Runners and walkers from northeast Wyoming are invited to the Durham Buffalo Ranch for the 25th Annual Buffalo Stampede, Saturday, June 6. The crew at the Durham Ranch will celebrate 25 years of hosting the event, and will also celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a variety of patriotic themes.
The charitable fundraising event challenges runners on the open range course near Wright. In addition to the challenge of competing in the 5-kilometer run/walk or the 10-kilometer run, new this year is a kid’s 1K. Prizes for top male and female runners will include $250, bison meat, and a commemorative medallion.
The annual event draws scores of runners and walkers to the Durham Ranch in Campbell County, four miles north of Wright. Walkers kick off the event at 8 a.m. and runners start at 8:30 a.m. The always-popular “Buffalo Breakfast Burritos” are served at 9:30 a.m. followed by awards for the top finishers in all runner categories and free door prize drawings. Don’t miss out on the final event of the day, the crowd is invited to join a buffalo chip throwing competition for prizes.
The cost to pre-register is $25 per person or $50 per family if participants sign up prior to Friday, May 29. To pre-register or for more information, call the Campbell County Rec Center in Gillette at 682-7406; the Wright Rec Center in Wright at 464-0580; or email: buffalo@vcn.com. Registration forms can also be picked up and dropped off at the Powder River Energy Corporation offices at 200 Garner Lake Road, Gillette, or 221 Main Street, Sundance.
Participation costs after May 29 are $30 for a single, and $60 per family. Event day registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on June 6. All paid registrants receive a T-shirt and running hat as well as breakfast the morning of the run. Family registrations include two T-shirts, 2 hats and breakfast for the family, and all participants are automatically entered in the drawings for door prizes.
The event is an annual fundraising effort for the Powder River Energy Foundation. The event organizers and hosts at the Durham Ranch have partnered with the Foundation because of its wide range of giving to local children’s charities, feeding the hungry, and helping local veterans, to name a few.
Established in 2007, the Powder River Energy Foundation has awarded more than $3.1 million to non-profit community support organizations in Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan and Weston counties.