.D., 90, $1,500. 4, Kash Loyd, Cleburne, Texas, 89.5, $1,000. 6, (tie) Hunter Greenup, Lexington, Ore., and Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 87.5, $250 each. Finals Qualifiers: McAllister, Hooper, Kramer and Loyd.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Macon Murphy, Keatchie, La., 11.4 seconds, $3,000. 2, Trenton Smith, Bigfoot, Texas, 11.8, $ 2,500. 3, Jett Barrett, Lipan, Texas, 11.9, 12.2, $2,000. 4, Kincade Henry, Mount Pleasant, Texas, 12.3, $1,500. 5, Tom Simpson, Malad, Idaho, 13.7, $1,000. 6, Mac Street, New Haven, Mo., 13.7, $500. Finals Qualifiers: Murphy, Smith, Barrett and Henry.
Breakaway Roping: (five times) 1, Kirby Rawlinson, Waller, Texas, 5.0 seconds, $3,109. 2, Taya McAdow, Fort Lupton, Colo., 5.4, $2,591. 3, Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D., 6.3, $2,073. 4, Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 9.6, $1,555. 5, K.L. Collmorgen, Cheyenne, Wyo., 15.5, $1,040. Finals Qualifiers: Rawlinson, McAdow, Gilbert and Angelone.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Shorty Garrett, Eagle Buttle, S.D., 90 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Satisfaction, $3,000. 2, Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 89.5, $2,500. 3, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 89, $2,000. 4, Mitchie Story, Bayfield, Colo., 88, $1,500. 5, (tie) Eastan West, New Underwood, S.D., and Kaden Horrocks, LaPoint, Utah, 87, $750 each. Finals Qualifiers: Garrett, Newman, Cress and Story.
Team Roping: 1, Kolby Kreiger, Fredricktown, Mo., and Sid Sporer, Cody, Wyo., 8.4 seconds, $3,000 each. 2, Austin Crist, Wiley, Colo., and Dave Tripp, Penrose, Colo., 8.7, $2,500 each. 3, Billy Bob Brown, Carbon, Texas, and Blaine Vick, Breckenridge, Texas, 9.3, $2,000 each. 4, Cameron Irwin, Buffalo, Wyo., and Coley Nicholls, Kinnear, Wyo., 9.3, $1,500 each. 5, Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla., and Whip Peterson, San Simon, Ariz., 10.4, $1,000 each. 6, Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 13.9, $500 each. Finals Qualifiers: Kreiger and Sporer; Crist and Tripp; Brown and Vick; and Irwin and Nicholls.
Steer Wrestling: (five times) 1, Tory Johnson, Oklahoma City, Okla., 5.8 seconds, $3,100. 2, Quentin Wheeler, Baker, Mont., 6.0, $2,600. 3, Cole Walker, Springtown, Texas, 6.3, $2,100. 4, Nathan Duvall, Hitchita, Okla., 7.0, $1,600. 5, Dalton Walker, Bertram, Texas, 16.7, $1,100. Finals Qualifiers: Johnson, Wheeler, Walker and Duvall.
Barrel Racing: 1, Kim Squires, Carnegie, Okla., 17.37, $3,057. 2, Kailey Mitton, Mount Sterling, Utah, 17.66, $ 2,530. 3, Taryn Boxleitner, Loveland, Colo., 17.69, $2,003. 4, Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 17.90, $1,476. 5, Molly Otto, Grand Forks, N.D., 18.09, $950. 6, Morgan Addison, Wolfforth, Texas,18.11, $527. Finals Qualifiers: Squires, Mitton, Boxleitner and Moeykens.
Bull Riding: (four rides) 1, Noah Lee, Mineral Wells, Texas, 93 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Catfish, $3,375. 2, Hudson Bolton, Milan, Tenn., 90, $2,875. 3, Cooper James, Erda, Utah, 88, $2,375. 4, Hayden Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 87, $1,875. Finals Qualifiers: Lee, Bolton, James and Welsh.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (finals winners) 1, Colt Bass, Statesville, N.C., 86 points on Smith Pro Rodeo’s Black Powder. 2, Tagg Bond, Edna, Kan., 83. 3, Ethan Cart, Hamshire, Texas, 81. 4, Rylan Cherry, Buna, Texas, 80.5.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Gotta Go, $589. 2, Team Agin, $442. 3, Pierce Trucking, $294. 4, /M Ranch, 147.
Saddle bronc riders steal the show at Cheyenne Frontier Days
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 24, 2026) — To say that the competition at the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo has been fierce might be an understatement – especially in the saddle bronc riding on Friday.
The top four scores ranged from 91.5 to 90 points and four Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifiers earned the top spots. Leader of the pack was Zeke Thurston from Big Valley, Alberta with a 91.5-point ride aboard Three Hills Rodeo’s horse named Harry Rocks. That top spot earned Thurston $3,000 at a time that is critical in the season.
Thurston, who has won four gold buckles for being the world’s best, has yet to win a championship at Cheyenne. And, he is 10th in the world standings, a position that does not guarantee him a spot at the NFR with just two months left in the regular season. The top 15 in the world standings will be in Las Vegas in December to compete at rodeo’s championships. Cheyenne’s rodeo could seal the deal for Thurston and see him competing at his 12th consecutive NFR.
Brody Wells of Powell, Wyoming, and Q Taylor, from Nanton, Alberta, tied for second place at 90.5. A third Canadian – Kole Ashbacher from Arrowwood, Alberta – captured the fourth spot with a 90-point effort. Ashbacher and Taylor have each been to the NFR one time. Wells has two qualifications to his credit. Taylor is highest in the world standings at 8th while Wells is 13th and Ashbacher is 28th.
Former CFD champions finished at the top of the leaderboard in bareback riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association barrel race. The men’s events are sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
In the bareback riding, Kade Sonnier, from Carencro, Louisiana finished on top with an 89.5 point ride on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s horse named Brazos. Sonnier was part of a three-way tie for the championship in 2023.
Tie-down roper Shane Hanchey won the championship here in 2018. Hanchey, who was the 2013 world champion, stopped the clock in 11.2 seconds for the win. Nick Guy, who grew up playing hockey in Wisconsin, was the champion steer wrestler here in 2015. He stopped the clock in 5.6 seconds for the top spot on Friday.
In the women’s barrel race, it was all about Lisa Lockhart and Rosa’s Cantina “Rosa.” The Oelrichs, South Dakota, duo won the title here last year. That was Lockhart’s second CFD win. She also won the title in 2015.
All these competitors will be back here on Sunday for the Championship Finals where they will start with a clean slate and the fast time or high score wins. Semi-finals 3 starts on Saturday at 12:45 where the final four spots for Championship Sunday will be determined.
The following are unofficial results from Semi-Finals 2, the eighth performance of the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Friday, July 24.
Bareback Riding: 1, Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La., 89.5 points on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Brazos, $3,000. 2, (tie) Mason Yancy, Fruitland, Idaho; Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., and Ethan Mazurenko, Thorhild, Alberta, Canada, 88.5 points $2,000 each. 5, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 88, $1,000. 6, (tie) Darien Johnson, Tremonton, Utah, and Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas, 87.5, $250 each. Finals Qualifiers: Sonnier, Yancy, Mazurenko and Roper.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 11.2 seconds, $3,000. 2, Britt Bedke, Oakley, Idaho, 11.5, $ 2,500. 3, Tyler Boxleitner, Loveland, Co., 12.2, $2,000. 4, Brayden Roe, Wendell, Idaho, 12.6, $1,500. 5, Chet Weitz, London, Texas, 13.4.3, $1,000. 6, Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 14.3, $500. Finals Qualifiers: Hanchey, Bedke, Boxleitner and Roe.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, Okla., 5.1 seconds, $3,006. 2, Maddy Jacobs, Hope, N.M., 5.5, $2,487. 3, Jordan Hollabaugh, Springtown, Texas, 5.6, $1,969. 4, Jill Tanner, Stephenville, Texas, 5.9, $1,451. 5, Josie Conner, Iowa, La., 6.0, $933. 6, Hali Williams, Comanche, Texas, 6.5, $518. Finals Qualifiers: McCartney, Jacobs, Hollabaugh and Tanner.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, 91.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s Harry Rocks, $3,000. 2, (tie) Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo., and Q Taylor, Nanton, Alberta, Canada, 90.5, $2,250. 4, Kole Ashbacher, Arrowwood, Alberta, Canada, 90, $1,500 each. 5, Darcy Radel, Injune, Queensland, Australia, 89.5, $1,000. 6, Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan., 88.5, $500. Finals Qualifiers: Thurston, Wells, Taylor and Ashbacher.
Team Roping: 1, Tyler Tryan, Lipan, Texas, and Nicky Northcott, Stephenville, Texas, 7.9 seconds, $3,000 each. 2, Brye Crites, Welch, Okla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 8.9, $2,500 each. 3, Jr. Dees, Orange Texas, and Landon Glenn, McAlester, Okla., 9.0, $2,000 each. 4, Corben Culley, Lawton, Iowa, and Calgary Smith, Adams, Ore., 9.2, $1,500 each. 5, (tie) Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Will Woodfin, Marshall, Texas; and Tanner Tomlinson, Mineral Wells, Texas, and Wesley Thorp, Stephenville, Texas, 9.3, $750 each. Finals Qualifiers: Tryan and Northcott; Crites and Ashford; Dees and Glenn; and Culley and Smith.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 5.6 seconds, $3,000. 2, Zach Hamar, Yuma, Colo., 6.3, $2,500. 3, Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho, 7.6, $2,000. 4, Traver Johnson, Eltopia, Wash., 7.7, $1,500. 5, Tanner Scheevel, Lester Prairie, Minn., 7.8., $1,000. 6, Cash Robb, Altamont, UT., 11.4, $500. Finals Qualifiers: Guy, Hamar, Tavenner and Johnson.
Barrel Racing: 1, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.57, $3,064. 2, Katelyn Scott, Odessa, Texas, 17.60, $ 2,536. 3, Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, 17.64, $2,008. 4, Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 17.73, $1,479. 5, Katie Halbert, Port Lavaca, Texas, $17.83, $951. 6, BryAnna Haluptzok, McAlester, Okla.,17.84, $528. Finals Qualifiers: Lockhart, Scott, Busby and Kinsel.
Bull Riding: (two rides) 1, Luke Mackey, Ignacio, Colo., 87 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Paper Cut, $5,500. 2, Brenson Bartlett, Cheyenne, Wyo., 86, $5,000. Finals Qualifiers: Mackey and Bartlett.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round winners) 1, Lanny Brooks, Faith, S.D., 83 points, $1,122. 2, Rylan Cherry, Buna, Texas, 81.5, $850. 3, Kaden Wood, Whitewood, S.D., 81, 612. 4, Quay Lloyd, Sweetwater, Texas, 78, $408. 5, (tie) Cade Costello, Newell, S.D., and Kaden Miranda, Mule Creek, N.M., 77, $204 each. (second round winners) 1, Dane McPhail, Snyder, Okla., 85 points, $1,121. 2, Jack Kissel, La Junta, Colo., 84, $850. 3, Clay Nyhus, Torrington, Wyo., 82, $612. 4, Colt Bass, Statesville, N.C., 81, $323. 6, Try Shadlock, Torrington, Wyo., and Rylan Cherry, Buna, Texas, $85 each. (overall leaders) 1, Cherry, 160.5 points. 2, Bass, 154. 3, Holden Eisemann, Glenham, S.D., 153.5. 4, Brooks, 150.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Pierce Trucking, $589. 2, Team Young Gunz, $442. 3, New Mexico PlayBoyz, $294. 4, Gotta Go, 147.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 23, 2026) — With generations of competitors behind her, it’s amazing to think that Steely Steiner could be the first member of her family to win a title at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD).
Her brother Rocker is the reigning world champion bareback rider. Her father Sid won a gold buckle in the steer wrestling and her grandfather is a world champion bull rider. Her great-grandfather was a stock contractor and she is a third generation barrel racer.
After Thursday afternoon’s barrel race, she put herself in position to be the first Steiner to win a buckle at Cheyenne Frontier Days. She took her mare Rapid Fire Daisy that she calls Puff around the pattern in 17.66 seconds to win the Semi-Finals 1. Puff was started on barrels by well-known trainer Sue Smith who holds the CFD arena record in barrel racing. With her brother out with injuries, Steiner is now the family’s best hope for a CFD Buckle.
World champion saddle bronc riding brothers Ryder and Statler Wright both competed in Semi-Finals 1 and both are seeking their first CFD championship. By the time three-time world titlist Ryder left the chute, four earlier cowboys had scored 87.5 to 88 points. He moved to the top of the leaderboard when he scored 90 on Summit Pro Rodeo’s horse named Uncertain Vagaries. Reigning world champion Statler was next to compete and he moved into second with 89 on Dakota Rodeo’s horse Voodoo.
The brothers from Beaver, Utah, finished 1-2 in the semifinal and will both advance to Championship Sunday. Their brother Stetson is the only member of their famous rodeo clan to win a title at Frontier Park – something he’s done twice in saddle bronc, twice in bull riding and three times in the all-around.
Cory Solomon of Prairie View, Texas was the first tie-down roper to compete in the semifinals. The 10-time National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier showed that experience counts by setting the pace with a time of 10.8 seconds. The horse he was riding has only been in the U.S. for two months and this was his first rodeo. Solomon said he made his second and third run on the sorrel yesterday and today. In 2022 Solomon shared the tie-down roping here and he has a chance for a second CFD title on Sunday.
Two more semifinals, on Friday and Saturday, will determine the field for Championship Sunday when the 2026 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo champions will be crowned. Semi-Finals 2 begins Friday at 12:45 p.m. at Frontier Park.
The following are unofficial results from Semi-Finals 1, the seventh performance of the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Thursday, July 23.
Bareback Riding: 1, Bryce Eck, Redfield, Kan., 91 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Wild N Out, $3,000. 2, (tie) Roedy Farrell, Thermopolis, Wyo., and Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 90 points $2,250 each. 4, Kashton Ford, Sturgis, S.D., 89, $1,500. 5, Mason Stuller, Veneta, Ore., 87.5, $1,000. 6, Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 85.5, $500. Finals Qualifiers: Eck, Farrell, Aus and Ford.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 10.8 seconds, $3,000. 2, Cole Eiguren, Fruitland, Idaho, 11.1, $ 2,500. 3, Cash Enderli, Liberty, Texas, 11.2, $2,000. 4, Blane Cox, Stephenville, Texas, 11.9, $1,500. 5, Luke Potter, Maple City, Kan., 14.3, $1,000. 6, Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 14.4, $500. Finals Qualifiers: Solomon, Eiguren, Enderli and Cox.
Breakaway Roping: (five times)1, Jenna Dallyn, Nanton, Alberta, Canda, 4.6 seconds, $3,109. 2, Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 5.7, $3,591. 3, Bailey Bates, Tohatchi, N.M., 6.1, $2,073. 4, Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas, 6.4, $1,555. 5, Abbea Faris, Lucerne, Colo., $1,036. Finals Qualifiers: Dallyn, Bates, Good, and Faris.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah, 90 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Uncertain Vagaries, $3,000. 2, Statler Wright, Beaver, Utah, 89, $2,500. 3, K’s Thompson, Lundbreck, Alberta, Canada, 88.5, $2,000. 4, (tie) Cash Wilson, Whitewood, S.D., and Zac Dallas, Las Cruces, N.M., 88, $1,250 each. 6, (tie) Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta, Canada; Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas; and Gus Gaillard, Morse, Texas, 167 each. Finals Qualifiers: Ryder and Statler Wright, Thompson and Wilson (advances on tiebreaker.)
Team Roping: 1, Coy Rahlmann, Ellsinore, Mo., and Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M., 8.1 seconds, $3,000 each. 2, Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 8.3, $2,500 each. 3, Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 9.6, $2,000 each. 4, Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C., and Hunter Koch, Vernon, Texas, 9.7, $1,500 each. 5, Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 10.1, $1,000 each. 6, James Arviso, Seba Dalkai, Ariz., and Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 10.9, $500 each. Finals Qualifiers: Rahlmann and Medlin; Rogers and Petska; Driggers and Nogueira; and Brown and Koch.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Cole Pugh, Jasper, Texas, 5.5 seconds, $3,000. 2, Tristan Martin, Sulphur, La., 6.3, $2,500. 3, Jude Leonards, Bell City, La., 6.5, $2,000. 4, Clayton Culligan, Okeechobee, Fla., 8.5, $1,500. 5, Kamry Dymmek, Kissimmee, Fla., 10.1, $1,000 each. 6, James Banister, San Luis Obispo, Calif., $500. Finals Qualifiers: Pugh, Martin, Leonards, and Culligan.
Barrel Racing: 1, Steely Steiner, Weatherford, Texas, 17.66, $3,000. 2, Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 17.69, $ 2,000. 3, (tie) Loralee Ward, Fort Lupton, Colo., and Heidi Gunderson, Murdock, Minn., 17.77, $1,744 each. 5, Makenna Shook, Bleiblerville, Texas, 17.87, $951. 6, Paige Jones, Wayne, Okla., 17.88, $528. Finals Qualifiers: Steiner, Bean, Ward and Gunderson.
Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Coy Thorson, Fergus Falls, Minn., 90 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Michaelangelo, $4,000. 2, Clayton Sellars, Fruitland Park, Fla., 85.5, $3,500. 3, Lane Vaughan, Klamath Falls, Ore., 83.5, $3,000. Finals Qualifiers: Thorson, Sellars and Vaughan.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round leaders) 1, Lanny Brooks, Faith, S.D., 83 points. 2, Rylan Cherry, Buna, Texas, 81.5. 3, Kaden Wood, Whitewood, S.D., 81. 4, Quay Lloyd, Sweetwater, Texas, 78. 5, (tie) Cade Costello, Newell, S.D., and Kaden Miranda, Mule Creek, N.M., 77. (second round leaders) 1, Dane McPhail, Snyder, Okla., 85 points. 2, Jack Kissel, La Junta, Colo., 84. 3, Clay Nyhus, Torrington, Wyo., 82. 4, Colt Bass, Statesville, N.C., 81, (overall leaders) 1, Cherry, 160.5 points. 2, Bass, 154. 3, Holden Eisemann, Glenham, S.D., 153.5. 4, Brooks, 150.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Pierce Trucking, $589. 2, Team Roanhorse, $442. 3, Pat Vargus, $294. 4, Gotta Go, 147.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 22, 2026) — At the conclusion of last year’s Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, steer wrestler Tyke Kipp earned the biggest win of his career.
Kipp from Lordsburg, New Mexico was among the contestants at the sixth performance of the 130th edition of the rodeo and fans got to see him move to the top again. Kipp was the first competitor in his event and set the pace at 6.5 seconds. Not only did he start in first place; he finished there earning a $2,000 check and a spot in the semifinals. He is currently eighth in the world standings and another win at Frontier Park would nearly assure him his first qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
The bareback riding was once again exciting with great scores by talented athletes. Jayco Roper from Oktaha, Oklahoma, scored 90 points on a horse from Rocky Mountain Rodeo. That seemed like a lock for the top spot until Louisiana’s Taylor Broussard made his ride. Broussard, from Estherwood, got on another horse from Rocky Mountain, and when the judges added up their scores, he had a 90.5 by his name.
The rides were critical for both cowboys. Roper is 20th in the world standings and Broussard is 33rd. They each will advance to the semifinals and are hoping to keep adding to their earnings to move up in the world standings.
A year ago, Tyler Calhoun won the tie down roping title at the College National Finals Rodeo and was making his debut in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He won the Rookie of the Year and narrowly missed qualifying for the NFR, finishing the year in 17th place. He stopped the clock in 10.2 seconds on Wednesday at Frontier Park for the win.
Kaleb Driggers from Hoboken, Ga., and Brazilian Junior Nogueira have five gold buckles between them. The team roping duo has yet to win a title here, but are in contention this year. They had the fastest time in the sixth performance at 7.3 seconds.
Bull riding phenom John Crimber continued to raise the bar here. He rode a bull yesterday for 90.5 points, came back and scored 91 Wednesday at the rodeo. He also rode at Cheyenne Frontier Days Xtreme Bulls competition Monday and Tuesday night where he again scored over 90 points each night. The Decatur, Texas, resident has ridden four in a row at Frontier Park and scored over 90 points on all four.
The first of three semifinals starts here on Thursday with contestants advancing into Sunday’s championship finals. The rodeo starts at 12:45.
The following are unofficial results from the sixth performance of the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Wednesday, July 22. Prize money subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Taylor Broussard, 90.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s 7L9, $2,300. 2, Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., 90, $1,800. 3, (tie) Brayze Schill, West Columbia, Texas, and Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas, 88, $1,02555555 each. 5, Mason Stuller, Veneta, Ore., 87.5, $420. 6, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 86.5.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Tyler Calhoun, Richards, Texas, 10.2 seconds, $2,000. 2, Blane Cox, Stephenville, Texas, 11.3, $1,500. 3, Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mo., 11.8, $1,000. 4, Colton Suther, Palo Cedro, Calif., 11.9, $500. 5, (tie) Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, and Luke Potter, Maple City, Kan., 12.5, $125 each.
Breakaway Roping: 1, (tie) K.L. Collmorgen, Byers, Colo., and Bailey Bates, Tohatchi, N.M., 5.1 seconds, $2,267 each. 3, Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas, 6.1, $1,295. 4, Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 7.1, $648. 5, McKenna Brennan, Springtown, Texas, 15.9. 6, Kinlie Brennise, Craig, Colo., 7.5.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Q Taylor, Nanton, Alberta, Canada, 89.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Faded Valley, $2,300. 2, Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah., 88, $1,800. 3, Roper Kiesner, Ripley, Okla., 86, $1,300. 4, (tie) Gavin Nelson, Wibaux, Mont.; Zac Dallas, Las Cruces, N.M.; and Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 85, $390 each.
Team Roping: 1, Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueria, Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 7.3 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Korbin Rice, Hobbs, N.M., and Cooper Feeman, Carthage, Mo., 7.5, $1,500 each. 3, Coy Rahlmann, Ellsinore, Mo., and Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M., 7.8, $1000 each. 4, James Arviso, Seba Dalkai, Ariz., and Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 8.6, $500 each. 5, Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz., and Colter Todd, Willcox, Ariz., 8.7, $250 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Tyke Kipp, Lordsburg, N.M., 6.5 seconds, $2,000. 2, James Banister, San Luis, Obispo, Calif., 7.0, $1,500. 3, Ty Allred, Tooele, Utah, 7.3, $1,000. 4, Tristan Martin, Sulphur, La., 7.9, $500. 5, Clayton Culligan, Okeechobee, Fla., 8.8, $250.
Barrel Racing: 1, Loralee Ward, Fort Lupton, Colo., 17.52, $2,642. 2, Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 17.78, $1,981. 3, Heidi Gunderson, Murdock, Minn., 18.12, $1,320. 4, Paige Jones, Wayne, Okla., 18.14, $660. 5, Chandler Camblin, Holyoke, Colo., 18.34. 6, Lindsey Muggli, Lane, Okla., 18.87.
Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, John Crimber, Decatur, Texas, 91 points on Dakota Rodeos’ Big Time, $2,483. 2, Cooper James, Erda, Utah, 88, $2,033. 3, Braxton Whitesell, Walker, La., 86.5, $1583.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Lanny Brooks, Faith, S.D., 83 points. 2, Rylan Cherry, Buna, Texas, 81.5. 3, Kaden Wood, Whitewood, S.D., 81. 4, Cade Costello, Newell, S.D., 77. (second round) 1, Dane McPhail, Snyder, Okla., 85 points. 2, Jack Kissel, La Junta, Colo., 84. 3, Clay Nyhus, Torrington, Wyo., 82. 4, Colt Bass, Statesville, N.C., 81, (overall leaders) 1, Cherry, 160.5 points. 2, Bass, 154. 3, Holden Eisemann, Glenham, S.D., 153.5. 4, Brooks, 150.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Barrel Racers, $589. 2, Team Medicine Wheel, $442. 3, Meanus, $294. 4, Wild’n Wreckless, 147.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 21, 2026) — John Crimber, the 2026 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) world champion, made his official debut at the historic Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Tuesday in championship style.
The bull rider from Decatur, Texas, notched the highest score of the first five rodeo performances when he rode Dakota Rodeo’s bull named Buck Rogers for 90.5 points. Crimber, who has been phenomenal on the PBR circuit since he turned 18, turned his sights to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association early this year and, despite a limited early season schedule, is ranked 11th in the bull riding world championship standings and third in the rookie of the year standings.
He also competed in Frontier Park on Monday night in the Rank45 Xtreme Bulls competition where he finished fourth with a score of 91.5, and he will compete again Tuesday night in the second round of that event.
Crimber’s father Paolo was one of best among the first wave of Brazilian bull riders to compete in the USA. He won the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) event title in 2004, the same year he finished third at the PBR finals.
Following in his father’s boot prints, Crimber is aiming for his first NFR qualification in December and success at Frontier Park would help him achieve that goal.
Cole Eiguren of Fruitland, Idaho, is making a big for the CFD all-around cowboy title this year. He competed in both tie down roping and team roping on Tuesday with mixed results. He could not have been more successful in the tie down where he won the performance and $2,000 with a time of 11.7. He advanced to the semifinals in that event. In the team roping, he and partner Dylan Ahlstrom of Hooper, Utah, were one slot out of advancing to the semifinals when they finished sixth. They will have another chance in the wild card round of team roping on Thursday morning where the best three of 21 teams will qualify for the semifinals.
Eiguren is a talented team roper. He won $6,000 in that event at the NFR Open in Colorado Springs last weekend with heeler Breck Ward of Jerome, Idaho, where only two teams from each of the PRCA’s circuits are eligible to compete.
The crowd at Cheyenne roared their approval when Brody Wells of Powell, Wyoming, took first in saddle bronc riding. The two-time NFR cowboy scored 90 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ horse called Speak Easy, earning $2,300 and advancing to the semifinals. Wells is currently ranked 13th in the world championship standings and success during the next couple of months is crucial in his attempt to qualify for his third NFR in a row.
The sixth performance of “the Daddy of ‘em All,” starts at 12:45 on Wednesday when a new group of athletes in every event except bull riding will aim to advance to one of three semifinals that begin on Thursday. The same field of bull riders who competed on Tuesday will return for a second opportunity to move on to the semifinals.
The following are unofficial results from the fifth performance of the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Tuesday, July 21. Prize money subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Colt Eck, Redfield, Kan., 89.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Lewandowski’s Stiletto, $2,300. 2, Bronc Marriott, Grantsville, Utah, 88.5, $1,800. 3, Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 87.5, $1,300. 4, Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 86.5, $750. 5, (tie) Clay Stone, Blackfoot, Idaho, and Jacob Raine, Mount Pleasant, Tenn., 85. $210 each.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Cole Eiguren, Fruitland, Idaho, 11.7 seconds, $2,000. 2, Jayden Broussard, Broussard, La., 12.2, $1,500. 3, Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb., 12.6, $1,000. 4, Kyle Lucas, Carstairs, Alberta, 13.0, $500. 5, Cash Enderli, Liberty, Texas, 13.1, $250.
Breakaway Roping: (five times)1, Shalee Oftedahl, Kaysville, Utah, 6.4 seconds, $2,591. 2, Lacy Holeman, Carpenter, Wyo., 6.8, $1,943. 3, Abbea Faris, Lucerne, Colo., 7.7, $1,295. 4, Kamie Crouse, Cushing, Okla., 15.5, $648. 5, Maddy Jacobs, Hope, N.M., 15.9.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo., 90 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Speak Easy, $2,300. 2, Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan., 88, $1,800. 3, Darcy Radel, Injune, Queensland, Australia, 87.5, $1,300. 4, Cash Wilson, Whitewood, S.D., 86, $750. 5, Damian Brennan, Injune, Queensland, Australia, 85, $420. 6, (tie) K’s Thomson, Lundbreck, Alberta, Canada, and Jake Finlay, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia, 84.5.
Team Roping: 1, Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala., and Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla., 7.6 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C., and Hunter Koch, Vernon, Texas, 7.9, $1,500 each. 3, Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 8.7, $1000 each. 4, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 9.6, $500 each. 5, Tanner James, Porterville, Calif., and Trey White, Los Osos, Calif., 9.7, $250 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Cole Pugh, Jasper, Texas, 5.9 seconds, $2,000. 2, Colton Leech, Bowie, Texas, 7.4, $1,500. 3, Kalane Anders, Mills, Wyo., 7.8, $1,000. 4, Rooster Yazzie, Coyote Canyon, N.M., 11.3, $500. 5, Jude Leonards, Bell City, La., 15.9, $250.
Barrel Racing: 1, McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 17.46, $2,642. 2, Kristin Hanchey, Okeechobee, Fla., 17.49, $1,981. 3, Halyn Lide, China Spring, Texas, 17.74, $1,320. 4, Steely Steiner, Weatherford, Texas, 17.79, $660. 5, Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 17.87. 6, Makeena Shook, Bleiblerville, Texas, 17.90.
Bull Riding: 1, John Crimber, Decatur, Texas, 90.5 points on Dakota Rodeos’ Buck Rogers, $2,100. 2, (tie) Cooper James, Erda, Utah, and TJ Gray, Dairy, Ore., 89, $1,425 each. 4, (tie) Coy Thorson, Fergus Falls, Minn., and Hudson Bolton, Milan, Tenn., 87, $575 each. 6, Noah Lee, Mineral Wells, Texas, 85.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Lanny Brooks, Faith, S.D., 83 points. 2, Kaden Wood, Whitewood, S.D., 81. 3, Cade Costello, Newell, S.D., 77. 4, Connor Brumley, Mocksville, N.C., 76. (tie). (second round) 1, Jack Kissel, La Junta, Colo., 84. 2, Colt Bass, Statesville, N.C., 81, 3, Holden Eisemann, Glenham, S.D., 78.5. 4, Toarin Humble, Belle Fourche, S.D., 78. (overall leaders) 1, Bass, 154 points. 2, Eisemann, 153.5. 3, Brooks, 150. 4, Wood, 149.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Barrel Racers, $810. 2, Team Meanus, $663.
Barrel Racing results from performance four: 1, BryAnna Haluptzok, McAlester, Okla., 17.75, $2,642. 2, Hailey Garrison Graham, Glen, Mont., 17.86, $1,981. 3, Alyssa Urbanek-Wade, Stephenville, Texas, 17.90, $1,321. 4, Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, 18.02, $660. 5, Makenzie Mayes, Scroggins, Texas, 18.10. 6, Molly Otto, Garden City, Texas, 18.31.
Thurston, Conner, Weitz win on Monday at Cheyenne
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 20, 2026) — Four-time world champion saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston has competed at Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) for a decade. The Canadian cowboy has won almost every title in his event including six Canadian pro rodeo championships, three National Finals Rodeo event championships and wins at major rodeos, particularly the Calgary Stampede.
Thurston has not taken home a championship from Cheyenne in the past 10 years, but that drought could be broken in 2026. On Monday, for a moment it looked like Thurston might not advance, but he was awarded a reride and made it count. He qualified for the semifinals with an 89-point ride on a mare named Prima Donna from Brookman Rodeo. That bested Missouri cowboy Blake Steuck’s effort by half a point.
Thurston has ties to Wyoming as attended at Sheridan College and competed on their rodeo team. His dad, Skeeter, was the rookie saddle bronc riding champion here in 1982. Zeke is currently ranked 10th in the world standings for 2026 and added $2,300 to his season earnings on Monday.
Josie Conner started this week the same way she finished last week—with a breakaway roping win. The four-time National Finals Breakaway Roping qualifier from Iowa, Louisiana, won the breakaway roping championship at the California Rodeo in Salinas on Sunday, earning just shy of $10,000.
On Monday she won the fourth performance of CFD with a time of 5.2 seconds, added $2,600 more to her season earnings. Conner was riding the newest horse in her barn, Checkers, for the win.
Just behind Conner was Cheyanne McCartney of Kingston, Okla., who vaulted to the top of the world standings after winning the championship and $50,000 plus at the Calgary Stampede earlier this month. Both will return for the semifinals.
Chet Weitz of London, Texas, may not be a household name, but he is a record-holder at Frontier Park. He set the tie down roping arena record of 9.1 seconds on the current scoreline in 2024. On Monday his time of 11.5 seconds was the best of the day. He punched his ticket to the semifinals as did former world champion and 2018 CFD winner Shane Hanchey of Sulphur, Louisiana.
Grady Young, a Canadian bull rider from Leader, Saskatchewan, become the first athlete in his event to score 90 points this year in Cheyenne. He rode a bull named Country Boy from Dakota Rodeo and earned $2,100.
In consideration of animal and human athletes, rodeo officials postponed the barrel race to Tuesday morning.
The fifth performance of “the Daddy of ‘em All,” starts at 12:45 on Tuesday when a new group of athletes in every event will aim to advance to one of three semifinals that begin on Thursday.
The following are unofficial results from the fourth performance of the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Monday, July 20. Prize money subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Ethan Mazurenko, Thorhild, Alberta, Canada, 89 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Lonely Smile, $2,300. 2, Tim O’Connell, Cascade, Iowa, 85.5, $1,800. 3, (tie) Conner Griffith, Skullbones, Tenn., and Mason Yancy, Fruitland, Idaho, 85, $1,025 each. 5, Kooper Heimburg, Marshall, Mo., 84.5, $420. 6, Cooper Filipek, Gillette, Wyo., 81.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Chet Weitz, London, Texas, 11.5 seconds, $2,000. 2, Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 11.7, $1,500. 3, Brushton Minton, Witter Springs, Calif., 11.8, $1,000. 4, Tom Simpson, Malad, Idaho, 12.1, $500. 5, Ace Reese, Aquilla, Texas, 12.5, $250.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Josie Conner, Iowa, La., 5.2 seconds, $2,591. 2, Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, Okla., 5.9, $1,943. 3, Jill Tanner, Stephenville, Texas, 6.8, $1,295. 4, Jordan Hollabaugh, Springtown, Texas, 7.3, $648. 5, Taya McAdow, Fort Lupton, Colo., 8.9. 6, Hali Williams, Comanche, Texas, 15.1.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 89 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Prima Donna, $2,300. 2, Blake Steuck, Hume, Mo., 88.5, $1,800. 3, (tie) Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 87.5, $1,300. 4, Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta, Canada, 87, $750. 5, Jasper Frost, Browns Valley, Calif., 85, $420. 6, Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, 83.5.
Team Roping: 1, Corben Culley, Lawton, Iowa, and Calgary Smith, Adams, Ore., 8.0 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Denton Parish, Perrin, Texas, and Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas, 8.1, $1,500 each. 3, Tyler Tryan, Lipan, Texas, and Nicky Northcott, Stephenville, Texas, 8.4, $1000 each. 4, Tanner Tomlinson, Mineral Wells, Texas, and Wesley Thorp, Stephenville, Texas, 9.0, $500 each. 5, J.C. Yeahquo, Mandaree, N.D., and Logan Moore, Dublin, Texas, 9.1, $250 each. 6, Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, Alberta, Canada, and Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas, 9.2.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Hoyt Kraeger, Weeping Water, Neb., 6.0 seconds, $2,000. 2, Clay Clayman, Highlandville, Mo., 6.2, $1,500. 3, Tanner Scheevel, Lester Prairie, Minn., 7.1, $1,000. 4, (tie) Paul Melvin, Paradise, Texas, and Tory Johnson, Oklahoma City, Okla., 7.8, $375 each. 6, Wyatt Williams, Penrose, Colo., 8.3.
Barrel Racing: Results will be available on Tuesday.
Bull Riding: 1, Grady Young, Leader, Saskatchewan, 90 points on Dakota Rodeos’ Country Boy, $2,100. 2, Jackson Young, Goddard, Kan., 88, $1,650. 3, Elijah Mora, Wiggins, Colo. 87, $1,200. 4, Jace Trosclair, Chauvin, Iowa, 86, $800. 5, Jake Gardner, Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, 81. 6, Colton Clymer, Loveland, Colo., 83.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Lanny Brooks, Faith, S.D., 83 points. 2, Kaden Wood, Whitewood, S.D., 81. 3, Cade Costello, Newell, S.D., 77. 4, Connor Brumley, Mocksville, N.C., 76. (tie). (second round) 1, Jack Kissel, La Junta, Colo., 84. 2, Colt Bass, Statesville, N.C., 81, 3, Holden Eisemann, Glenham, S.D., 78.5. 4, Toarin Humble, Belle Fourche, S.D., 78. (overall leaders) 1, Bass, 154 points. 2, Eisemann, 153.5. 3, Brooks, 150. 4, Wood, 149.
Wild Horse Race: No qualified rides.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 19, 2026)—When looking at Sunday’s barrel racing roster at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD), everyone expected an exciting and explosive competition. That might have been an underestimate.
The excitement started when the reigning and two-time CFD champion Lisa Lockhart, from Oelrichs, South Dakota, and her great mare Rosas Cantina “Rosa” stopped the clock in 17.38 seconds. That was the fastest time at Frontier Park so far this year.
Lockhart was the second barrel racer to compete with ten yet to run including four-time world champion Hailey Kinsel, of Cotulla, Texas, and two-time world champion Kassie Mowry from Dublin, Texas. Kinsel stopped the clock in 17.69, then Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier Carlee Otero ended the first set of barrel racers with a 17.43.
Trying to keep the ground even and safe for the horses has become a priority at Cheyenne and after Otero’s run, they brought in the tractor to work the dirt. Katelyn Scott from Odessa, Texas, who qualified for her first NFR last December was next. She moved into a tie with Kinsel. Mowry hit barrels and with three left to go, many thought that Lockhart had locked up the top spot.
The final barrel racer to go was Emily Beisel from Weatherford, Oklahoma. She had success here a year ago, being at the top in her performance, winning semifinals 1 and finishing fourth in the championship finals. She earned over $13,000 here a year ago on her home-raised horse, a nine-year-old gelding named Vanilla Gorilla that she calls Trigger.
Trigger obviously likes Cheyenne Frontier Days. They stopped the clock in 17.37 seconds on Sunday to win the day with the fastest time at this year’s rodeo.
The group advancing to the semi-finals from Sunday’s rodeo is the most competitive here so far. All these women will advance along with the sixth place finisher, Katie Halbert from Port Lavaca, Texas, who stopped the clock in 17.81 seconds.
Ryder Wright of Beaver, Utah, may have the most gold buckles for saddle bronc world championships of his siblings, but he has yet to win his signature event at the Daddy of ‘em all. He took the first step to resolve that issue by winning on Sunday with 89.5 points on Rafter S Rodeo’s horse named Turbulence. That puts him into Friday’s semifinals.
Trell Etbauer of Goodwell, Oklahoma, was the fastest steer wrestler in performance three with a time of 6.4 seconds. The CFD all-around champion in 2014 and the steer wrestling winner in 2022, is headed to the semifinals. He is carrying on a tradition of success at the Daddy of ‘em All that started when his uncle Dan won the rookie saddle bronc riding in 1986. Dan Etbauer won the saddle bronc title at CFD in 1996 and Billy Etbauer (Dan’s brother and Trell’s uncle) was the bronc riding champion in 2009. Trell’s father Robert competed here multiple times.
First place in bull riding was crowded on Sunday with three riders sharing the round win. Wyoming favorite Hayden Welch of Gillette set the bar with his 89-point score on a bull from Korkow Rodeos’. Welsh is among the top four in the bull riding world championship standings in his rookie season of pro rodeo.
Colorado’s Luke Mackey and Kansas’ Colton Byrum were able to match his score on two other Korkow bulls. They all advanced to the semifinals, but have another opportunity for success here on Monday as all bull riders compete in two performances at CFD.
The third performance of “the Daddy of ‘em All,” starts at 12:45 on Monday. A new set of contestants in every event (except bull riding) will aim to advance to one of three semifinals. Bull riders who did not advance on Sunday have another opportunity then.
The following are unofficial results from the third performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Sunday, July 19. Prize money subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Toby Deudney, Tumut, New South Wales, Australia, 89.5 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Ruffie’s Rage, $2,300. 2, Kashton Ford, Sturgis, S.D., 88.5, $1,800. 3, Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La., 88, $1,300. 4, Roedy Farrell, Thermopolis, Wyo., 87, $750. 5, (tie) Bryce Eck, Redfield, Kan., and Tucker Carricato, Saratoga, Wyo., 85.5, $210 each.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Bryce Derrer, Portales, N.M., 10.9 seconds, $2,000. 2, Tate Talkington, Scottsbluff, Neb., 11.6, $1,500. 3, Mac Street, New Haven, Mo., 12.5, $1,000. 4, Travis Staley, Nashville, Ga., 12.6., $500. 5, Dalton Porch, Kadoka, S.D., 13.6, $250.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Taylor Engesser, Spearfish, S.D., 4.7 seconds, $2,591. 2, Amy Ohrt, Victoria, Texas, 5.2, $1,943. 3, Jenna Dallyn, Nanton, Alberta, Canada, 5.6, $1,295. 4, Karrigan Graves, Kentwood, La., 5.8, $648. 5, Maci Ray, Mabank, Texas, 6.0. 6, Kendal Pierson, Wardlow, Alberta, Canada, 8.9.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah, 89.5 points on Rafter S Rodeo’s Turbulence, $2,300. 2, Mitchie Story, Bayfield, Colo., 89, $1,800. 3, Waitley Sharon, Ordway, Colo., 88, $1,300. 4, (tie) Carson Bingham, Rigby, Idaho, and Statler Wright, Beaver, Utah, 87, $585 each. 6, Zane Magner, Breda, Iowa, 85.
Team Roping: 1, Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont, and Will Woodfin, Marshall, Texas, 7.9 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Stefan Ramone, Ephriam, Utah, and Treyden Gonzales, Seboyeta, N.M., 8.9, $1,500 each. 3, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn., and Joseph Harrison, Marietta, Okla., 9.1, $1000 each. 4, Billy Bob Brown, Carbon, Texas, and Blaine Vick, Breckenridge, Texas, 9.3, $500 each. 5, (tie) Travis Whitlow, Wittman, Ariz., and Caleb Hendrix, Fallon, Nev.; and Brye Crites, Welch, Okla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 10.0, $125 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 6.4 seconds, $2,000. 2, (tie) Zach Hamar, Yuma, Colo., and Sam Gallagher, Brighton, Colo., 7.2, $1,250 each. 4, Wyatt Jurney, Las Cruces, N.M., 7.8, $500. 5, Rhett Witt, Valentine, Neb., 10.6, $250.
Barrel Racing: 1, Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 17.37 seconds, $2,462. 2, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.38, $1,981. 3, Carlee Otero, Lipan, Texas, 17.43, $1,321. 4, (tie) Katelyn Scott, Odessa, Texas, and Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 17.69, $330 each. 6, Katie Halbert, Port Lavaca, Texas, 17.81.
Bull Riding: 1, (tie) Hayden Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., on Korkow Rodeos’ 078; Luke Mackey, Ignacio, Colo., on Korkow Rodeos’ 321; and Colton Byram, Mound City, Kan., on Korkow Rodeos’ 40B, $ each. 4, Grady Young, Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada, 87, $800. 5, Brenson Bartlett, Cheyenne, Wyo., 84, $350. 6, Cimarron Rucker, Liberty Hill, Texas, 81.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Lanny Brooks, Faith, S.D., 83 points. 2, Kaden Wood, Whitewood, S.D., 81. 3, Cade Costello, Newell, S.D., 77. 4, Connor Brumley, Mocksville, N.C., 76. (tie). (second round) 1, Brooks, 83. 2, Wood, 81. 3, Costello, 77. 4, (tie) Holden Eisemann, Glenham, S.D., and Pace Garrett, Gillette, Wyo., 75. (overall leaders) 1, Brooks, 168 points. 2, Wood, 162. 3, Costello, 154. 4, (tie) Eisemann and Garrett, 150.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Beer Money!, $589. 2, Kicked in the Belly, $442. 3, Baty Bunch, $294. 4, Turquoise Rose, $147.
Ladies Saddle Bronc Riding World Championship: (second round) 1, Blayne Bedard, Canada, 75. 2, Ilona Bercx, Belgium, 73. 3, (tie) Ameilia Baker, Australia; Bailey Zuehlke Canada; and Jade Pelowski, U.S.A., 70 points. (overall winners) 1, Bedard, 145 points. 2, Bercx, 142. 3, Baker, 141. 4, Pelowski, 135.
Vaughan dominates Cheyenne Frontier Days bull riding
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 18, 2026) —Lane Vaughan made a big statement at the 130th edition of Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) on Saturday.
The bull rider from Klamath Falls, Oregon, has ridden both of his bulls and been at the top of the leaderboard during the first two performances. And, on Saturday, he was the only bull rider that was successful, so the 21-year-old earned all the prize money. So far, he has collected over $8,000 here.
Before Cheyenne’s rodeo started, Vaughan was 14th in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) world standings. A win here could help the 21-year-old secure his first qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in December where world championships are at stake. He started his career riding sheep, then calves and steers before getting on bulls like he is now. He attended Western Texas College in Snyder and finished as the reserve champion at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, in June. That was likely the end of his college rodeo career as he also graduated with a welding degree and has his sights set on riding at the NFR.
After finishing in second place here a year ago, barrel racer Tayla Moeykens from Three Forks, Montana, had a strategy for 2026. The main component of that strategy was her horse KN Fames Best Yet “Yeti.”
“He just really likes Cheyenne,” she said of the eight-year-old gelding. “When my horses like it somewhere, I always try to take them back there.”
Together, they had a flawless run in Frontier Park, stopping the clock in 17.55 seconds. That added over $2,500 to Moeykens’ earnings. She is currently seventh in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world standings and in position to qualify for her second NFR.
Chase Brooks from Deer Lodge, Montana, was a mighty happy saddle bronc rider on Saturday afternoon. He scored 89.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ horse named Charlies Angel. That was special for him as his oldest daughter’s name is Charlie Jo.
“My daughter thought it was pretty cool that I was riding a horse that shared her name,” Brooks said. “I had experience with that horse and felt like it was going to go pretty well.”
It did indeed go well. Brooks was at the top of the leaderboard with an 89.5 point ride and added over $2,000 to his season earnings. He has qualified for the NFR six times, the last in 2023. He’s on a mission to be back there this year and have his wife, Cara, and two daughters in the stands. He is currently eighth in the world standings and in a really good position to be back in Las Vegas in December.
All these contestants will advance to the semifinals now and have the opportunity to add to their earnings. The third performance of “the Daddy of ‘em All,” starts at 12:45 on Sunday where a fresh set of contestants will be working hard to add their names to the semifinals qualifiers in every event.
The following are unofficial results from the second performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 18. Prize money subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 87 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Big Chill, $2,300. 2, Clay Jorgenson, Watford City, N.D., 86.5, $1,800. 3, (tie) Lane McGehee, Victoria, Texas, and Ben Kramer, Max, N.D., $1,025 each. 5, Darien Johnson, Tremonton, Utah, 85.5, $420. 6, Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, La., 85.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Sam Lewis, Amarillo, Texas, 10.7 seconds, $2,000. 2, Jett Barrett, Lipan, Texas, 11.2, $1,500. 3, Brayden Roe, Wendell, Idaho, 11.7, $1,000. 4, Roy Lee, Mount Vernon, Ark., 12.9, $500. 5, Britt Bedke, Oakley, Idaho, 13.0, $250.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Nicole Hadley, Goodland, Kan., 4.6 seconds, $2,591. 2, Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D., 5.5, $1,943. 3, (tie) Cadee Williams, Big Timber, Mont., and Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo., 6.1. $972 each. 5, Kirby Rawlinson, Waller, Texas, 8.5. 6, Nicole Baggarley, Las Cruces, N.M., 14.7.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 89.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Charlie’s Angel, $2,300. 2, Tanner Butner, Daniel, Wyo., 89, $1,800. 3, Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D., 87.5, $1,300. 4, Kole Ashbacher, Arrowwood, Alberta, Canada, 87, $750. 5, (tie) Eastan West, Underwood, S.D.; Kaden Horrocks, LaPoint, Utah; and Ira Dickinson, Rock Springs, Wyo., 84, $140 each.
Team Roping: 1, Lightning Aguilera, Athens, Texas, and Kaden Profili, Jacksonville, Texas, 8.3 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 8.4, $1,500 each. 3, JC Archuleta, and Brandon Baca, Las Vegas, N.M., 8.6, $1000 each. 4, Kolby Krieger, Fredericktown, Mo., and Sid Sporer, Cody, Wyo., 8.8, $500 each. 5, Cameron Irwin, Buffalo, Wyo., and Coley Nicholls, Kinnear, Wyo., 9.5, $250 each.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Jake Shelton, Krum, Texas, 7.2 seconds, $2,000. 2, Quentin Wheeler, Baker, Mont., 7.9, $1,500. 3, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 9.4, $1,000. 4, Brian Snell, Wheatland, Wyo., 10.6, $500. 5, Cole Walker, Springtown, Texas, 10.7, $250.
Barrel Racing: 1, Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 17.55 seconds, $2,462. 2, Morgan Addison, Wolfforth, Texas, 17.82, $1,981. 3, Kailey Mitton, Mt. Sterling, Utah, $1,321. 4, Tristan Parrish, Yakima, Wash., 17.95, $660. 5, Ronda Casey, Plymouth, Ind., 18.10. 6, Kaycee Killingsworth, Thrall, Texas, 18.11.
Bull Riding: (one ride) 1, Lane Vaughan, Klamath Falls, Ore., 83 points on Smith Pro Rodeos’ Lighthouse Keeper, $6,100.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Lanny Brooks, Faith, S.D., 83 points. 2, Kaden Wood, Whitewood, S.D., 81. 3, Cade Costello, Newell, S.D., 77. 4, (tie) Pace Garrett, Gillette, Wyo., and Holden Eisemann, Glenham, S.D., 75. (second round) 1, Brooks, 83. 2, Wood, 81. 3, Costello, 77. 4, (tie) Eisemann and Garrett, 75. (overall leaders) 1, Brooks, 168 points. 2, Wood, 162. 3, Costello, 154. 4, (tie) Eisemann and Garrett, 150.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Team Masi, $589. 2, Gibson Boyz, $442. 3, Turquoise Rose, $294. 4, Beer Money!, $147.
Ladies Saddle Bronc Riding World Championship: Ameilia Baker, Australia, 71 points. 2, Blayne Bedard, Canada, 70. 2, 3, (tie) Ilona Bercx, Belgium, and Ruby Fehlauer, Canada,69. 5, Jade Pelowshki, U.S.A., 65.
Joey Williams, who earned the Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) breakaway roping championship two years ago, advanced to next week’s semifinals at the 130th CFD. The Volberg, Montana, cowgirl won the first performance with a time of 4.9 seconds and continues her quest to take home another coveted CFD trophy buckle. CFD photo by Hailey Rae.
Heeler Trey Yates continued his efforts to win a second Cheyenne Frontier Days title by winning the first performance with his team roping partner Riley Kittle of Woodland, Alabama. Their time of 8.3 seconds earned them $2,000 each and a spot in next week’s semifinals at Frontier Park. CFD photo by Laura Storey.
Rookie Hunter Greenup of Lexington, Oregon, scored 88 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s horse named Indecent Exposure to tie for first place in bareback riding at the first performance of the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Greenup was using a rigging he borrowed from former world champion Jess Pope after his was damaged at a rodeo earlier this week. CFD photo by Laura Storey.
Kash Loyd, the 2024 National High School Bareback Riding Champion from Cleburne, Texas, rode a horse named High Hills from Stace Smith Rodeo for 88 points to tie for first place in bareback riding at the first performance of the 130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Loyd, who won the Texas High School Rodeo Shootout in January at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, advanced to the semifinals at Frontier Park next week. CFD photo by Laura Storey.
130th Cheyenne Frontier Days Action Underway
CHEYENNE, Wyo., (July 17, 2026) — Two former Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) champions earned wins at the first performance of the 130th Daddy of ‘em All and have a chance to win titles here again as they advanced to next week’s semifinals.
Joey Williams of Volberg, Montana, was the next-to-last competitor in the breakaway roping. She just needed a qualified time to advance to the semifinals, but the 2023 CFD champion breakaway roper did not settle for simply advancing. Instead, she stopped the clock in 4.9 seconds to win first and nearly $2,600.
Williams, who has qualified four times for National Finals Breakaway Roping, stays busy helping run the family ranch and being mom to three children.
Trey Yates of Pueblo, Colorado, who won the CFD team roping title in 2019 with header Dustin Bird, took first place in that event Friday with header Riley Kittle of Woodland, Alabama. Their time of 8.3 seconds earned them $2,000 each and a trip to the semifinals.
Yates is part of a strong family legacy at Frontier Park. His father J.D. Yates won CFD all-around and steer roping championships and his grandfather Dick Yates and aunt Kelly Yates were also successful here.
The reigning CFD all-around champion Jake Clay of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, also advanced to the semifinals in team roping with his partner Whip Peterson of San Simon, Arizona.
A couple of young bareback riders tied for top honors with 88-point rides in a performance when a score of 85 points was not enough to be among the top 6. Kash Loyd, the 2024 National High School Champion bareback rider, scored 88 on a horse called High Hills from Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s, matching the score that Lexington, Oregon’s Hunter Greenup tallied on another Smith horse named indecent exposure. Greenup, who is currently ninth in the rookie standings, was using a rigging he borrowed from former world champion Jess Pope after his gear was damaged earlier this week.
The day’s most inspiring win was when barrel racer Anita Ellis of Blackfoot, Idaho,
smoked the field by nearly four-tenths of a second. Ellis is back in the saddle after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a horseback accident in November, keeping her from competing at her first National Finals Rodeo. Ellis, riding her six-year-old grey gelding named SGL Rico, stopped the clock in 17.87 seconds, earned more than $2,600 and advanced to the semifinals.
The day began with the grand opening of the Morning Star American Indian Village at Frontier Park, a brand new 3.8-acre venue for Native American cultural activities.
The second performance begins Saturday at 12:45 when new contestants in every event but bull riding will be vying for their spots in the Semi Finals. Bull riders compete in two consecutive performances here to try to advance to the semifinals.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 17, 2026)- The following are unofficial results from the performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Friday, July 17. Prize money subject to change.
Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) Kash Loyd, Cleburne, Texas, on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s High Hills, and Hunter Greenup, Lexington, Ore., on Smith’s Indecent Exposure, 88 points, $2,050 each. 3, Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 87, $1,300. 4, (tie) Trevar McAllister, Ronan, Mont., and Daxtyn Field, Roosevelt, Utah, 86 points, $585 each. 6, Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 85.5.
Tie Down Roping: 1, Dylan Hancock, San Angelo, Texas, 10.4 seconds, $2,000. 2, Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 11.3, $1,500. 3, Trey Stembridge, Kamas, Utah, 11.7, $1,000. 4, Macon Murphy, Keatchie, La., 11.9, $500. 5, Trenton Smith, Iowa, La., 12.3, $250.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Joey Williams, Volberg, Mont., 4.9 seconds, $2,591. 2, Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 5.7, $1,943. 3, (tie) Lari Dee Guy, Abilene, Texas, and Jackie Crawford, Stephenville, Texas, 6.9. $972 each. 5, Millie Greenwood, Caldwell, Idaho, 15.9. 6, Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, Calgary, Alberta, 18.3.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Buck Owens, $2,300. 2, Christopher Nelson, Lake Andes, S.D., 83, $1,800. 3, Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas, 82.5, $1,300. 4, Will Pollock, Utopia, Texas, 80.5, $750. 5, (tie) Wyatt Lavergne, Sulphur, La., Ross Griffin, Tularosa, N.M., and Gus Gaillard, Mors140 each 80, $140 each.
Team Roping: 1, Riley Kittle, Woodland, Ala., and Trey Yates, Pueblo, Color, 8.3 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla., and Whip Peterson, San Simon, Ariz., 8.8, $1,500 each. 3, Austin Crist, Wiley, Colo., and Dave Tripp, Penrose, Colo., 9.0, $1000 each. 4, (tie) Bodie Mattson, Sturgis, S.D., and Arye Espenscheid, Big Piney, Wyo.; and Rawley Ben, Jr., Peridot, Ariz., and Blake Walker II, Forest City, N.C., $375.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Ryan Shuckburgh, Innisfail, Alberta, Canada, 7.6 seconds, $2,000. 2, Ty Bauerle, Jourdanton, Texas, 7.7, $1,500. 3, Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho, 8.1, $1,000. 4, (tie) Dalton Walker, Bertram, Texas, and Cash Robb, Altamont, Utah, 8.9, $375.
Barrel Racing: 1, Anita Ellis, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.87 seconds, $2,462. 2, Kim Squires, Carnegie, Okla., 18.20, $1,981. 3, Taryn Boxleitner, Loveland, Colo., 18.28, $1,321. 4, Laura Lambert, Wiggins, Colo., 18.40, $660. 5, Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., 18.61. 6, Kylie Kanngieser, Attica, Kan., 18.77.
Bull Riding: (four rides)1, Lane Vaughan, Klamath Falls, Ore., 82 points on Harper & Morgan Rodeo’s Wicked, $2,188. 2, Dakota Hill, Bagwell, Texas, $1,737. 3, Jace Hensley, Marshall, Mo., 79.5, $888. 4, Riggen Hughes, Kempner, Texas, 79, $437.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Lanny Brooks, Faith, S.D., 83 points. 2, Kaden Wood, Whitewood, S.D., 81. 3, Cade Costello, Newell, S.D., 77. 4, (tie) Pace Garrett, Gillette, Wyo., and Holden Eisemann, Glenham, S.D., 75.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Team Masi, $638. 2, Baty Bunch, $491. 3, Beer Money!, $344.
