Roaring Springs will be filled with visitors this week for the 98th Annual Motley-Dickens Old Settlers Reunion and Rodeo.
Events take place Thursday, August 26 through Saturday, August 28. An interactive theme park, food trucks and music are all expected to be part of the fun.
A separate vendors’ market will be held Thursday through Saturday at the Community Center in Roaring Springs as well.
Things are coming together nicely for this year’s Reunion and Rodeo, according to Dickens County Judge Kevin Brendle, representing the organizers. “One change to the entry fee structure will make it easier on folks,” said Brendle. “There will just be one admission at the gate, $15, instead of a $10 admission at the rodeo grounds gate and another $10 admission to rodeo events once you got there.”
Rodeo events will include a flag race for children and a barrel race open to all ages in the arena starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, followed by team roping.
The RHAA Ranch Horse Competition starts at 9 a.m. on Friday for junior and senior youth classes and also includes wrangler, ranch hand, and cowboy class. A junior flag race, mutton bustin’ and junior Shetland Bronc riding will take place on both Friday and Saturday. Some of the events are limited in the number of participants accepted. The Ranch Rodeo Invitational is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Food trucks will be at the events this year all day Friday and Saturday, starting at 9 a.m.
On Saturday the parade is set to begin at 10 a.m. after the slide roping events. A memorial service will follow. Kids of all ages can enter a washer-pitching contest and there will be goat-roping for 12 and under.
Emily Smith of Spur grew up in a ranching family and looks forward to watching people she knows compete. She and her daughters have already begun training for their favorite Saturday event— the snapping turtle race. “We train them with hot dogs,” said Smith.
The “Old Folks Dance” is free on both Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m. with Rex Thomas and friends, followed by the Cadillac Jack Band later Friday night at 9:30 p.m.
The late-night dance on Saturday night will feature Jason Nutt and Highway 70 also starting at 9:30 p.m..
This year’s Queen, Lynndee Rose Foster, is the daughter of Cliff and Shantel Foster of McAdoo. She is fourteen years old and will be a freshman at Guthrie this fall. Raffle tickets can be purchased from Foster during the rodeo. For more information about tickets, teams or times, contact Billy Campbell at (806) 252-7695.
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