{"id":5070,"date":"2026-03-06T04:26:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T04:26:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/?p=5070"},"modified":"2026-03-10T02:18:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T02:18:47","slug":"frozen-fury-on-the-plains-bronc-futurity-through-the-lens-of-3h-rodeo-by-wayne-hassinger-photojournalist-3h-photography-3h-rodeo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/?p=5070","title":{"rendered":"Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity – Through the Lens of 3H Rodeo – by Wayne Hassinger, Photojournalist – 3H Photography\/3H Rodeo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Two weeks ago, I finally got back in the dirt at the Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity<\/em> at the Archer Complex in Cheyenne\u2014and it felt good to be home behind the lens. There\u2019s just something about the smell of arena dirt, the energy of the crowd, and the sound of broncs being loaded in the chutes that flips a switch for me every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity<\/em>, presented by Pine Bluffs Distilling along with Hell on Wheels Rodeo Company, Visit Cheyenne, and Laramie County Events, had been building momentum for several years, and this year\u2019s event proved exactly why. The stands were full of fans who know good bronc riding when they see it, and the atmosphere carried that mix of anticipation and raw adrenaline that only a bronc futurity can deliver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
2026 Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity- February 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On a personal note, this event also marked my first real outing with some new camera gear that \u201cSanta\u201d dropped off during Christmas. I\u2019ll spare you the full tech breakdown, but I finally made the leap into mirrorless after years of swearing allegiance to my DSLR cameras. Learning new equipment in the middle of live bronc riding? Not exactly a stress-free environment\u2014but honestly, that challenge is part of the fun. There\u2019s something energizing about pushing yourself to learn while the action is unfolding in front of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the bronc riding itself, Frozen Fury on the Plains<\/em> delivered a fast-paced, high-energy evening of young bronc riding action. With $4,000 added to each side and 100% payback, the stakes were high, and the riding reflected it. Twenty-four bronc riders tested their mettle aboard young bucking horses that were getting some of their first real experience in a competitive environment. You could feel the intensity in every trip out of the chutes\u2014both horse and rider figuring each other out in real time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
2026 Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity- February 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For folks who might be newer to the sport, a futurity is built around young bucking stock\u2014usually four- and five-year-olds\u2014that need a chance to buck in a competitive setting. It helps develop the horses and gives stock contractors a chance to see what they\u2019ve really got. The same goes for the cowboys. The futurity brings together non-PRCA contestants, PRCA permit holders, and PRCA rookies, which makes for a hungry, determined group of riders all trying to make a statement early in their careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve shared the gallery of images from the event on 3HRodeo.com, along with a full photo feature in the upcoming 3H Rodeo contribution in the Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine<\/em> blog. This futurity is one of those events that quietly showcases the future of rodeo\u2014both on the horse side and the cowboy side\u2014and it\u2019s always worth taking the time to document and celebrate that process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
2026 Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity- February 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you made it out, I hope you felt that same electricity I did from the first crack of the chute to the last ride of the night. If you missed it, trust me\u2014this is one event you\u2019ll want to put on your calendar next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
2026 Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity- February 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
2026 Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity- February 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
2026 Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity- February 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
2026 Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity- February 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All photos \u00a92025 3H Photography\/3H Rodeo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow 3H Photography\/3H Rodeo \u2026 website<\/a> Facebook<\/a> Instagram @3hphotography<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two weeks ago, I finally got back in the dirt at the Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity at the Archer Complex in Cheyenne\u2014and it felt good to be home behind the lens. There\u2019s just something about the smell of arena dirt, the energy of the crowd, and the sound of broncs being loaded in the chutes that flips a switch for me every time. The Frozen Fury on the Plains Bronc Futurity, presented by Pine Bluffs Distilling along with Hell on Wheels Rodeo Company, Visit Cheyenne, and Laramie County Events, had been building momentum for several years, and this year\u2019s event proved exactly why. The stands were full of fans who know good bronc riding when they see it, and the atmosphere carried that mix of anticipation and raw adrenaline that only a bronc futurity can deliver. On a personal note, this event also marked my first real outing with some new camera gear that \u201cSanta\u201d dropped off during Christmas. I\u2019ll spare you the full tech breakdown, but I finally made the leap into mirrorless after years of swearing allegiance to my DSLR cameras. Learning new equipment in the middle of live bronc riding? Not exactly a stress-free environment\u2014but honestly, that challenge is part of the fun. There\u2019s something energizing about pushing yourself to learn while the action is unfolding in front of you. As for the bronc riding itself, Frozen Fury on the Plains delivered a fast-paced, high-energy evening of young bronc riding action. With $4,000 added to each side and 100% payback, the stakes were high, and the riding reflected it. Twenty-four bronc riders tested their mettle aboard young bucking horses that were getting some of their first real experience in a competitive environment. You could feel the intensity in every trip out of the chutes\u2014both horse and rider figuring each other out in real time. For folks who might be newer to the sport, a futurity is built around young bucking stock\u2014usually four- and five-year-olds\u2014that need a chance to buck in a competitive setting. It helps develop the horses and gives stock contractors a chance to see what they\u2019ve really got. The same goes for the cowboys. The futurity brings together non-PRCA contestants, PRCA permit holders, and PRCA rookies, which makes for a hungry, determined group of riders all trying to make a statement early in their careers. I\u2019ve shared the gallery of images from the event on 3HRodeo.com, along with a full photo feature in the upcoming 3H Rodeo contribution in the Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine blog. This futurity is one of those events that quietly showcases the future of rodeo\u2014both on the horse side and the cowboy side\u2014and it\u2019s always worth taking the time to document and celebrate that process. If you made it out, I hope you felt that same electricity I did from the first crack of the chute to the last ride of the night. If you missed it, trust me\u2014this is one event you\u2019ll want to put on your calendar next year. All photos \u00a92025 3H Photography\/3H Rodeo Follow 3H Photography\/3H Rodeo \u2026 website Facebook Instagram @3hphotography<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5075,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1706,69,167,184,146,1707,118],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-3h-photography-rodeo-blogs","category-most-recent","category-wy-people","category-wyoming-agriculture","category-wyoming-athletics","category-wyoming-rodeo","category-wyoming-travel-and-tourism"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5070"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5080,"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5070\/revisions\/5080"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wyolifestyle.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}