Plans for the "down home" Clark Rodeo on Saturday, June 21 are galloping forward with free admission to view the competition and the preceding parade on Canyon Road with the Clark Pioneer Recreation Center as the base.

The parade, with the theme, "Homesteading," will begin at 9 a.m. with the line up open to all comers, to begin at the Clark Fire Department station near the rec center. Entrants for the rodeo can sign up on the morning of the event at the rec center. Warmups for the horsemanship contests will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the national anthem and an invocation at 11 a.m. and then the equestrian skills show. There will be a food concession.

Events for those 7 years old and younger are stick horse and boot racing, mutton busting and parent/child sack race. There is no entry fee for them, but those 7 and older will pay a small fee to enter barrel races, pole bending, tack up event, flag racing and the challenging egg-in-spoon race.

All proceeds from the day's attractions will benefit the rec center.

Event co-organizers Robert and Sharon Weldin have announced that the silent auction in the center will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and that many donated items will be available. Lots of Park County businesses have provided "plenty of good and attractive items," said the Weldins.

Among them: two sets of brand-new spurs, a blue fox pelt and a beaver pelt, a gift basket and a $100 certificate from the Silvertip Restaurant, Bar & Casino in nearby Belfry, Montana; a live apple tree from Northern Gardens, a large paddle board, 10 free games from Super Bowl Lanes in Cody and a colorful, handmade 14x26 inch rendition of Old Glory from Cody craftsman Mike Tooke.

The Weldins also noted that "there are many baskets of merchandise and gift certificates, plus an interesting selection of wine."