What Is Cheyenne Frontier Days’ CINCH Rodeo Shootout?

At 12:15 p.m. today, 40 champions will enter the Frontier Days arena to duke it out in 5 different rodeo events: bareback riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.

One team and one individual participant will be crowned overall champions by the end of the day. Yep--prepare yourself for insta-champions. And texting.

So, what's the big deal with the CINCH event? Isn't this event essentially another Frontier Days?

Well, not really.

Essentially, the CINCH Rodeo offers a lot of unique features that you won't find during the more traditional rodeo format:

• It combines literally the best talent and stock to compete for the champion title in a single day, while the traditional CFD rodeo lasts 9 days. One day vs. nine days. You're welcome.
• Eight of the richest rodeos in the world will participate in this single event. Including Reno Rodeo, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Calgary Stampede, National Western Stock Show, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, and Rodeo Austin.
• Prizes will be dished out before the night show. The winning team will win $5,000. The winning individual will win $10,000. We're talking in a single day here, folks.
• Audience. Engagement. Did you hear that? A rodeo is combining social media to get YOU involved. You'll have a chance to text which cowboy will ride which animal.
• Casual and hard-core rodeo fans alike will be engaged for the duration of the event due to the quick pace, and ability to pair your competition with the really hard, ornery animals.
• Ever wanted to toast the winners? The champions will drink from the winners trophy during the Coors Champion Team Toast. Think big silver chalice filled with booze.
• Shorter timeframe. Did we already mention it starts and wraps up in the same day?

Once the day starts a bit after noon, the 40 champions will have an opening round to strut their stuff and get their best times. The top four in each race will then go on to the next round.

After that, it's every man for himself. Whoever gets the best time overall will be the individual winner. And the individuals from each team will be added together to determine the team winner.

But they can't get the rodeo underway unless you show up and help choose who rides what via text. Sounds like social media has officially entered the Daddy of 'Em All.

'Scuse me, I have a bronc rider to text...