Yeehaw!

It's family entertainment at its finest, featuring thrills, spills, faith, and patriotism! It's the American Rodeo, and it's alive and well in little Cascade, Montana! Surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery you'll find in the state, the Chestnut Valley Arena is a gem in itself. You may have to pay to get into the rodeo, but the views are awesome, and they're free!

Friday night was "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" Day where contestants and fans were encouraged to wear pink to show solidarity in the fight against breast cancer. The evening is a part of a national series of events in the rodeo world. The "baddest" rodeo cowboys and cowgirls in Cascade wore pink in honor of the fight. Saturday was "Military Appreciation" Night in honor of all our men and women in military service.

The stands were packed with fans who cheered and laughed, and ooohed and aaahed (my made-up words) as they watched cowboys literally fly into the air, kids hang on to dear life atop their mutton rides, funny clowns, mean bulls, and much more.

In town, the weekend offered a Cowboy Breakfast at the Cascade Senior/Community Center, a parade, a barbecue at the Railroad Park, free C.M. Russell cottage tours, a local art celebration, featuring Running Wolf Fine Art, Sage DuBois Photography, Hardy Creek Ceramics, BS leatherworks, and, after the rodeo, street dancing to top-off the night.

Who ever said small towns were boring? Whew!