Ten Sleep continues traditions, kicking off the Fourth with 74th rodeo

TEN SLEEP – Fourth of July festivities will kick off next Thursday, July 4 at 10 a.m. with the Ten Sleep Parade, being given the theme of “Give Me Liberty” this year. The parade leads into a full day of rodeo activities and culminates with fireworks after dark.

Prizes will be awarded in the parade for the best theme of the parade, business, church group, horse entry, boy, girl, and the judges’ choice.

Following the parade, the 74th annual Ten Sleep Rodeo will kick off at 1 p.m. at the rodeo grounds. Things will get started with junior rodeo events, followed by a more traditional rodeo with bareback bronc riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. The wild horse race will also take place at the end of the day.

The rodeo will continue the next day at 5 p.m. in hopes that the weather will be cooler for the events that evening.

The craft fair will also be on Thursday, July 4, in the town park, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., with the addition of a food truck being added to the event this year.

The Forever Cowgirl Barrel Racing event will be Saturday, July 6, and will be a 4D racing event. 4D barrel racing denotes the speed set by national standards, and is the fourth out of six divisions recognized in barrel racing.

The end of the Fourth of July will finish with a fireworks celebration, able to be seen from anywhere in town.

The royalty for this year is Anna Powell as queen, and Belle Starbuck, princess.