Rodeo Week in Three Forks: Numerous events scheduled from July 18 to 20

It's once again time for the most popular weekend of the year in Three Forks.

Huge crowds are expected for the 77th Annual Three Forks NRA Rodeo and the Rodeo Dayz celebration, scheduled for July 18 to July 20.

The Three Forks NRA Rodeo will take place on Friday, July 19, and Saturday, July 20. Action will begin at 7 p.m. on both nights.

Events at the 2024 Three Forks NRA Rodeo include Saddle Bronc Riding, Bareback Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, Tie Down Roping, Barrell Racing, and Bull Riding. A Kid Boot Race is also scheduled.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids and can be purchased at the event or online at http://www.threeforksrodeo.com/annual-nra-rodeo/. Tickets can also be purchased at Three Forks Saddlery, the Main Street Office in Three Forks, and Murdoch's Ranch and Home Supply.

Gates will open at 6 p.m. on both nights.

July 19 is family night at the rodeo, with kids 12 and under getting in free with an adult with a canned food or cash donation for the Headwaters Area Food Bank.

The Rodeo Dayz celebration will officially start at the Farmers' Market, scheduled for Thursday, July 18, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at John Quincy Adams Milwaukee Railroad Park.

The Chamber will host a non-profit cookout at the market, with all proceeds going to the planned Visitor's Information Center. The "Chamber Chow" cost is $8 and will include a dinner, drink, and dessert.

The popular Stick Horse Derby will take place at 5 p.m.

Julian's Paint Party will provide face painting for $5 to $10 at this year's derby. Cash and Venmo will be accepted.

This year's Three Forks Chamber Rodeo Dayz celebration theme is "Cheers to 60: This Ain't our First Rodeo."

New to Rodeo Dayz this year is a window decorating contest for area businesses. Along with the "This Ain't Our First Rodeo Theme," businesses can also incorporate the Chamber's 60th anniversary with their decorations. The window décor will be judged, and a prize winner will be announced during the parade.

On Friday, July 19, First Security Bank will host its annual Community Appreciation BBQ at 320 S. Main Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Street Dance is scheduled for July 19 following the rodeo.

A busy July 20 will start with the annual Three Forks Volunteer Fire Department Annual Pancake Breakfast scheduled from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the fire hall. The department will sell raffle tickets for $5 each, with the winner receiving a ride to the first day of school on a fire truck. The prize winner is limited to within the Three Forks Fire District and Three Forks Schools.

This year's parade will occur on July 20 at 11 a.m.

Talented local country artist Tessy Lou Williams will sing the National Anthem before the start of the parade.

The Grand Marshal of the 2024 Parade is Freddie Obrigewitch.

The Rodeo Dayz Street Fair will be held on Main Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A face painter will be in attendance before and after the parade.

This year's Rodeo Dayz will also have a dunk tank, with proceeds going to the new VIC.

A magic show with Kyle Groves is scheduled to take place around 1 p.m. in front of the office of the Chiropractic Clinic of Three Forks.

New to this year's celebration is the inaugural Rodeo Dayz Cornhole Tournament scheduled for Saturday, July 20, at 1 p.m. on Main Street.

Prizes will be awarded to the first- and second-place teams and the most creative team name (please be family-friendly). The cost per team is $40, with proceeds going to constructing the Three Forks Chamber Visitor's Information Center.

For questions about the tournament, email Jill Peterson at [email protected] or call 406-285-4753.

Also new in 2024 are Western dance classes hosted by the Three Forks Chamber and Western Roots Country Dancing, which will take place on July 20 on Main Street. The classes will be approximately 30 minutes long at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. They are $10 and can be paid upon arrival.

Following the July 20 rodeo at 7 p.m., the week's celebration will conclude with the Street Dance following the rodeo.

GROWING

Longtime Three Forks Rodeo Arena Board member Gene Townsend has helped run the concessions at the annual NRA Rodeo for over 20 years.

Townsend can remember a time when organizers would be satisfied with the attendance of 900 people on a Friday night and 1,200 to 1,300 on Saturday. After the event was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Townsend was worried about what the crowd would be like when the event returned in 2021. He was more than surprised with the record-setting attendance and laughed when saying he did not thaw enough hamburger patties for the first night.

"To look out there and see that place packed with people was pretty awesome. It was like, holy crap, where did all these people come from. That first night, we had 3,500 to 3,600 people. That was quite a difference from the 900 we got years ago," said Townsend. "People were ready; they wanted to get out and socialize and have a good time."

With large crowds again in 2022 and 2023 and the growth in the Gallatin Valley, Townsend is again expecting a big turnout for this year.

"I think it will continue to grow. We will keep expanding and improving as much as we can. The Three Forks Rodeo is known as a place for people to come out and have a good time. People really support the rodeo, and it's a good time for the town," Townsend said.

ORIGINS

According to an article written by Patrick Finnegan and published in the April 24, 1996, issue of the Three Forks Herald, the rodeo had its origins in 1945 when a group called the Three Forks Chapter of the American Pioneers Trails Association held its first annual Pioneers Days that celebrated the 140th anniversary of the arrival of Lewis and Clark at the Headwaters of the Missouri River.

The event featured a barbecue, parade, speakers, and a free street dance.

"The next year, the Pioneer Trails Association decided to have a rodeo as an "added attraction" of the 1946 celebration. Tex Smith of Ennis handled the two-day rodeo starting at 2:30 p.m. each day on Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28. The prizes for the rodeo consisted of $200 for winners of the bronc ride, bareback ride, calf roping, and steer wrestling," states the article.

Other events in 1946 included a bike race, street dance, parade, historic window displays, and carnival.

The Herald reported that 1,500 people attended the two-day celebration.