By Jeanette Johnson
Staff Writer

MEETEETSE – It’s time for Meeteetse’s 98th Annual Labor Day Celebration and the residents of the community are making it known with their “We ARE Meeteetse!” theme.

“We’re wanting to show unity and pride in Meeteetse,” Visitors Center Director Linda Benson said.

Meeteetse has been celebrating the same three-day event for 98 years. It got its start when Josh Dean roasted a steer in a large pit for a time for neighbors who may not have seen each other all summer to get together.

Ranch work left little time — and still does — to go visiting, so it was reserved for those times when at least most of the chores were done, according to a press release from the Meeteetse Visitors Center. The end of summer is one of those times – the hay is in and it’s not yet branding and sorting time. “A perfect time to get together and see your friends and catch up,” the release said.

A bigger and better parade is planned this year with the number of entries nearly doubling from last year, Benson said. With entries still coming in, she thinks the 31 entries so far this year will dwarf last year’s 16 entries as more people add their names to the lineup.

The celebration begins on Saturday morning, Sept. 4 with a mandatory safety meeting at 9:30 for the Meeteetse Absaroka Challenge at Timber Creek Trailhead. The area is located out the Pitchfork Highway and up the Timber Creek Road, Benson said.

The race begins at 10 a.m. at the trailhead. The team roping begins at 10 a.m. at the rodeo grounds.

The annual double elimination horseshoe tournament will take place in the parking lot of the Elk Horn Bar starting at 11 a.m.

Two events will begin at 7 p.m. with Open Mic Night at the Meeteetse Chocolatier and the Calcutta for the rodeo in the Elk Horn Bar parking lot.

Del Cannon, a returning favorite, will provide live music beginning at 9 p.m. at the Elk Horn.

Sunday, Sept. 5 will begin with Cowboy Church Services at the rodeo grounds at 8 a.m. Team Roping will start at 10 a.m. Kids ages 2-12 need to bring $2 each to register at 12:30 p.m. for the Kids’ Stick Horse Rodeo at Lion’s Park which will start at 1 p.m.

Following the little buckaroos’ rodeo, young budding artists can stake a claim on a portion of the concrete beside the museum to show their creative ideas at 2:30 with the sidewalk chalk art.

Barrel racing starts at 5 p.m. at the rodeo grounds.

From 5-7 p.m. the Meeteetse Chocolatier will hold Dessert Happy Hour before the street dance starts at 7 p.m. in front of the Visitor Center with The 9 O’Clock Band.

A street dance for the under-age set, sponsored by the Visitor Center, will be held Sunday night in front of the center.

“The event is for kids and families to let them have one more thing to do before they give it up for the night,” Benson said.

The “We ARE Meeteetse!” parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday. The Cowbelles are sponsoring the barbecue at Lion’s Park starting at 11 a.m.