Cody Stampede Rodeo Board Excited for a Busy Summer
Written by Andrew-Rossi on April 17, 2023
Several members of the 15-person Cody Stampede Rodeo Board attend the Cody Club lunch on Monday, April 17. They discussed the upcoming summer for the 104th Cody Stampede Rodeo and 85th Cody Nite Rodeo during their presentation.
Vice President Justin Lundvall spoke for the board, reminding the assembled audience that the first night of Cody’s summer season is only seven weeks away. And – once again – it will be a busy and exciting summer in the Rodeo Capital of the World.
The last season was significant for the Cody Stampede Rodeo. The board received the Rodeo Committee of the Year from the Xtreme Bulls, and over 16,000 people attended the five-day event.
Once again, the 104th Cody Stampede Rodeo begins with Xtreme Bulls on Friday, June 30. The board also plan to bring back the Xtreme Bulls After Party, which proved to be a popular event in Summer 2023.
An “all-star cast” is already planning to participate. Many have been recognized several times over by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
All-star participants include Cody native Matt Tarr, who will be this year’s barrelman. This will be his first time doing the Cody Stampede since being recognized as a six-time top-five barrelmen by the Wranglers National Finals Rodeo.
Also making an appearance are bullfighters Nate Jestes, Cody Webster (who is the reigning P.R.C.A. Bullfighter of the Year), and Dusty Tuckness (a 10-time PRCA Bullfighter of the Year.) Boyd Polhaus is returning as the Cody Stampede announcer.
The Cody Stampede Rodeo will be underway from Saturday, July 1, to Tuesday, July 4. Frontier Rodeo Co. – eight-time P.R.C.A. Stock Contractor of the Year – returns as the contractor for the event.
Lundvall revealed the themes for each night of the Cody Stampede Rodeo:
- July 1 – Law Enforcement and First Responder Appreciation Night
- July 2 – “Tough Enough To Wear Pink” for breast cancer awareness
- July 3 – Military Appreciation Night
- July 4 – Veterans Appreciation Night
Tickets are available and already selling fast. Lundvall said there are less than 1,000 tickets for the Fourth of July. For reference, the Cody Stampede Grounds can seat over 6,000 people.
Overall, 16,400 people attended the Cody Stampede in 2022. Attendance like this makes the Cody Stampede Rodeo, according to Lundvall, “one of the largest Fourth of July rodeos in the nation.”
Meanwhile, the 81st Cody Nite Rodeo starts – as always – on June 1. The season is expected to last until September 2. The Mo Betta Rodeo Company returns as the contractor for the 23rd consecutive year – an “unprecedented” streak for a rodeo contractor.
The board also plans to continue its rodeo schools in conjunction with P.R.C.A.
Tickets for the Cody Nite Rodeo will be $25 for adults and $13.50 for children this summer.
Residents are also encouraged to attend the Kick Off to Summer on Saturday, June 3, with legendary Wyoming country artist Ned Ledeux as the headliner. Tickets are $20 for both the show and the rodeo that night.
Tickets for the Cody Stampede Rodeo, Xtreme Bulls, Cody Nite Rodeo, and Kick Off to Summer are available on the Cody Stampede website.
