County commissioners seeks committee members, ideas for nation’s 250th celebration

The Big Horn County Commissioners are seeking public input and additional committee members to join the newly formed County 250^th Committee, which has been assigned the task of planning countywide celebrations for the United States’s 250^th anniversary in 2026.

Barbara Anne Greene and Lori Smallwood are set to lead the committee, which is working in collaboration with the commissioners to secure grant funding and develop ideas that not only celebrate the nation, but Big Horn County’s place in it.

“We really want to have Ninerville show up,” Greene said during the commissioner’s meeting on Feb. 18. “I think it’s kind of cool that we have 13 communities and 13 colonies — it’s almost fated.”

Preliminary ideas have festivities set to start during Greybull’s Days of ’49 in June 2026 and the grand finale tentatively set to take place during the Big Horn County Fair in August. During the time in-between, the committee hopes to see celebrations and themed activities throughout the county.

A laser or drone show was proposed for the finale ceremony as an alternative to the more traditional fireworks due to livestock being on-site at the fairgrounds at the same time. The committee is also in the early stages of planning a sandcastle building contest for children using grant monies to truck sand to one of the local reservoirs. A driving tour and an audiovisual history project focusing on the community’s elders and veterans were also proposed to Greene.

Smallwood and Greene said they were particularly keen to hear ideas on permanent structures or public art proposals from the community. 

“We’d really like to talk to Burlington Northern,” Greene told the commissioners, recalling that during Greybull’s centennial celebrations, the company had run one of its passenger trains from the town’s center to the canyon and back for community members to enjoy for free.

All of the commissioners
concurred, agreeing it would be a good idea to bring Burlington Northern into the fold for planning, if possible.

“Could they donate 13 cabooses and put them in each community throughout the county?” Commissioner Bruce Jolley wondered, adding that communities could then paint and customize their cabooses to reflect their patriotism and histories.

Commissioner Dave Neves proposed that the committee continue a photography project begun in 1900. He explained that he had found a book from the nation’s 1976 celebrations which showed photos of the Big Horn Mountains in 1900 side-by-side with photos from 1976. He told the committee that he feels it’s one of the more consequential projects to carry out, given its preexisting history.

The photography project would also allow for collaboration with the other three counties that share the mountains: Johnson, Sheridan and Washakie.

“It’ll be a little more travel, but it will add value,” he told the committee.

Neves has already reached out to the local U.S. Forest Service office about the project and said he found them receptive to the idea and willing to help.

Gretchen Gasvoda, the county 4-H educator, proposed wooden “quilt squares” similar to hex signs for local community members to hang on their properties. The signs could be taken down and displayed in town during festivities.

The committee hopes to involve other local organizations and businesses, and especially hopes to include youth activities and participation. Smallwood and Greene told the commissioners that they planned to get in touch with local 4-H and FFA groups. They also hope to organize child-friendly bike rides or hikes in Hyattville to explore the petroglyphs.

“Communities should submit ideas,” Smallwood said, adding that she and Greene were already working on securing a planning grant. “We’d like people to get ahold of us, but we really want to build excitement.”

Greene added that additional grant monies will be available. Meetings for the planning committee will be held separate from those of the commission, but will report back to and work alongside county officials.

For those interested in participating in the County 250^th Committee, please send an email to basinchamber@gmail.com.