In a press release received by the Standard-Examiner this week, Ogden Pioneer Days Organizers announced there will be a slight tweak to the 2025 event — and by slight, we mean big.

“Breaking with 90 years of tradition, Ogden Pioneer Days will add an additional performance beyond the usual standard five-night rodeo,” the release said. Branded “Bulls, Broncs and Bands,” country music star Chancey Williams and his band will blow into town from a performance at Dickinson, North Dakota the night before.”

Williams and his band will be appearing in Ogden on July 18 at Spencer Fox Eccles Pioneer Stadium as part of their 23-city “Miles on Me Tour.” Tickets go on sale today, April 30.

He’s also no stranger to rodeos.

“Chancey Williams is a former Saddle Bronc rider and only one of two former pro rodeo cowboys who have gone from competing on horseback to competing on center stage,” the release said. “The other is Chris LeDoux. Williams is originally from northeast Wyoming and has toured the nation taking stage with headliners Toby Keith, Cody Johnson, Alan Jackson and Dierks Bentley to name a few.”

Rick Davis, vice chair of rodeo operations, said in the release that there’s more than a concert in store that evening.

“But this just isn’t a country western concert in the historic stadium, it also features a ‘special section’ of our PRCA rodeo,” he said. “We’ll be featuring bareback bucking horses, saddle broncs and bulls before the concert. This event is allowing additional contestants to compete for the nearly $600,000.00 in prize money. We are so excited to expand our rodeo, we can’t wait.”

The press release adds that the fun doesn’t stop there.

“As part of the evening of music and rodeo, there will be some fun including a clown act by Ogden Pioneer Days favorite and PRCA entertainer of the year, John Harrison, Mutton Bustin’, and a special appearance by Manu Lataste, World renowned Bull Jumper from France,” the release said. “Roger Mooney, Ogden Pioneer Days announcer for the past 20 years will keep the action moving.”

The Charley Jenkins Band will also be featured.

Tickets for the concert evening start at $48 for grandstand seats and go up to $59 for premium seats. A pit pass, for an additional $10, will allow concert goers onto the arena grounds close to the stage.

“We’ve never done anything like this before,” Ogden Pioneer Days Foundation Chair Steve Handy said in the release. “We’re taking somewhat of a risk, but we think our fans are ready to really kick off the July 24th holiday in a big way. We realize these tickets are priced higher than our $20 average ticket for our five nights of rodeo, but it’s going to be worth it.”

To purchase tickets for the July 18 and for more information on this year’s rodeo event, visit https://www.ogdenpioneerdays.com/