The Irwin Family is quite possibly the first family of rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days™, setting the bar for all other families to follow. The Irwin family was an integral part of not only Cheyenne Frontier Days™, but rodeos in general, promoting rodeo throughout the country and providing stock for shows as far away as the New York Stampede. At the head of the family was Charles “C.B.” Irwin, a man larger than life. C.B. moved to Cheyenne in 1900 and entered Cheyenne Frontier Days™ for the first time in the steer roping competition. He officially moved his family to Cheyenne in 1903 and was soon supplying stock to the event, including the famed “Steamboat.” The entire family were regular contestants at the “Daddy of ‘em All” for nearly thirty years. The Irwin men were listed as competitors in the Potato Races, the ½ mile horse races, and the slow pony races. Winning steer roping championships in 1900 and 1906, saddle bronc champion 1928, barrel races, trick riding and roping, steer roping and calf roping. The women were equally accomplished; each of the women participated in the Denver Post Ladies Relay Races, winning at least 5 titles in all the years they are listed as competitors. The women are also listed as competitors in the Cowgirls Stake Races, the Potato Races, the Cowpony Races, Roman Standing races and as All Around Champion cowgirls. In 1912, C.B. and brother Frank started the Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Wild West Show after buying surplus equipment from the Ringling Brothers Circus. The show was extremely successful and traveled the country promoting Cheyenne Frontier Days™. At its height, the Irwin Brothers Wild West Show had fifty Sioux from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, C.B.’s children, a trainload of cowboys and cowgirls with all their horses and other animals that traveled the country. Clayton Danks was the top hand in the show. The troupe members were hard-riding, colorful publicity agents for Cheyenne Frontier Days™. The Irwin Brothers Wild West Show continued until 1917 after the death of C.B.’s son Floyd. The Irwin family’s participation in Cheyenne Frontier Days™ helped contribute to the early success of the annual event. “C.B. brought to rodeo the charisma, boundless energy, imagination, boldness and genius for organization that was one in a million.” Persimmon Hill, 1975