GUYMON, Okla. – Cole Franks doesn’t have a crystal ball, so he can’t look too far into the future.

He did reconcile with his past during Saturday night’s third performance of the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo. He rode Frontier Rodeo’s Oklahoma Line for 88 points to take the bareback riding lead and, in doing so, gave himself a shot to win his true hometown rodeo.

Franks is a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Clarendon, Texas. It’s where he graduated high school and attended his first two years of college, but Guymon is his hometown. It’s where he was born 24 years ago, and it’s a rodeo in which he wants to compete. Ultimately, he’d love to win it.

“After we got the draw, I contemplated even coming, but it’s the hometown rodeo, so it’s hard not to come,” he said. “I knew the horse is decent, but they brought the heat here, and it’s grown really good. I really didn’t think I had a chance, but I figured, ‘Why not?’ It worked.”

Yes, it did, but he’s had pretty solid success ever since he turned pro. He was the 2021 Resistol Rookie of the year and qualified for the NFR for the first time. He’s returned twice in the three years since and has earned just shy of $1 million over that stretch.

He finished the 2024 campaign sixth in the world standings with $295,896 and is fifth on the money list this season heading into this weekend. This is his best score at his hometown rodeo.

“I did really good here last year,” said Franks, the 2021 intercollegiate all-around and bareback riding champion while competing for his dad, Bret, at Clarendon College. “I was 87 last year but didn’t place. I was one spot out.

“This rodeo is hard to win money at, but at 88, I should have a good shot at it.”

There’s a lot going on with Franks. In addition to a hectic rodeo schedule, he has big plans later this month. He proposed to his fiancé, Dustie Warr, this past December while at the NFR in Las Vegas, and the two will be married in 25 days.

“I try to give her as much moral support as I can,” he said.

Alas, two days after the nuptials, he’ll be off competing again. That’s the life of a rodeo cowboy. The honeymoon will have to wait, but Franks is hoping they can have a bit of one again this coming December when the NFR returns to Sin City.

“She won’t be too happy about waiting that long, so we’ll probably do something,” Franks said with a laugh. “I do want to be in Las Vegas in December.”

He has to get there first. Only the top 15 in the world standings at the conclusion of the regular season earn the right to compete for the biggest pay in the sport. He’s done well there over the years, pocketing more than $450,000 in 30 go-rounds inside the Thomas & Mack Center. Still a young bronc buster, he keeps trying to improve his skills with each ride.

“Some days, it’s great, but it’s hit or miss,” Franks said. “I didn’t feel like I was riding all that good the last week or so, but I think I fixed that today. It felt a lot better than it has lately, so you just keep plugging along with it.”

The greatest athletes in the world always strive to be their best, and the Guymon-born cowboy is one of them.

Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo
May 2-4
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Oklahoma Line; 2. (tie) Kashton Ford and Sam Petersen, 87; 4. Mason Stuller, 85; 5. (tie) Will Lowe and Roedy Farrell, 82.5; 7. Donny Proffit, 82; 8. Andy Gingerich, 81.5.

Team roping: Third round leaders: 1. Dalton Turner/Clay Clayman, 6.1 seconds; 2. Chet Weitz/Bryce Graves, 6.6; 3. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 6.7; 4. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 7.7; 5. Jake Clay/Tanner Braden, 7.9; 6. (tie) Curry Kirchner/Tyler McKnight and Jeff Flenniken/Buddy Hawkins, 8.9; 8. Nick Sartain/Garrett Gorman, 9.1. Average leaders: 1. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 23.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Curry Kirchner/Tyler McKnight, 28.7; 3. Chad Masters/Cory Petska, 30.6; 4. Jake Clay/Tanner Braden, 30.9; 5. Jeff Flenniken/Buddy Hawkins, 36.4; 6. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 42.5; 7. Jhett Vander Hamm/Gralyn Elkins, 44.7; 8. Teagan Bentley/Dusty Taylor, 44.9; 7. Chet Weitz/Bryce Graves, 13.8 seconds on two runs; 8. Dalton Turner/Clay Clayman, 14.7.

Steer wrestling: Third round leaders: 1. Shane Frey, 4.1 seconds; 2. Cody Devers, 4.2; 3. Riley Duvall, 4.4; 4. Jace Melvin, 4.5; 5. Matt Reeves, 4.7; 6. Bridger Anderson, 4.9; 7. Cole Walker, 5.0; 8. Trace Harris, 5.1. Average leaders: 1. Matt Reeves, 13.2 seconds on three runs. 2. Cody Devers, 14.5; 3. Sam Goings, 15.0; 4. Trace Harris, 15.1; 5. Tyler Mann, 15.2; 6. (tie) Riley Duvall and Jace Melvin, 15.4; 9. Royce Johnson, 15.5.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Rusty Wright, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Top Pick; 2. (tie) Coleman Shallbetter and Brody Wells, 86; 4. Zac Dallas, 85.5; 5. (tie) Thayne Elshere, Waitley Sharon and James Perrin, 82; 8. (tie) Cash Wilson and Traylin Martin, 81. 

Breakaway roping: Third round leaders: 1. Aspen Miller, 2.4 seconds; 2. Beau Peaterson, 2.8; 3. Kaydin Finan, 2.9; 4. Erin Johnson, 3.2; 5. (tie) Amanda Terrell and Molly Hamilton, 3.5; 7. Britta Strain, 3.6; 8. Shalee King, 3.8. Average leaders: 1. Aspen Miller, 8.1 seconds on three runs; 2. Beau Peterson, 10.8; 3. Kaydin Finan, 10.8; 4. Shalee King, 11.0; 5. Lari Dee Guy, 11.2; 6. Abby Cox, 11.6; 7. Erin Johnson, 11.7; 8. Taylor Munsell, 12.6

Tie-down roping: Third round leaders: 1. Kyan Wilhite, 7.1 seconds; 2. Landyn Duncan, 8.2; 3. Austin Lawrence, 8.5; 4. Blane Cox, 8.6; 5. Kyle Lucas, 9.2; 6. Ryan Jarrett, 9.5; 7. Lane Webb, 9.7; 8. Denton Oestmann, 9.8. Average leaders: 1. Kyan Wilhite, 25.5 seconds on three runs; 2. Ryan Jarrett, 26.4; 3. Cash Enderli, 27.7; 4. Blane Cox, 27.8; 5. (tie) Austin Lawrence and Kyle Lucas, 28.2; 7. Haven Meged, 28.4; 8. Tate Teague, 29.9.

Barrel racing: 1. Wenda Johnson, 17.31 seconds; 2. Leslie Smalygo, 17.38; 3. Summer Kosel, 17.46; 4. Julie Plourde, 17.53; 5. Emily Beisel, 17.60; 6. (tie) Alex Lang and McKinlee Paschal, 17.76; 8. Keyla Costa, 17.77; 9. (tie) Katelyn Scott and Kim Squires, 17.78.

Bull riding leaders: 1. Thayne Elshere, on Frontier Rodeo’s Let’s Dance, and Qynn Andersen, on Frontier Rodeo’s Candy Eater, 84.5 points; 3. Jesse Hopper, 83; 4. Mossy Waite, 80.5; 5. Lane Vaughan, 78.5; 6. Robby Taylor, 77; 7. Jesse Petri, 67; no other qualified rides.