For barrel racers, breakaway ropers, the road to Cheyenne passes through North Platte
Press Release
North Platte, Neb. –June 1, 2026 – One way to get to Cheyenne, Wyoming is through North Platte, Nebraska.
Not literally, but the winning barrel racer and breakaway roper in North Platte at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo will win a spot at Cheyenne Frontier Days.
The Buffalo Bill Rodeo is one of 12 rodeos across the nation in which some of its winners earn an automatic berth to compete in Cheyenne this July. In North Platte, it’s the winning barrel racer and breakaway roper.
The “Daddy of ‘em all,” as Cheyenne Frontier Days is nicknamed, has changed its format this year. In past years, the timed event contestants had to compete in slack to qualify for the performances.
Cheyenne will also change its format by limiting entries to the winners of the qualifying rodeos, and those at the top of the world standings and the circuits.
For Cedar Jandreau, last year’s Buffalo Bill Rodeo breakaway champion, she says the North Platte rodeo being a qualifier is a big deal.
Cheyenne “is one of the coolest old rodeos,” she said. “They write songs about Cheyenne. How many rodeos do they write songs about?”
Being able to get a spot in Cheyenne is a positive for cowboys and cowgirls, she said. “It gives them an opportunity to compete there. It means a lot to those contestants.”
The Kennebec, South Dakota cowgirl has competed in North Platte five of the last six years and will rope there again this year.
For Levi Fisher, chairman of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo, it’s a great opportunity, “especially with our proximity to Cheyenne. I think it will increase entries, and it’s a partnership that can be mutually beneficial to both rodeos.”
Other qualifying rodeos are Angelina Benefit Rodeo, Lufkin, Texas; Lakeside (Calif.) Rodeo; American Royal, Kansas City, Mo.; Franklin (Tenn.) Rodeo; Rodeo Killeen (Texas); McKenzie County Ag Expo, Watford City, N.D.; Colorado Stampede, Grand Junction, Colo.; Navajo PRCA Rodeo, Window Rock, Ariz.; Elizabeth (Colo.) Rodeo Stampede; Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, Union, Ore.; and Coleman, Texas Rodeo.
This year’s Buffalo Bill Rodeo is June 17-20 with nightly shows at 7:30 pm. The rodeo is held at the Wild West Arena in North Platte.
Tickets range in price from $11-$26 and can be purchased online at NebraskalandDays.com, at the NebraskalandDays office, and at the gate.
For more information and a complete schedule of NebraskalandDays events, visit the website or call the office at 308.532.7939.