Cowboy Carnival Sunday features horse racing, BBQ, dog trials and more

HYATTVILLE — The 15th annual Cowboy Carnival to raise funds the Hyattville Community Center will be this Sunday.

Fun begins with the pie contest drop-off from 9 a.m. to noon. The horse race registration at 10 a.m., with the races beginning between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Riders from all over the Big Horn Basin will compete in 220 and 440 races with jackpots. Registration is $50, and contestants can register on race day. Admission is free, and you can back your vehicle right up to the track for tailgating and a good view at the old air strip which will be marked.

For more information contact Dave Greer at 307-469-2336. After the horse races at the south end of town, head over to the Community Center: 308 S. Main Street. Gate Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children or $25 for an immediate family. The gate fee includes a delicious barbecue lunch and is good for the entire day.

Events beginning between 10:30 a.m. and noon include the book sale (with an all new selection), quilt show and photo show. Dozens of handmade quilts from all over the Big Horn Basin will be on display in the main building, and these works of art are treasures to see. Anyone interested in entering a quilt must drop it off at a designated location one week before the Carnival, where they will be returned afterward.

Noon sees the kickoff of the silent auction, plant sales, bingo, and pie contest judging.

Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. and will include beef, lamb, pork, and homemade pies served at 1:30 p.m. Music will be provided by Virgil Bailey and Friends, sponsored by ANB Bank.

The Chauncey McMillan Memorial Sheep Dog Competition is slated for 1 p.m. on the main grounds and always draws a big crowd. Competitors bring their dogs from across Wyoming and Montana, and it features two classes: one for ranch dogs who have never entered a sanctioned dog trial before, and another for dogs who have previously competed. Entry fees are $35 per dog, and only dogs entered in the competition will be allowed on the grounds with a leash. Contact Jill Tharp at 307-469-2235 for more information.

The sharpshooter contest begins at 1:30 p.m. Bring your own gun to the south end of the airstrip/horse race area, and a $10 entry fee for three shots at the target in 30 seconds and at 200 hundred yards. This event is generously sponsored by the Ten Sleep-Hyattville Lions Club.

Kids’ events span the day and include pony rides, petting zoo, activity area, and an opportunity to register for the 2:30 p.m. BB Gun Shoot at the main gate (no personal guns, please).

Gary Nash will be managing the live auction starting at 3:30 p.m. The items at the auction surprise and delight each year – it’s not unusual to find artwork, jewelry, books, photography, ranch and specialty items and more.

For more information about our 15th Annual Cowboy Carnival, visit the Facebook Page — Hyattville Community Center — with schedule, rule, and registration information; or the website at http://www.hyattville.org