Jody Fear
Local Jody Fear won 1st place in barrel racing during the rodeo.
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Fireworks
The town lights of Big Piney provided a backdrop for the fireworks from Marbleton hill.
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74th Annual Chuckwagon Days
July 4th, 2008 Celebration Big Piney & Marbleton
by Clint Gilchrist
July 5, 2008
For 74 years Big Piney & Marbleton have been celebrating the nation's independence with Chuckwagon Days. It is the biggest event of the year and has become a popular time for alumni, families and friends to return for vacation. Everyone gets together and catches up with old friends while enjoying the entertainment.
Action for the week centers around the Parade, BBQ and Rodeo on July 4th.
The parade closes down Budd Avenue in Big Piney while hundreds of spectators line the street and enjoy the creative entries. Every kid in town shows up to load up on the candy thrown from the floats. This year's Grand Marshalls were Shirly Bray and Bob Tracy.
The BBQ is probably one of the oldest and largest free BBQs in the country. Following the parade, hundreds of people move to the faigrounds to enjoy local beef, potato salad, and pork & beans. Volunteers spend days preparing the meal and the beef is donated by local ranchers.
The Pro Rodeo is sanctioned by both the Wyoming Rodeo Association and the Inter-Mountain Pro Rodeo Association, bringing top-level competitors. But some local talents also enter to compete with the pros. The rodeo starts July 3rd with slack in the morning and the first session in the evening. The final show is on the afternoon on July 4th, following the BBQ.
The week started with the Lil' Buckaroo Rodeo on the evening of July 2nd. Other events on July 4th included the Chuchwagon Chug walk/run before the parade, a street dance in the evening and fireworks at dark to finsih off the day.
These photos are from July 4th activities.
Photos by Clint Gilchrist
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