The 2021 CNFR

June 3, 2021 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ 1 Comment

I was devastated for all the college rodeo athletes last year, when the 2020 CNFR was cancelled due to Covid. But this year, the show is a go, and Casper, Wyoming will play host. The show runs June 12 – June 19th.

As a former college rodeo athlete myself, who unfortunately, despite all my hard work, never made it to the CNFR, I have an affinity for rodeo and for those who do make this amazing show on dirt.

Not only is there an amazing rodeo to see, Casper is home to so many activities, you could keep yourself busy for weeks!

Below, I’m sharing a few of the things I’d do if I were going to be in Casper this year. I hope you can make it to cheer on your favorite rodeo athlete or to simply enjoy the atmosphere. Fun fact: Rodeo is THE most watched sport in the United States.

I’m a fan of all the craft beers (three cheers for beers!), and if you too are a fan of the craft beer – here’s my recommendation The Mountain Hops Brewhouse, of course:

Gimme all the Craft Beer from Mountain Hops Brewhouse

Or are spirits more your thing? If you’d prefer a boutique distillery, Casper has you covered with Backwards Distilling! Both of these would be excellent choices to grab a quick drink after the rodeo lets out!

If you’re the outdoorsy type, and Lord knows I am: I’d have to go see Fremont Canyon and Hike around!

The photographer in me would have to go see Casper Mountain and Hells Half Acre. I’m sure the views are spectacular.

And let’s not forget The Rodeo. Give me all the rodeo action. In fact, I’ve been so busy getting my barrel horses ready for rodeo season, I haven’t had time to even watch any rodeos!

When we’re hungry we’ll all go to the Silver Fox Steakhouse, because, well, Beef.

Now, who is ready to come with me to go Visit Casper?

About ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Jenn Zeller is the creative mind and boss lady behind The South Dakota Cowgirl. She is an aspiring horsewoman, photographer, brilliant social media strategist and lover of all things western.

After a brief career in the investment world to support her horse habit (and satisfy her mother, who told her she had to have a “real” job after graduating college), she finally took the leap and stepped away from a regular income; trading the business suit once and for all for cowgirl boots, a hat, and jeans. She has not looked back.

When Jenn first moved to The DX Ranch on the South Dakota plains, she never imagined she’d find herself behind a camera lens capturing an authentic perspective of ranching, and sharing it with others. Jenn has always been called to artistry, and uses music, writing, images, home improvement, and her first true love of horses to express her ranching passion.

Horses are the constant thread and much of her work centers around using her unique style of writing to share her horsemanship journey with others in publications such as CavvySavvy, the AQHA Ranching Blog, the West River Eagle, the family ranch website, and her own website.

Using photography to illustrate her stories has created other opportunities -- Jenn’s brand “The South Dakota Cowgirl” has grown to the level of social media “Influencer”. This notoriety has led to work with Duluth Trading Company, Budweiser, Wyoming Tourism, Vice, Circle Z Ranch and Art of the Cowgirl, to name a few. She also serves as a brand ambassador for Woodchuck USA, Arenus Equine Health, Triple Crown Feed and Just Strong fitness apparel. Her photography has been featured by Instagram, Apple, TIME Magazine, The Huffington Post, and Oprah Magazine. Jenn’s work has been published internationally, has been seen in several books and has graced the covers of several magazines.

Jenn became a social media influencer by accident when she started to explore Instagram as a way to share her life on the ranch with folks that don’t get to experience it. It’s grown into an incredible platform that she uses to empower women, create an environment for self improvement and share life on the ranch.

When she’s not working, she loves to drink coffee, play with her naughty border collie named Copper, start ranch colts, and run about the country chasing cans. Her mother still thinks she doesn’t have a “real” job.