The 98th annual Motley-Dickens Counties Old Settlers Reunion and Rodeo is scheduled for August 26-28 in Roaring Springs. The three-day celebration is filled with activities for all ages to enjoy. In 2020, the weekend saw a record breaking attendance and Kevin Brendle, rodeo board secretary and Treasurer, is optimistic that the number of spectators will increase this year as well. He said the board works year round to plan and coordinate all the festivities, like the interactive theme park they’ve added the past few years and will have again on Friday and Saturday.
The weekend kicks off on Thursday, August 26 and is free admission all day. Books open at 4:30 p.m. and events starting at 5:00 p.m. include counting and open cutting, flag races, open age barrel racing and team roping. Concessions are available all three days and feature Charlie Carter’s world famous goat wraps.
Events on Friday, August 27 start at 8:00 a.m. with books opening and the RHAA Ranch Horse Competition. Food trucks, the interactive theme park and vendors will be open all day to enjoy at any time. The Old Folk’s Dance will be from 5:00-7:30 p.m. with free admission and headlined by Rex Thomas & Friends. The rodeo follows and along with the main performances, will include junior flag races, mutton busting and junior Shetland bronc riding. The night ends with Cadillac Jack Band performing at 9:30 p.m.
The last day of the weekend features slide roping and the parade at 10:00 a.m. and a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Brendle is encouraging everyone to not only come watch the parade, but to be a part of it. Old farm tractors, floats, horseman, wagons are welcomed and organizations can win prizes for participating. Afternoon events include the washer pitching contest at 1:00 p.m., kid’s snapping turtle races at 2:00 p.m. and ends with goat roping (books open at 10:00 a.m.). Like Friday, vendors, food trucks and the interactive theme park will be out for patrons to enjoy. The Old Folk’s Dance featuring Rex Thomas & Friends will start at 5:00 p.m. and the rodeo performance with kids events will follow just like on Friday. During the Saturday performance, raffle prize winners will be announced for handmade spurs by Matt Humphreys, ranger buckle set by Clint Martin and a trinket by Clint Martin. Saturday’s dance featuring Jason Nutt will bring the weekend celebration to a close.
With the 100 year celebration coming up in a few years, Brendle and other board members are hoping to raise funds from the reunion and rodeo weekends the next two years to put money towards that milestone year. Funds from the weekend also go towards the two scholarships that the board awards. Brendle says coming to the events all weekend recognizes the contributions made by those who settled in Motley and Dickens county and by those still here today working to make it a good place to live.
The ranch rodeo invitational starts at 7:00 p.m. both Friday and Saturday night with admissions being $15 and free for kids 12-years-old and under. Price of admission also includes admittance to the dance this year.