Shirley Holmes Churchill’s eyes were set upon the Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Arena as a girl watching the first Dandies perform at the Finals rodeo in 1970. A Cheyenne native from pioneer families who were very active in CFD, her early years found her in parades on the cowbelles’ float, in wagons and riding side-saddle. Shirley’s love of CFD grew when she served as a Dandy from 1975 to 1977. As a result, she formed a life-long friendship with Arlene and Don Kensinger. Named 1978 Lady in Waiting and Miss Frontier 1979, Shirley realized one of her goals and started a chain of associations with many wonderful people. She was the first Miss Frontier to receive the official queen’s saddle, and has ridden this saddle in every CFD performance for thirty years. In 1980, Shirley represented the state as Miss Rodeo Wyoming. She was the first to take the now long-standing and unparalleled “fly-by” introduction of queens down the track at each afternoon rodeo. Shirley has been the only Miss Frontier to compete for and win the title of Miss Rodeo Wyoming and compete at the Miss Rodeo America pageant. In 1981, Don Kensinger hired Shirley to work with Dan Taylor and the timed event sorting crew. With the responsibility of sorting and moving of cattle came the opportunity to run the cattle out of the arena at clack and at each day’s rodeo. Shirley took over as head of the timed event sorting crew in 1983 and she began working of the Harry Vold Rodeo Company. This is also the time she met her husband Brad. Shirley and Brad partnered with Harry on the roping calf contract for CFD for 15 years from 1985 through 1999. Shirley’s association with CFD over the past four decades in various capacities has given her perspective on many angles of this great celebration. It is the spirit of volunteers of the CFD family that Shirley most admires and hopes she exemplifies. Shirley says, “I don’t know if I’m a part of Cheyenne or if Cheyenne is a part of me.”