Justin Sheely

A Retrospective

July in Sheridan, Wyoming, means the Sheridan WYO Rodeo. During my five years as a photojournalist at The Sheridan Press, rodeo week meant a wild ride of parades, street dancing, and PRCA rodeo. But this year is a little different for me. This July I am living the Sheridan WYO Rodeo vicariously through social media posts of friends and former colleagues. 

While I am thankful that I can breath easy this rodeo week, I must admit, I really miss the action — sad, actually. Since I moved to Billings to go back to school, I’ve found myself realizing just how different of a pace of life I am experiencing as a stay-at-home dad and full-time student (while starting a photography business on the side). Each month had its marker for my former life as a photojournalist. Last month, I missed the Miss Wyoming contest, which I covered every year. Now, I’m missing The Sheridan WYO Rodeo. It’s kind of a bummer.

While rodeo week was insanely busy for me, it was also extremely rewarding because of the moments experienced and the images I produced. I also got to meet some really cool people, like Eva Scofield, a PRCA photographer who’s photographed the Sheridan WYO Rodeo for many years. She was one of those friendly faces that I became acquainted with over the years. Eva showed me some good spots to get unique photos. I am truly grateful. 

Perhaps one day I can experience the Sheridan WYO Rodeo again as a freelance photographer. But for now, I’d like to share with you a small collection of my favorite rodeo photos from my time with The Sheridan Press. Enjoy! 

(All images in this post are copyright Justin Sheely/The Sheridan Press.)