“I’ve Prepared for This Moment”: UW's Riata Day Ready for Final CNFR Push

Jeff Bugher
Jun 19
3 min read

Riata Day. Photo by Emily Gerlach, Emily Gerlach Photography

CASPER, Wyo. - For University of Wyoming goat tyer Riata Day, her final two runs at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) will be a culmination of a rodeo career that has spanned her entire life.

After two clean runs in go one and two, Day will once again hit the arena tonight for her go-round three…which will likely put her into the championship round for Saturday evening.

As a graduate and a veteran of the CNFR, she's savoring every moment and having fun.

“These next two runs will be my last ever goat runs in my career,” Day said. “So I think just making those runs has been really fun.”

A native of Fleming, Colorado, Day’s no stranger to the rodeo life. “I grew up rodeoing my whole life,” she said. “Both my parents rodeoed, so it was nothing new.” Her early years were filled with junior rodeos, high school competitions, and eventually, collegiate rodeo.

She graduated from Fleming High School in 2019 before competing on the rodeo team at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. After two years, she transferred to the University of Wyoming, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, the latter in finance.

While goat tying is her specialty at the CNFR, she’s a multi-event rodeo athlete. “I’ve always competed in barrel racing, goat tying, and breakaway roping. I also team roped a little, but that was more for fun,” she said.

Day has qualified for the CNFR an astounding four times - 2020 (though canceled due to COVID), 2022, 2024, and now 2025.

Looking back, Day credits her family and coaches for her growth. “As far as my family goes, for sure my parents,” she said. “They really set me up for success in terms of rodeo. Outside of my family, my previous coach, Beau Clark, had a huge impact… he really just took me to another level in terms of the mindset you need to compete and be successful in rodeo.”

As she prepares for the final two go-rounds in her collegiate rodeo career, Day keeping a grounded mindset with a touch of consistency.

“Consistency is key,” she said. “At the college finals, when there’s four go-rounds, you can go out and be really fast one round and then things can go south the next. So I think just being consistent, being smooth, and just focusing on what I know how to do. I’ve prepared for this moment for a long time now.”

That preparation paid off last year when she won the first go-round, which she told us is one of her favorite CNFR memories. But this year, her focus is on performing with consistency and walking away with no regrets.

What's next? With her master’s degree in hand, she’s already lined up job interviews for Monday after the CNFR ends. “They’re both finance-related jobs,” she said. “I’m going to get a job and I guess be an adult now,” Day joked.

While she’s stepping into being an adult, rodeo isn’t leaving her life for good. “I’d like to eventually try and pro rodeo and make the circuit finals when I can,” Day said. “But right now, I’m just focused on my career and getting my life started.”

She plans to move to north central Nebraska with her boyfriend and, from there, build her future.

Her life outside the arena is very predictable: Family, and horses are her life - and she lives it. “I love spending time with my friends and family,” she said. “Honestly, a lot of my time is spent with my horses. I don’t really have many hobbies outside of rodeo.”

Catch Riata Day tonight at the CNFR starting at 7 PM at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming. You can also follow along on ESPN 3.