The Fort Bridger Ward took second place in the religious/church division of the Pioneer Days parade on July 24. PIONEER PHOTO/Amy Davis

By AMY DAVIS

Pioneer Reporter



Bridger Valley’s Pioneer Days celebration, July 24-26, included a variety show, rodeos, parade and other events and played out before a large crowd.

Saturday was the main day of the celebration and started early when the flag was raised at the LDS Church in Lyman. Ryan Bybee was the overall winner of the triathlon Saturday morning with a time of 40:05. A parade was held in Lyman mid-morning. Crowds lined Main Street as the parade approached from Homestead Village and turned onto Main Street at Eagle Corner.

The grand marshal was Lillian “Aunt Bill” McDaniel, who was driven in a bright red Edsel. Faye Wadsworth was the grand marshal for the rodeo.

There were horses, a kid-driven cleanup crew, many floats and political cars. Kids of all sizes jumped for the candy that was thrown. The parade ended with a water truck that sprayed water on kids and adults alike along the parade route. The grand prize winner of the float competition was Lyman Fourth Ward. The rest of the winners were: (Political) first, Ron Micheli; second, Mick Powers, and third, Jim Toomer; (Religious/Church) first, Mountain View Second Ward; second, Fort Bridger Ward, and third, Mountain View Third Ward; (Business) first, Xadena Club and second, Boy Scouts.

A barbecue was held at the park that afternoon. At the Lyman LDS Church, exhibits were set up to celebrate the pioneer heritage of the valley. Quilts, antiques, needlework, art work and family histories filled the hall. People milled around and looked at items such as a chamber pot, bear trap, butter churn, weight scales and an apple peeler, which were provided by Keith and Kathy Rasmussen. The Rasmussens also displayed a bear coat, circa the 1890s, which belonged to a stage-coach driver in the Yellowstone area.

That afternoon, co-ed softball games continued at the fields in Mountain View. Later that evening, the Ranch Rodeo finals were held.

The rodeo grounds were packed with people as the events started. Children ages five and under were invited to chase bunnies, as they had done at the Junior Rodeo earlier in the week. The lucky ones who caught a bunny could either keep it or return for another prize. All participating children received candy for their participation. Older children, ages six to nine, did the same thing with chickens later in the evening.

Some of the ranch events that evening were branding, sorting, ribbon roping, rescue races and hide races. The men tried their hand at wild cow milking, while the ladies attempted to milk a wild goat. There was also bronco busting.

Sunday’s fireside at the Urie Stake Center ended the celebration.

For the complete article see the 07-30-2010 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 07-30-2010 paper.