As a boy, John Contos would sit on his grandfather’s shoeshine stand, located across from the historic Mayflower Cafe, to watch the Cheyenne Frontier Days parades as they passed by, before attending the events with his family. Little did he know he’d one day be in charge of the state’s premier event.

Not everyone is cut out for the realities of ranching. After all, the hours are long, the weather can be problematic and the management of cattle is challenging at best.