Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede July 12 - 14

Once again, the second weekend of July, the town of Wolf Point, situated on the beautiful Missouri river will explode. The Rodeo Committee and Stadium Committee are banding together to bring the Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede to life. It will be held July 12-14 this year at the Marvin Brookman Stadium, 6265 Rodeo Rd in Wolf Point Montana.

The Wild Horse Stampede actually started out as a competition in 1920 for a few local cowboys and native Americans in roping and riding events. Now, 98 years later, it has evolved into 3 days of official PRCA rodeo events, an endurance run for humans, golf tournament, parade, art in the park and an open team roping event. About 200 of the world's best PRCA cowboys and cowgirls consistently come to compete on Brookman rodeo stock every year in the Wild Horse Stampede. Last year, it was estimated that 12,000 came to watch the three-day event. This is huge for Wolf Point and several local individuals flock to the fairgrounds to volunteer their time. There are several mundane jobs you would expect like mowing, spraying weeds, ordering the concession food and cleaning the area before the event. The stadium also is fixed up and painted but there's more that goes into it. In order for the Wild Horse Stampede to be sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association, several phone calls must be made and mountains of paperwork must be completed. During the rodeo alone, over a hundred volunteers are working in plain sight and behind the scenes to make this work.

I asked Rodeo Chairman Clint Long why he and the other volunteers continue to put this event on. He said, "I guess it is because we love our community and our rodeo, it is a heartfelt effort to do something that makes a difference in our community which supports the event wholeheartedly."  He also said that all the class and family reunions in the area are timed to happen the same weekend as the Wild Horse Stampede. He said, "You see people that you get a chance to visit with once a year."

The ticket booth opens June 20 from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday and can be contacted at 406-653-1770. General Admission Advance tickets are $l5. At the gate, they are $17. Buckaroo Advance tickets are $20. At the gate, they are $22. Kids 6 and under get in free to the rodeo. For more information visit the event's Facebook page or the Wolf Point Chamber of Commerce's website, http://www.wolfpointchamber.com, and click on the Wild Horse Stampede's icon.