COWBOY UP CAN’T-MISS WYOMING RODEOS Celebrate life on the open range at these summertime events that bring out some of the West’s best athletes. May JACKSON HOLE RODEO The Teton Range and Gros Ventre Wilderness make for a dramatic backdrop to this annual celebration of all things cowboy, held at the Jackson Hole Rodeo Grounds in Jackson. It’s among the earliest and longest-running events of the state’s rodeo season, held most Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from May through September. Bull riding, bronc riding, barrel racing and roping are all part of the Jackson Hole Rodeo experience. WY INDEED Download the Ultimate Guide to Rodeos at Travel Wyoming.com/rodeobook . June FRIDAY NIGHT RODEOS IN DUBOIS Those seeking a peek at northern Wyoming at its wildest should check out the upper Wind River Valley town of Dubois, home to dude ranches, square dances and the summer Friday Night Rodeo series. Bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding and steer wrestling are just a few of the highlights. Rodeos run throughout the month of August. CODY NITE RODEO FROM TOP: RODEO, JEFF VANUGA; DUBOIS RODEO, JEFF VANUGA. The longest-running nightly rodeo in the country is the family-oriented Cody Nite Rodeo series, held from June through August in the town known as the “Rodeo Capital of the World.” Get a photo taken on Hollywood the Bull and meet the clowns and bullfighters that take center stage at this nightly event. July LANDER’S PIONEER DAYS RODEO Bronc riding is a big deal in Lander, and there’s no better evidence of that than at Pioneer Days. This annual Fourth of July extravaganza has a little bit of everything: bull riding for adults and children (ages eight to 14), saddle bronc and bareback riding, and timed events including barrel racing, calf roping and steer wrestling. SHERIDAN WYO RODEO Founded in 1931, the four-day Sheridan WYO Rodeo is part of the Million Dollar Silver Tour, with a trove of awards to back it up. The event kicks off with a family-friendly boot-kicking competition and stick-horse races for little cowboys and cowgirls, and continues with an array of festivities including a Native American powwow, parade, street dances and pancake breakfast. And of course, there are the competitions. The World Championship Indian Relay Races feature riders changing horses mid-race — one of the most heart-pounding portions of the Sheridan WYO Rodeo — plus bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, steer roping and much more. TravelWyoming.com 93
Wyoming Official Travel Guide 2018 Wyoming OTJ: Page 93
