3H Rodeo Blog - Capturing the Heart of the West

Two weeks ago, I finally got back in the dirt at the Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity at the Archer Complex in Cheyenne—and it felt good to be home behind the lens. There’s just something about the smell of arena dirt, the energy of the crowd, and the sound of broncs being loaded in the chutes that flips a switch for me every time.



The Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity, presented by Pine Bluffs Distilling along with Hell on Wheels Rodeo Company, Visit Cheyenne, and Laramie County Events, had been building momentum for several years, and this year’s event proved exactly why. The stands were full of fans who know good bronc riding when they see it, and the atmosphere carried that mix of anticipation and raw adrenaline that only a bronc futurity can deliver.

On a personal note, this event also marked my first real outing with some new camera gear that “Santa” dropped off during Christmas. I’ll spare you the full tech breakdown, but I finally made the leap into mirrorless after years of swearing allegiance to my DSLR cameras. Learning new equipment in the middle of live bronc riding? Not exactly a stress-free environment—but honestly, that challenge is part of the fun. There’s something energizing about pushing yourself to learn while the action is unfolding in front of you.

As for the bronc riding itself, Frozen Fury on the Plains delivered a fast-paced, high-energy evening of young bronc riding action. With $4,000 added to each side and 100% payback, the stakes were high, and the riding reflected it. Twenty-four bronc riders tested their mettle aboard young bucking horses that were getting some of their first real experience in a competitive environment. You could feel the intensity in every trip out of the chutes—both horse and rider figuring each other out in real time.



For folks who might be newer to the sport, a futurity is built around young bucking stock—usually four- and five-year-olds—that need a chance to buck in a competitive setting. It helps develop the horses and gives stock contractors a chance to see what they’ve really got. The same goes for the cowboys. The futurity brings together non-PRCA contestants, PRCA permit holders, and PRCA rookies, which makes for a hungry, determined group of riders all trying to make a statement early in their careers.

I’ve shared the gallery of images from the event on 3HRodeo.com, along with a full photo feature in the upcoming 3H Rodeo contribution in the Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine blog. This futurity is one of those events that quietly showcases the future of rodeo—both on the horse side and the cowboy side—and it’s always worth taking the time to document and celebrate that process.

If you made it out, I hope you felt that same electricity I did from the first crack of the chute to the last ride of the night. If you missed it, trust me—this is one event you’ll want to put on your calendar next year.

As we prepare for the energy, excitement, and suspense of what is the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), I thought I’d share some storylines heading into this year’s Super Bowl of Rodeo.

It is important to note at the onset, while I capture a lot of rodeo action through the lens, I am not a “carded” PRCA photographer and thus do not have access to “shoot” the National Finals Rodeo. PRCA photographers must go through a comprehensive process to get their card, and even then, they must be selected to shoot the NFR. While I await news on my recent PRCA application, I continue “shooting” amateur, youth, and pro rodeos and bull ridings that I am invited to.
Typically, this time of year is full of anticipation leading up to the NFR while winter rodeos kickoff around the country signaling the beginning of the new rodeo season. However, as of this writing, the rodeo world is solely focused on an outbreak of Equine herpes virus (EV-1) that broke out mid-November which has numerous events canceling or rescheduling in an effort to keep all horses safe. In simplified terms, think Covid for horses (both in terms of potential danger to the horses and people’s reactions to the outbreak). I could write an entire blog on the current situation, but Kendra Santos already penned a fantastic post covering the topic (https://www.facebook.com/kendrasantoscowboys).

Let’s look forward by reflecting just a bit. It’s been on my mind to reflect on five key storylines coming into the 2025 NFR, and how some of what I captured at the Daddy of ‘em All (Cheyenne Frontier Days) ties into what is going to make this year’s NFR one for the books. Every cowboy and cowgirl knows - a win at Cheyenne can change their season and propel them into solid spot in the top 15.

1. The Bubble Battles: Who Fought Their Way into the NFR
Easily one of the most compelling themes of this rodeo season has been the fight to just get in. Ride hurt, sleep less, travel farther, be cowboy — the guys and gals who clawed for every dollar while gutting it out to secure that coveted NFR berth should be congratulated.

While Rocker, Stetson, Wacey, and Riley all punched their tickets to the show with plenty of season left, some of the sports’ biggest names were down to the wire:
• Saddle bronc rider Lefty Holman secured the 15th spot on the season’s final day, edging out Wyat Casper by less than $2,000.
• 16-time qualifier tie down roper Shane Hanchey punched his ticket for the 15th spot by a mere $1,600 by earning a $4,000 payday in Sioux Falls
• Bareback rider R.C. Landingham missed the 15th spot taken by Tilden Hooper by $110 – down to the wire, to the last jump – unbelievable!

Why it matters for Vegas: These are the scrappers with momentum. They’ve earned a spot in the show, and in a pressure cooker like the NFR, that kind of grit can lead to a championship buckle.

2. History-Making Performances at Cheyenne & Their Impact on the Standings

The Daddy of ‘em All is more than the largest outdoor rodeo - it is a battleground where world standings shift in real time.
• On Championship Sunday, bareback rider Kade Berry broke a 51-year-old arena record with a 93.5-point ride on Lunatic Heaven.
• Also, on Championship Sunday, Brody Cress took a historic victory lap – look at the excitement of winning his record 4th CFD saddle bronc championship on The Black Tie and making huge movement to qualifying for his ninth NFR.
• The total payout at CFD was huge — more than $1.12 million! That kind of cash doesn’t just keep you going down the road – it reshapes the race to Vegas!

I’m fortunate to shoot from “the dirt” on the hallowed grounds of Frontier Park, and I work hard to capture moments for the cowboys & cowgirls as well as the grit, the emotions, and the pageantry of pro rodeo. I get the shots of tight grips on the reins, deep breaths in the ready-area, the Dandies at work, and the animal athletes when they’re not performing.



3. Young Guns vs. Experienced Killers

This year’s NFR field is packed with contrasts: First-time qualifiers going toe-to-toe with proven rodeo veterans.
• In bareback, four cowboys are making their NFR debut.
• On the women’s side, Lisa Lockhart secured her 19th NFR qualification, tying the all-time record.
• During 9 CFD rodeo perfs, I photographed a number of these faces: The rookies brimming with optimism, the veterans with their calm intensity, and the anticipation of what the future holds.

Vegas significance: When fresh energy meets hard-earned experience, the result is unpredictable — and electric.

4. Paychecks Are Bigger Than Ever and the Stakes Are Higher

Pro rodeo has come a long way in the last decade, and that’s clear when you look at the money to be won. There is a lot of discussion about the money in rodeo – some suggest that the added money makes it look better than it actually is for many cowboys & cowgirls – but that’s an article for another day.

• Nearly all NFR qualifiers this year crossed six-figure earnings in the regular season.
• The massive payout at The Dad had real consequences for the world standings. CFD has always had this effect, but the purse continues to grow which is the other reason every cowboy must make it to Cheyenne.
• Higher earnings mean tighter margins, more pressure, and bigger swings in who comes out on top in Vegas.

5. Gold Buckle Dreams & Who Can Handle the Heat

Above everything else, the NFR is about one thing: The gold buckle. The season storylines about the newcomers, the veterans, and the money chase all lead to Vegas for the top 15 in each event, and now it’s time to see who can handle the pressure on the biggest stage.

• In bareback, Rocker Steiner has been a dominant force and solely focused on taking that buckle home, but guys like Sam Petersen, the new young gun in the bareback event, are coming into Vegas with plenty of confidence.
• Cowboys like Ty Harris & Brody Cress have been here many times before but have yet to take the world champion buckle home.
• In all my years shooting CFD, I have always worked to capture images of cowboys and cowgirls facing the pressure and winning despite it. The great thing about the Dad – contestants want to win the coveted CFD buckle almost as much as that NFR gold buckle – so the pressure is always on at the Daddy of ‘em All.
Vegas matters because this isn’t just about the payday. It’s about legacy. Who can peak at the right time and be their best for 10 days in December? Who can handle the lights, the pressure, and the expectations?

Closing Thoughts — Through the 3H Lens

As I look ahead to the NFR, just a short 10 days away now, I don’t just see those yellow chutes and the lights of Vegas — I see stories. Every picture I made this year at Cheyenne has its echo in Las Vegas: the rising rookies, the veteran champions, the celebrations & the disappointments, and the pressure-filled ready-area.
Here’s what I’ll be watching in Vegas:

• Those bubble-qualifiers who fought, who grinded, who were cowboy, and who made it.
• Cowboys & cowgirls who made major moves at Cheyenne and carried that momentum all the way to Vegas.
• How the first-time NFR qualifiers handle the bright lights and pressure of the show.
• How the veterans handle the pressure from the young guns. They’ve got experience handling the pressure of the NFR, but how do they handle those coming for them?

You can bet on this – I’m pulling for every one of them! Thanks for riding and reading along.

Hey Folks,
I’m Wayne, the guy behind the lens at 3H Rodeo, the rodeo photography side of 3H Photography, and I’m excited to welcome you to the first in a series of blog posts I’ll be sharing here with Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine – The Blog. In this series, I’ll share the action from everywhere it gets a little western – inside the arena as well as from behind the chutes and the practice pen – all from the wide-open skies of rodeos and eventing across Wyoming and the Mountain States.

At 3H Rodeo, we don’t just photograph rodeos—we live and breathe the western lifestyle and capture its essence in pictures and words. I “shoot” the action at youth, amateur, and professional rodeos, as well as the powerful and elegant sport of eventing. From county fairs and ranch rodeos where neighbors cheer from the fence to the larger venues where the pros match up with the rankest stock, every stop tells a story, and every image captures a moment that says something about our shared heritage. “Doing cowboy stuff” doesn’t just refer to rodeo, so we’ll be talking about brandings, roundups, and all things western living.

In this space, I’ll be sharing my experiences and some pictures to go along with the stories. I’ll bring you highlights from the arenas, behind-the-scenes snapshots, and some of the faces that keep the western tradition alive and strong. Whether it’s a young rider’s first mutton bustin’ experience or a world champion covering his bronc, I aim to freeze those moments in time and honor the spirit of the West.

I’ve been blessed to roam this rugged, beautiful land and capture what I see through the lens, and I want you to feel like you’re in the arena or at the branding right alongside me. Expect rodeo recaps, photo galleries, personal reflections, and features on the people and places that make Wyoming special. And, if you’re in the mood for one of our stunning Wyoming sunsets, please give the 3H Photography blog – Tales From Nature a look and a read.

Thanks for riding along. The journey’s just beginning, so get it on your mind.

See y’all down the road,

Wayne

3H Photography is happy to welcome you to our rodeo & equestrian website - 3H Rodeo & Equestrian. I recently determined that we really need to have a site dedicated to my rodeo & equestrian work so that customers can find their pictures and order photo packages directly from the site. Thus 3H Rodeo & Equestrian was born.

I pride myself in capturing captivating images of the fast action sports known as rodeo and eventing, and I am happy to offer affordable package pricing for my valuable customers. Much more to come in the future, but I'd love it if you'd take a look around, let me know what you think, and drop me a note with any questions you may have.

Again, welcome to 3H Rodeo & Equestrian!