When asked what makes Cheyenne Frontier Days™ different from other rodeos, Brad Churchill, a long-time pick-up man at Frontier Days, responded, “It’s the Western Celebration. The values, reputation and tradition that goes with Frontier Days. People come from all over the world to see it and people come from all over the U.S. to volunteer here. It’s the people, from volunteers to the top that has made it what it is today.” Churchill grew up on a ranch in the Sandhills of Nebraska, near Valentine and started rodeoing in Little Britches, 4-H and started competing in high school and college rodeo until graduating from West Texas State University. Brad moved up the ranks in amateur rodeo riding saddle broncs and steer wresting. Wanting to break into professional rodeo, Brad began working for Harry Vold in the Spring of 1980, thus beginning his career with Cheyenne Frontier Days™. For the next 30 years, Brad could be seen everyday in the arena at Frontier Days as a pick-up man. Brad’s ability enabled him to work every CFD Wrangler bullfight and each CFD PBR Bullriding event from 2000-2009. He partnered along with his wife Shirley and Harry Vold on the CFD calf contract from 1985-1999. Churchill was selected a National Finals rodeo pickup man in 1984 at Oklahoma City and again in 1988 at Las Vegas. “What makes Frontier Days unique is anyone can come in and win the whole thing, it’s the even playing field here, you have just as much of a shot at winning as the next guy,” says Churchill. He credits the fresh stock and size of the arena as one of the factors leveling the playing field. “A single performance at Cheyenne is like three at other rodeos, it’s the amount of stock that is bucked at every performance in Cheyenne that makes it ‘The Daddy’.” Brad and his wife Shirley have over 65 years combined experience at Cheyenne Frontier Days™. He and his wife split their time between the ranch they own in Fowler, Colorado and the Holmes ranch North of Cheyenne.