WYO Celebrates Native Cultures

Courtesy of Wrangler Network contributor Charlie Coon

Sheridan's WYO Rodeo is celebrating a 20-year tradition that draws in crowds like honey does bees. The World Championship Indian Relay Races are dispersing $50,000 in prize money this year.

Many tribes are represented on teams mainly from areas on and near reservations in Montana. There is a team from Wyoming's Wind River Reservation and Pine Ridge in South Dakota.

Montanan Shawn Real Bird is co-director and he isn't hard to spot a horseback prior to the start of the races each evening. He makes sure everybody is ready and where they need to be in order to race right after the grand entry for the Sheridan WYO Rodeo. There are several heats and the races are most definitely a fan favorite.