Don King Days, On the Grass Since 1989

September 3, 2025

News – Sheridan Media

The 37th annual Don King Days was held Sunday and Monday at the Big Horn Equestrian Center. On Monday, September 1, the day started with polo, and the Jan Pamela Polo team took the Don King Day’s Cup. Don King Days buckles were given out to the winning team members.

Gillian Johnston, of the Flying H Ranch in Big Horn, and a well-known polo player, talked about her tenth Don King Days buckle. She gave credit to her team and the horses she rode.

Another feature of Don King Days is Cowboy Polo, which is played in western saddles, with a large mallet, sometimes a broom, and a basketball. It is usually played during half time of the regular polo games.

Cowboy Polo is known for the players traditionally chugging a can of beer before the game, and the fact that there are no rules for the players. One player this year made a goal by catching and carrying the ball through the goal posts.

Following the polo were the actual rodeo events, steer roping and bronc riding on the grass. WYO Rodeo Royalty carried the flags for the grand entry to start the rodeo events.

Miss Sheridan WYO Rodeo Isabella Yellowtail,

Gentry Reed, Sheridan Wyo Rodeo Queen attendant for 2026. She said she attended the event in 2021 when she was Sheridan WYO rodeo princess.

Kyla Torrence Sheridan WYO Rodeo Little Miss has been attending Don King Days for several years.

Visiting rodeo royalty was Rowan Wasinger, the 2025-2026 Johnson County Rodeo Queen.

She added that with school and everything she was the only Johnson County Rodeo Royalty that was able to attend.

The WYO Rodeo Queen and her attendants were also selling raffle tickets for an original painting by Shandra Richards, and all proceeds will go to Dawson Richards, who was badly injured in an accident in the Indian Relay Races. Funds raised will help to pay for his medical bills.

Several steer ropers competed in the Wyoming Steer Roping finals.

There were three bronc riders competing, Devon Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada: Garrett Uptain, Craig, CO and Jake Schlattman, Otto, WY.

For many years at Don King Days, they snubbed the broncs to other horses while the rider mounted, but that became too dangerous, so for safety they now use a bucking chute, but keeping with the western tradition, it is still on the grass with no fences.