Frontier Days honors victims of bear attack

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Last October, four students from Northwest College went shed hunting near Yellowstone. When two of them, Brady Lowry and Kendell Cummings, were viciously attacked by a grizzly bear. Sustaining injuries that could have been fatal. On Sunday they, along with the two friends who helped save them, were honored at Cheyenne Frontier Days. I spoke with Brady and Kendell via Zoom.

James: “You guys were doing some shed hunting. For those who may not be familiar, what exactly is shed hunting?”

Kendell: “So... every year... Deer, elk, and moose... They will lose their antlers when they grow new ones. We were just looking for those.”

Brady: “Kind of like an Easter egg hunt. With a little more money involved.”

James: “Hahaha. And I’ve heard the money can be pretty decent, right?”

Brady: “Yep, yep. It’s getting better and better every year, so...”

James: “After the attack... Have you guys ever suffered any PTSD, or had any bad dreams, or anything like that?”

Kendell: “For a little while. I had bad dreams. Maybe like a week. But, I’m over that. I think that we, uh... Got back out... And kind of conquered it, I guess.”

Brady: “Yeah and my hair on my neck still stands up sometimes when I’m out in the woods, but we kind of just pushed through it best we could...”

James: “When you guys were at CFD, you were attending the rodeo. And the public address announcer gave about a minute speech, giving the back story. You guys stood up and got a big round of applause. How did that feel?”

Brady: “That was one of the coolest things I’ve experienced!”

Kendell: “It was super cool. It was awesome! Really neat.”

James: “Your shed hunting cohorts... At least from the initial experience... Gus Harrison, Orrin Jackson... were with you guys as well. What was it like to have all four of you back together?”

Brady: “It was cool. That was the best part about coming down! Everything else was just a bonus. We got a lot of bonuses this weekend.”

Kendell: “Yeah!”

It was the first time either of them had attended Frontier Days. They say they were treated to a nice dinner with BBQ and ribs, got to go to the Zach Bryan concert, and of course... go down the Big Slide.

James: “What’s it feel like to be recognized, or kind of be... Be kind of a celebrity now?”

Brady: “It’s... Cool. It’s really cool, actually. We’ve never been around it much. So it’s different. It’s cool.”

James: “If you could hop in a time machine, and undo the bear attack or change it... Would you?”

Kendell: “I would not”

Brady: “I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”

Kendell: “I think it all happened for a reason. Happened the way that it happened and... I think it was supposed to happen that way.”

Brady: “I agree...”

Kendell is becoming a senior this fall at Northwest College, and will continue to compete on the wrestling team. Whereas Brady just graduated a couple months ago, and is working to become a plumber in Idaho.

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