Mutton Bustin’ brings together first-timers and Community Day veterans, bingo raises funds for WIA

Silent auction and bingo raises nearly $13,000 for WIA

By Jen Clancey DIGITAL PRODUCER 

Editor’s note: Outlaw Partners is the publisher of Explore Big Sky and is the producer of Big Sky’s Biggest Week.

Five-year-old Solon Esposito has technically ridden a sheep twice, though he considers his first time a practice round. As the first rider of Big Sky Community Day’s Mutton Bustin’ on July 16, Solon began the afternoon of sheep-riding on his steed Bandit.

The competition showcased athletes ranging from 3- to 5-years-old. Fourth in the lineup for section one of mutton bustin’ was Bozeman native, 4-year-old Kaysen Barham. In his first mutton bustin’ ride ever, he earned 74 points. Known for his love of horses, snowmobiling and his sister, Kaysen’s strategy was to “hold on tight.” Although Kaysen competed close to home, competitors came from all over the U.S.

Three sections later, a victor was named. Tatum Porter, a three-year mutton bustin’ veteran, secured the title with an 89-point ride on a sheep named Lucy. She also competed in the boot race with other small competitors, collecting their boots in the center of the arena, putting them on and sprinting back to the finish line where they started. 

Mutton Bustin’ was just one of many community events that took place on Tuesday at the Big Sky Events Arena. A family-friendly fair began earlier in the afternoon and led into the Dick Allgood Community Bingo Night where community banter ran at high volume under the tent. The event drew locals in for five rounds of Bingo, ending in a special blackout bingo round, and then the famed championship round. 

Proceeds from bingo went to Wellness in Action, a Big Sky nonprofit that provides mental and behavioral health resources to the community.

“WIA is honored to have been chosen as the nonprofit for PBR,” Allison Bradac, WIA’s executive director, said to EBS ahead of the evening. “It’s an opportunity to connect with the community for such a fun week in Big Sky.”

In addition to bingo proceeds, WIA also held a silent auction. Bradac was excited to highlight participating local businesses like Shelly Bermont Fine Jewelry, who donated several pieces to the silent auction. At the end of the night, the auction had raised about $8,500 for the organization.

In-between bingo rounds, WIA hosted heads and tails and a wine pull which totaled close to $4,000, bringing total funds raised just shy of $13,000. 

“It is important that the community supports and rallies behind our mission so that everybody can receive access to the care they need,” Bradac said of WIA’s work. She noted that being a part of bingo, a local favorite during Big Sky’s Biggest Week, was special. 

Brett Slehofer was the announcer at the event, keeping the pace moving and verifying bingo winners with the American Legion Post 99 officiators. Slehofer is a member of the Sons of American Legion and has volunteered with the organization for at least 10 years. This was his third time leading community bingo. 

“I got asked specifically [to announce] this year and I love it,” Slehofer said to EBS in-between bingo rounds. He believes in keeping bingo nights moving, and learned how to pick up bingo-specific cadence from skilled announcers at other events. 

“It’s not story time, we’re here to play bingo,” Slehofer said. He mentioned he would drop a few puns here and there but his goal was to stick to the schedule and keep participants in high spirits. 

“It’s a privilege,” Slehofer concluded, saying that he’s honored to volunteer with Sons of American Legion in support of a community event like bingo night. 

As cards filled with color daubs, bingo game winners were booed, then applauded for their victories, as participants tossed crumpled cards their direction. There were moments when more than one person had completed the bingo pattern, which led to a quiet tension in the tent—it was tie-breaker time. 

Those lucky and unlucky enough to win bingo at the same time as another player had to select a card from a spread deck. The highest numerical card won. 

Officials initiated a card pull between two blackout bingo winners, a rare occurrence. The prize in question was $750, $250 at Conoco and Wildlands Festival VIP tickets, as well as entry into the championship bingo round. After deliberation, cards were pulled, a winner was crowned and the championship game began. 

In a nail-biting four-minute battle to bingo, Cheryl Ladd achieved victory with a straight line across the center of her card. As she lifted the trophy to the sky, Ladd smiled and laughed. Her name will soon be the fourth added onto the annual trophy.