Cattle driven to Frontier Park, Cheyenne Frontier Days underway

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mike Tryon
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  It is 5 a.m. and there is a faint fog being lifted from the earth as the sun begins to peek over the crest of distant hills. The smell of burning wood and percolating coffee begins to permeate the air. The visage of a weathered man can be seen stoking the fire.

Now, nearly 6:30 a.m., people start gathering around the fire, as clouds have hidden the sun, trying to wake up and stay warm. Along with the sounds of conversations and laughter, whinnying can be heard in the background.

Cowboys and committee members begin to confer with each other as the time is drawing near for nearly 500 head of cattle are to be driven five miles into Frontier Park, Cheyenne, Wyo., and thus will signify the start of the 2013 Cheyenne Frontier Days.

As onlookers and attendees finish their breakfasts, several cowboys ride off over the hill to corral the steers and prepare them for their journey south alongside the Interstate-25 frontage road. It is approaching 7:30 a.m. as camp is broken; CFD committee members and figureheads take their seats in wagons or are saddled on their mounts. Other attendees are moved to a safe location behind the fence.

Viewers can start to see bulls top the hill one by one and make their way into the foreground. Suddenly there is a blur of horns as the valley has been filled with cattle. Whistles and yelps can be heard from cowboys as they direct the herd onto Cheyenne's streets.

After about an hour, onlookers situated along the grass across from Frontier Park are being asked to move back for their safety. There is a low rumble on the ground as cattle make the final turn into CFD grounds. Miss Frontier, her Lady-in-Waiting, and a couple CFD committee members lead the charge, while Mayor Rick Kaysen and other figureheads are driven in on their wagons.

All is now quiet and patrons begin to dissipate. The cattle drive has concluded; Cheyenne Frontier Days has begun.