Like all great cowboys, the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale doesnât quit.
For 70 years, the four-day event carried on through whatever national hard times came along â wars, recessions, the farm crisis, domestic terrorism, and whatever else.
And, then came 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time ever, the world famous âcowboy Mardi Grasâ was called off.
Organizers did not take the cancellation lightly. Not only would it take the fun out of springtime in Eastern Montana, losing the event would cost the region millions in lost tourist spending.
âWe tried putting a number on what was lost last year by the cancellation,â said John Laney, director of the Miles City Area Chamber of Commerce. âWe got up to about $20 million and said, âLetâs just stop counting, letâs not look anymore, itâs too painful.â â