Sunny day for Hyattville Cowboy Carnival

The nearly 450 people attending the Cowboy Carnival enjoyed a sunny beautiful day. The annual event is held the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. 

Organizer Mary Hyatt Burns said attendees enjoyed the quilt show, Kate Richardson’s “Cooking on the Trail,” Sawmill and Hunting Camps of the Big Horns and the competition events. The expanded kids play area activities were great, thanks to the Gerstner family and friends. They even had a snow cone machine.

The festivities included a surprise 90th birthday cake celebration for Jim Caines, a local rancher. 

The music sponsored by ANB was Will Berg and family. Burns said the music was well received by the people eating a barbecue meal with homemade pies and ice cream. 

Burns also noted that the fundraisers through the live auction and raffle tickets were a success that rounded out the day. “Our sincere thanks are extended to the many private and business donations locally and throughout the Big Horn Basin.”

The Chancey McMillan Memorial Sheep Dog Jackpot Dog Trials Competition is one of the highlights of the day. Burns explained that the Tharp family continues to sponsor this event.  Lisa Keeler, Allison Gerad and their crew from Kaycee helped facilitate the event this year. The Hamilton Ranch provided the sheep and the pens as well as putting them up and down.  Ranchlands provided the pasture to hold the competition next to the Center. In Open Class Linda Lulias & “Gill” from Kaycee placed first. Sherry Carter and “Hot” from Gillette took first in the Ranch Class. 

Burns said, “The quilt show drew entries from the local and surrounding area. There was a continuous flow of people admiring these works of art and selecting their favorites in the five different categories.” In the large category Lyn Bell from Ten Sleep took first with “Adrianne’s Horse.” Bobbie Patterson of Powell was first in medium with “Wishing Star.” The small category first went to Cody’s Michelle Quick’s “Victorian Wreath.” Victoria Bales of Worland won Art Quilts with her “Dancing Tulips” entry. In any other, first went to Ginny Singer’s “Della Quilted Coat.” She is from Powell. 

The first-place winners for the 5K/1K were: Natalie Jones of Casper in woman’s division; Brayson Bilodeau of Worland in the men’s division and Paisly Gerrity of Billings in the kids division. 

Burns said, “Our thanks also go out to Medicine Lodge Archaeological Campground and Brooks Jordan for the tents and selling the beverages that were donated by Pepsi, the meat donations from Hamilton Ranch, Todd and Nancy Jones, and the Tharp Family, and Paintrock Processing for their processing. 

A very special thanks to all those that were so actively involved in the planning and staging of this community fundraising event. We would love to welcome you back to the 22nd annual Cowboy Carnival, May 24, 2026.”