Cheyenne Frontier Days Dandies...young ladies keeping tradition alive

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Up next are a group of young women that represent the best Cheyenne Frontier Day and Wyoming has to offer.

The Cheyenne Frontier Days Dandies are a legacy in the making.

They have been the goodwill ambassadors for Cheyenne Frontier Days for 53 years.

These young ladies help promote the sport of rodeo and Western culture.

”We see it as a varsity sport and its both them and their horse and they try out riding horses and we really need them to be great young women who have public speaking skills and they are going to learn a lot about responsibility and just really good core values,” said Halley Redman- Director, CFD Dandies.

During the rodeo events, these talented horsewomen carry the sponsor flags; for some, it’s been a dream since they were little girls.

“I saw those girls on horseback, and as soon as I saw them, I knew I wanted to be one of them, and at the time, I didn’t have a horse here, so we didn’t know if that would ever happen. But when the opportunity presented itself, it was a no-brainer,” said Loriana Walter, 3rd year Dandy.

Girls aged 14 to 19 can become Dandies and serve for four years; this year, there are 12 Dandies.

“Just let everyone know how much fun and how much fun it is to become a Dandy, and we just want to try and let these little girls know so one day maybe they can be a future dandy. Anna McQueeny, 1st year Dandy.

Their experience range from being new to horsemanship to being generational dandies.

”We actually even have some dandies who their moms were Dandies, so its really cool to sit back and hear stories from those days,” said Redman.

These girls learn work ethic, public speaking, community service and sportsmanship.

“It’s not easy work but it is so much fun and all of us girls love it. I dont think any of us would trade anything in the world for it,” said Walter.

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