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Celebrate our enduring traditions and cowboy spirit at these summertime events that bring out some of Wyoming’s finest athletes. Exhilarating bareback-bronc-riding, barrel-racing, bull-riding, calfroping, goat-tying and steer-wrestling competitions are some highlights to look forward to. MAY Jackson Hole Rodeo The Teton Range and Gros Ventre Wilderness make for a dramatic backdrop to this annual bash that’s among the earliest and longest running of the state’s rodeo season (most Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from May through September). JUNE Cody Nite Rodeo The longest-running nightly rodeo in the country is the family-oriented Cody Nite Rodeo series, held from June through August in the enclave known as the “Rodeo Capital of the World.” Friday Night Rodeos in dubois The upper Wind River Valley town of Dubois is home to dude ranches, square dances and the summer Friday Night Rodeo series. Rodeos run from mid-June through mid-August. College National Finals Rodeo More than 400 cowboys and cowgirls from more than 100 universities and colleges in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association battle in Casper each year to be crowned champions in saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding and more. Evanston Rodeo Series See champion cowboys and cowgirls show off their best skills at this actionpacked rodeo series in June and July. A wide range of events to watch include barrel racing, team roping and junior steer riding. JULY Cheyenne Frontier days Established in 1897, Cheyenne Frontier Days has evolved into the largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration in the world! The “Daddy of ’Em All” delivers 10 days of wild Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association competitions, big-name concerts, tasty treats and more. Cody Stampede Rodeo Spend your Fourth of July weekend watching top contestants compete for big purses over four days in Cody. Parades, a craft fair and food booths offering delicious fare are all part of the celebration that’s been serving Wild West fun since 1919. Laramie Jubilee days Beginning in 1940 as a horse race celebrating Wyoming’s statehood, this hometown Laramie event honors the Western lifestyle year after year. Enjoy a PRCA rodeo along with a kids’ horse show, bull riding and barrel racing. Lander’s Pioneer days Rodeo Don’t miss bull riding for adults and children (ages 8 to 14) and the big fireworks show at this Fourth of July extravaganza that’s excited crowds since 1894. Red desert Roundup Rodeo Held the last full weekend of July, this fun-for-all rodeo delights with nightly calf scrambles and mutton bustin’ for kids, a golf tournament, 5K run and parade through historical downtown Rock Springs. Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo Have a mutton-bustin’ good time when the Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo comes to Casper with carnival rides, a demolition derby and a “The Voice”-inspired concert where singers strive to be “The Voice of Casper.” Sheridan WYO Rodeo Founded in 1931, the rodeo kicks off with a family-friendly boot-kicking contest and stick-horse races for little cowpokes and continues with festivities throughout the week, including street dances, a parade and a Native American powwow. AUGUST Wyoming State Fair & Rodeo Three nights of high-energy rodeos, arm-wrestling and pig-and-mud-wrestling competitions — plus a carnival with a Ferris wheel, carousel and other classic rides — are just a handful of reasons why this event draws patrons to Douglas every August. WY AM I HERE? “People in our line of work love what they do and love sharing it with people who come with an open heart and mind looking for an experience that is more than just a lot of activities crammed into a vacation. Less is more when it comes to a horseback adventure vacation or retreat. Let yourself disconnect from the day-to-day so you can reconnect with what is important.” — Bobbi Wade Co-Owner, Blue Sky Sage Horseback Riding Retreats in Pinedale WY NOT? Discover a different sporting tradition. Polo matches have been played at the base of the Bighorn Mountains since the 1890s. Two area clubs (Big Horn Polo Club and Flying H Polo Club) make it easy for spectators to pack a picnic, lay down a blanket and enjoy this fascinating horseback game on weekends throughout the summer. Matches are free and open to the public. MEET WYOMING ROdEO ATHLETES. Here are just a few of the skilled rodeo contenders hailing from the Cowboy State who compete at rodeos throughout Wyoming and North America. Dusty Tuckness, Bullfighter Known for his speed, skill and grace, the Meeteetse native brings nearly 20 years of experience to the sport and is setting the standard for the next generation of bullfighters. Brody Cress, Saddle Bronc Rider Hailing from Cheyenne, Brody has competed in rodeos all over North America but loves competing at Cheyenne Frontier days the most. Nate Jestes, Bullfighter Nate is a lifelong athlete from Douglas who learned the art of bullfighting in college and is admired for his traditional and freestyle skills. DISCOVER WYOMING CULTURE. COMPELLING WYOMING HISTORICAL & CuLTuRAL SITES The spirit of Wyoming’s diverse past and present will remind you of just what makes the West endlessly fascinating at these cultural destinations. Find more at TravelWyoming.com/history-museums. Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site Thermopolis Examine more than 92 prehistoric petroglyph panels at this sacred Native American site. Wind River Indian Reservation near Lander Discover year-round cultural events, historic Fort Washakie military buildings and powwows. Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site Guernsey View thousands of wagon-wheel ruts and dive into the history of the Oregon, Mormon and California trails. Chinese Joss House Museum Evanston Explore Chinese influence and culture in Wyoming through artifacts, photos and a scale model of Evanston’s Chinatown. Wyoming State Museum Cheyenne Delve into Native American and coal-mining history and the people, places and events that have shaped the Cowboy State. Heart Mountain Interpretive Center Powell Learn about some of the nation’s more challenging history at this former Japanese-American Confinement Site from World War II. PRESERVING A LANGUAGE: Q&AWITH LYNETTE ST. CLAIR Lynette St. Clair, Shoshone linguist, cultural preservationist & education consultant on the Wind River Reservation, talks about her life growing up on the Reservation and her efforts to preserve the Shoshone language. HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES AS AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN SHAPED YOU? I feel blessed to have been raised in the family to which I belong. We are taught that we must be thankful for all that we have and give thanks for those blessings. We are also taught to respect who we are and where we come from. My involvement in the education field is because of these experiences. When I was younger, the majority of the people within the schools I attended were not the same as me. There were few tribal teachers, and those who were Shoshone or Arapaho or members of other tribes were support staff. I respect that, but I also think there’s always room for growth. I started out in the school system as the school secretary and eventually became a teacher and then an administrator. I want to show our students that through hard work, dedication, and the right support, they can reach their goals. WHY IS PRESERVING THE SHOSHONE LANGUAGE IMPORTANT? Our language is who we are. Without it, we will be lost. This was told to me by my uncle Starr Weed Sr. The language is attached to everything indigenous: our spirituality, our ways of living, our very existence. It’s in everything we do. We can’t have a ceremony if we don’t speak the language and we can’t carry on our stories, history, or ways of doing things if we don’t know our language. This is what I see that is missing in our youth, which is why it’s critical that we preserve our language. To center our people. To bring them full circle and to carry it forward for the next seven generations. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW WHEN VISITING THE WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION? I want people to understand that our reservation is one of the most beautiful places on earth! Our community welcomes visitors but also wants you to understand that there are some traditions and customs that we wish to retain that are not for public knowledge. Read the full article at TravelWyoming.com/preserve.
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