Sheep invade small Montana town
By Dan Carter

Each Labor Day weekend they come, a woolly flock of 1,000 or more, flooding the almost-town of Reedpoint, Montana, turning Main Street into a river of wool, and luring thousands of onlookers off Interstate 90.

This year it was rancher Kevin Halvorson's herd that blanketed Reedpoint's only paved road, scampering by the Waterhole Saloon, baa-ing past the fire hall, leap-frogging past the high school gym. Naturally shy, they stayed close together, avoiding the crowd--8,000 strong this year--gathered along the three blocks of this ranch-country town to witness the Seventh Annual Running of the Sheep. A handful of boys joined the stampede.

"This is now the qualifier for the running of the bulls in Spain," joked Spike Jensen, who drove his five vintage sheepherder wagons the 24 miles from his cattle ranch to Reedpoint, claiming second prize in the parade.

The unincorporated town of Reedpoint in south-central Montana has no taxing powers, so its 96 residents use money made from the Sheep Drive to fund the fire department, school, and library. In past years profits have also helped send the Future Homemakers of America to the national convention in Washington, D.C.

Thousands of loyal locals and curious outsiders gathered to watch John Loop win this year's "Smelliest Sheepherder" title, eat lamb burgers, and see a sore-losin' Calamity Jane "shoot" the cross-dressing cowboy after he was crowned "Miss Sheep Drive." (It was only a flesh wound.)

More shots were fired in the re-enactment of the Sheep and Cattle Wars, battles fought between sheep and cattle interests in Montana and Wyoming a century ago. Back then cattle ranchers took a dim view of range land being parcelled into 160-acre plots, terrorizing settlers who came to raise sheep on the land cattlemen claimed for themselves.

At one such "battle" in Johnson County, Wyoming, cattle ranchers tried to force the newcomers out of town. But in today's historical replay, of course, the sheep men were triumphant.

The big day over, a few young girls combed the town for truant sheep. As the crowds filed out of town, it became clear that the 96 residents of Reedpoint were successful shepherds of more than sheep.

Joining her neighbors in bragging about this year's turnout, Diane Hahn, owner of the Waterhole Saloon, described this year's herd. "There were people here from Canada, Australia, some from Europe. They just came from all over."