Cheyenne Frontier Days Perf 1-3
Cheyenne Frontier Days kicked of June 17th at the Frontier Park Arena in Cheyenne, Wyoming but it was not without some controversy. Rodeo fans are still expressing their disappointment this year that the Daddy of 'em All replaced their historic open-to-all slack with qualifier rodeos and changed the format to a tournament style rodeo consisting of six qualifying performances followed by three semifinal rounds and a final round. For years, families and rodeo fans would compete and catch up during the all day slack. Now to be one of the 72 contestants in CFD in the timed events, you must either be in the top of 4 of the 2025 Pro Rodeo Mountain States Circuit standings, Top 3 2026 Mountain States Circuit Standings, Top 3 2025 in the WPRA Tour Standings, top 28 in the 2025 WPRA world standings, top 25 in the 2026 WPRA world standings, a champion from 9 of the selected qualifier rodeos, or 2026 WPRA world standings according to wins.
Tom Hirsig, the CEO of CFD, made a statement on his social media explaining that part of the decision to eliminate slack and switch the format was a combination of stock prices and helping to keep the rodeo alive for another 130 years by updating to a new format. Many were quick to point out on social media that part of Hirsig's salary of $400,000 and the millions spent on upgrading the Chute 9 VIP grandstands and skybox facility could have been used to pay for the increase in stock prices in order to keep slack. Others felt that by making these changes CFD was losing some of what set it apart from the other big summer rodeos.
There were also concerns about the grounds. After Bryanna Haluptzok went down in a scary wreck, the barrel racers had had enough and banded together refusing to run until the ground was improved. The judges backed to barrel racers and the ladies were allowed to run the next morning at 8 am after ground conditions had been improved. Rodeo fans again took to social media expressing their outrage that the ground was not safer for the ladies to compete on during the perf and asking why it took many horses slipping, a bad wreck, and the competitors uniting together refusing to run for it to be fixed.
Perf One:
In the opening perf, there was a tie for first in the bareback riding between Hunter Greenup on Indecent Exposure (Smith Pro Rodeos) and Kash Loyd on High Hills (Smith Pro Rodeos), with both rider scoring 88 points to net them $2,050 each. Ryan Shuckburgh took first in the steer wrestling with his 7.6 seconds for $2,000. Riley Kittle & Trey Yates took first in the team roping with their 8.3 seconds run to net them $2,000 each. Sage Newman took first in the saddle bronc riding with his 87 points on Buck Owens (Smith Pro Rodeos) for $2,300. Dylan Hancock took first in the tie-down roping with his 10.4 seconds run to pocket $2,000. Joey Williams, took first in the breakaway roping with her 4.9 seconds run to bring home $2,591. Anita Ellis took first in the barrel racing with her 17.87 seconds run to earn $2,642. Lane Vaughan took first in the bull riding with his 82 point ride on No. J213 (Harper & Morgan Rodeo Co) for $2,188. Lanny Brooks took first in the rookie saddle bronc riding with 83 points. And Team Masi took first in the wild horse races for $638.
Perf Two
Clayton Biglow took first in the bareback riding in bracket two with his 88 point ride on Big Chill (Smith Pro Rodeos) for $2,300. Jake Shelton took first in the steer wrestling with his 7.2 seconds run to earn $2,000. Lightning Aguilera & Kaden Profili took first in the team roping with their 8.3 seconds run to take home $2,000 each. Chase Brooks took first in the saddle bronc riding with a big 89.5 point ride on Charlies Angel (Smith Pro Rodeos) for $2,300. In the tie-down roping, Sam Lewis took first with his 10.7 seconds run to net him $2,000. Tayla Moeykens took first in the barrel racing with her 17.55 seconds run to pocket $2,642. Lane Vaughan took first in the bull riding with his 83 points on Lighthouse Keeper (Smith Pro Rodeos) for $2,100.
Perf Three
Toby Deudney took first in perf three with his 89.5 point ride on Ruffie’s Rage (Brookman Rodeo) for $2,300. Trell Etbauer took first in the steer wrestling with his 6.4 seconds run to earn $2,000. Clay Tryan & Will Woodfin took first in the team roping with their 7.9 seconds run to bring home $2,000 each. Ryder Wright got it done the Wright way for first in the saddle bronc riding with his 89.5 points on Turbulence (Rafter S Rodeo) for $2,300. Bryce Derrer took first in the tie-down roping with this 10.9 seconds run to pocket $2,000. Taylor Engesser took firs in the breakaway roping with her 4.7 seconds run to net her $2,591. Emily Beisel took first in the barrel racing with her 17.37 seconds run to earn $2,462. There was a tie for first in the bull riding between Colton Byram, Colorado Kid Mackey, and Hayden Welsh all scoring 89 points to net them $1,650 each. Lanny Brooks took first in the rookies saddle bronc riding for his 168 points on two head. Beer Money! took first in the wild horse racing to take home $589. Blayne Bedard took first in the Ladies Saddle Bronc Riding World Championship for 145 points on two head.