Bancroft Rodeo schedule unchanged by fire; Kareen Crockett named Grand Marshal

As of press time, Bancroft Rodeo and Pioneer Day Parade organizers say that there will not be any changes to the schedule, listed below.  Despite the fires in downtown Bancroft, the Lions Den (where the breakfast is scheduled to be held) was largely undamaged, and none of the structures involved in the day’s events were affected.  In what will surely be an emotional day, the community is invited to come show their support for the city of Bancroft and its residents on July 24!

McKayla McLain of the Bancroft Rodeo Committee notes: “This is the 127th Consecutive Year of the Bancroft Pioneer Day Rodeo. We even rodeoed through Covid. Our stock contractor is Wayne Hebdon with Diamond H Stock. Wayne’s grandfather was raised and farmed in Chesterfield. The Rodeo is put on by 100% donations and 100% volunteers. We couldn’t put on this rodeo without all our help and sponsors. Some of the Rodeo Members have even been on the committee since 1961. It’s a home of lots of reunions, family and school. People plan on coming back years in advance and we hope to always be able to put on this memorable event.”

July 24 Schedule of Events

Lions Club Breakfast from 6am-10am at the Lions Den on Main Street. 

5k Fun Run/Walk at 7:30am 

Rodeo Slack 9am

Parade 10am 2025 Theme “They Also Serve” 

Vendor Booths at the Bancroft Trading Post. 

Kids Races at 1pm 

Rodeo starts at 2pm (full event schedule to come)

Hatch Band and Dance 8pm Middle of Main Street

Fireworks at Dark 

Rodeo Books open July 13th at 6pm 

Call (208)339-6475 Due to high call volume and a one woman show, call until you reach someone. No texts or voicemails. 

Grand Marshal Kareen Crockett

Kareen was born in Chesterfield, Idaho, to Ammon Paul and Phyllis Hatch. Her brothers and sisters are Ammon Paul Hatch, Jr., Gaylie (Bradley), LaPreal (Perkins), and Gary Hatch.

She went to first grade in the Chesterfield School House, which had grades 1 - 6. After one year in school in Chesterfield the school was consolidated with Bancroft. She graduated from High School and went to Ricks College, then Utah State Agricultural College, and on to LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, graduating with a Stenographer’s Degree.

She married Armond Lee Crockett on December 18, 1953, in the Logan Temple, Logan, Utah. They have six children: Ryan, Kyle, Brett, Teresa, Von, and Callie. After finishing school in Salt Lake City, Utah, She joined her husband, Lee, as he was in the Army and stationed at Wolters Air Force Base, Mineral Wells, Texas. She worked for Civil Service on base in the Inspector General’s Office.

After Lee was discharged they came home to Chesterfield and started farming where they raised their family.

Along with helping on the farm, she went to work at First Bank and Trust in Bancroft, ID, as a teller and then as manager. After the bank closed she went to night school at Idaho State University and applied for a job at the FBI in Pocatello, Idaho, and was hired on where she worked until she retired.

After retirement Lee and Kareen decided to spend their winters in St. George, Utah, which they
both enjoyed.

Lee passed away in December 2006. Kareen later married Nephi Anderson and he passed away in 2019.

She has always enjoyed coming home in the summertime and working in her garden and flowers. She has spent many years volunteering at the Chesterfield Town site, which she enjoyed very much.

She enjoys spending time with family and grandchildren and looks forward to their visits.

She has always loved celebrating the 24th of July in Bancroft, Idaho, from the time her parents bought her a pair of cowboy boots to the time she was a teenager and was part of the Royalty for the July 24th rodeo and celebration. She says she especially enjoys the rodeos in Bancroft and never misses going.

She says “I love the people here! Chesterfield is my roots and I love it here.”