Stick Horse Stampede Takes Over Jaycee Park (Photo Gallery)

DILLON, MT – Jaycee Park has quickly become Dillon’s gathering place throughout summer, hosting family-friendly events with the splash pad drawing visitors from all over. Throughout July, live music, great food, and community events have created a lively atmosphere, offering everyone a chance to relax and enjoy the summer.

This past Friday, Jaycee Park hosted the first annual Stick Horse Stampede, a fun-filled rodeo event for kids and families.

The day kicked off at 3 p.m. with cowboy stories read aloud to children by Dillon’s own Debbie Sporich. After storytime, participants tested their appetites in the pie-eating contest, racing against the clock to devour as much of a pie as possible in two minutes.

The main event, the Stick Horse Stampede, then got underway. Contestants trotted their stick horses around the arena, showing off their trusty steeds. After a prayer and the national anthem, competitors entered the chute to showcase their bucking skills, followed by barrel racing and rescue races.

Miss Dillon Jaycees Rodeo Queen Sophia Wyatt also participated, assisting with the rodeo queen competition and the 50/50 raffle.

The event drew a wide range of participants, including a young contestant from Australia—highlighting how the event brought the community together.

The Stick Horse Stampede was made possible through generous sponsorship from the Tweedy Mountain Fun Club, the Early Childhood Coalition of Beaverhead County, Sky Jones, and many other community supporters who dedicated their time and money to bring this event to life in Dillon.