On Saturday, July 22, Cokeville held the annual Pioneer Day celebration with many fun events.

The 5K fun run/walk/bike kicked off the day with 31 participating. The route took participants along Cokeville’s beautiful west side just as the sun was peeking over the east hills. It was a beautiful setting and a great way to start the day.

Top winners included overall male, Garrett Callahan; top female, Barbara Dayton; 50-plus male, Daniel Roos; 50-plus female, Karla Toomer; ages 30-49 male, David Johnson; ages 30-49 female, Elizabeth Roos; ages 19-29 male, Lincoln Teichert; ages 19-29 female, Hannah MacDonald; ages 13-18 male, Blaze Plowman; 12 and under male, Austin Dayton; 12 and under female, Geneva Murdock; bicycle, Mayci Dayton and McCall Murdock; walker, Jan Moody; stroller, Josie Viehweg.

Thanks to TyLeigh Dayton and Bryli Groll and helpers for putting on this fundraiser for a family in need.

The parade was the second event of the day, with many beautiful floats along with emergency vehicles, trucks, cars, motorcycles and horses. The theme for this year’s parade was “Branding a Legacy.” The grand marshal was Norene Thompson. Special thanks to Cokeville Councilwoman Theresa Lewis for chairing the parade and getting everyone organized and lined up. Thanks to all the participants and those attending who made this year’s parade a great success.

Next, a pioneer program was held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Guest speakers were Daniel Peterson and his wife, Debbie. Daniel is a retired BYU professor. He spoke on pioneers in Africa and their many sacrifices. Debbie spoke about her pioneer heritage and their journey from Europe to the West.

Next up was a spectacular carnival at the park. There were a variety of booths with games for the whole family where participants came away with many fun prizes. There were crafts and delicious treats along with a yummy lunch catered by the Gold Buckle. It was fun to welcome back old friends and make new ones as the celebration continued. Thanks to Tracey Whitehead and her many helpers for making the park a fun place to be.

The final event of the day was the Cokeville Stock and Saddle Club Pioneer Day Rodeo. They had all the chills and thrills of a great rodeo. This year’s inductees into their hall of fame included Sheri Kemp, Dale Clark and Stan Thompson. There were some great rides and some big spills.

The rodeo club invited vendors with yummy treats for everyone to enjoy. It was a great way to finish up the day’s events. Special thanks to the Cokeville Rodeo Club and its many helpers for sponsoring this fun event.