Ronan celebrates its heritage at Pioneer Days
Ronan Pioneer Days took over the town last Friday through Sunday. There was something fun for everyone: 3-on-3 Jamboree, with more than 100 entries, a car show, 5K run, City Slickers Rodeo for kids, a softball tourney, kids fishing derby and Sunday’s Big Parade. The open rodeo included a special bulls and broncs performance on Friday night, followed by rodeo action at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, including the always popular wild buffalo ride..
Both Friday and Saturday night there was a street dance on Main Street.
“We had a great turnout for the street dances,” said Jannel Smart of the Second Chance Saloon. “We had a lot of fun.”
The softball tournament had six teams entered, just enough to keep them busy all day, according to organizer Sandi Wirz.
Kittson Rodeo Company from Browning brought their bareback and saddle broncs for the rodeos, and those horses were firing. That’s not surprising since Chancy Kittson and his crew annually send stock to the Indian National Finals in Las Vegas.
The M5 Livestock Company, which is Elmo and Nikki McDonald and family, produced the rodeo.
As usual, the crowd was standing room only for Saturday night’s performance with the community supporting Pioneer Days big time. Local Bob Bell came an hour early just to get a good seat, he said.
Open rodeos give local cowboys and cowgirls a chance to compete without traveling, so Mission Valley talent was on display.
A crowd favorite at the rodeo was the kids’ barrel racing. Hazel White, all decked out in her lavender hat, rode her pony on a leadline, followed by her pony’s colt. Riding her big paint, Nevada BigSam, was accompanied by her dad around the barrels.
There was a shortage of bareback bronc riders and saddle bronc riders, but quite a number of ranch bronc riders.
With a shower of candy to match the rain shower, Sunday’s Big Parade was popular with kids and adults. The rain tamped down the dust and freshened the air. Even the ranchers haying didn’t appear to mind the moisture.
With the theme “Community – Better Together,” Grand Marshals Mark and Robin Nelson led the parade of floats (one blowing bubbles), horse groups, Native American riders, vintage cars, and a mind-boggling number of fire engines.
Taking top honors were:
People’s Choice: Pistol Creek
Best Overall Theme: Valley Club
Best Class Reunion: Ronan Class of ‘64
Best Horse Mounted: Pistol Creek
Best Horse Drawn: Laurence Walchuk
Best Native American Regalia: Pistol Creek
Best Commercial Float: Valley Banks
Best Community Float: Northwest Farm Bureau
Best Small Engine – Tractor: Gale Decker
Best Antique: Ed Loder
Best Classic Auto: Gordon and Joyce Schliep