DEMOS & SPECIAL EVENTS
2024 DEMONSTRATIONS
Between the music, snap shirts, and beer, please make a point to check out our demo area. Each day between the acts on the Main Stage, we’ll be profiling traditional agricultural and work skills. It is a celebration of rural Montana, old-fashioned hard work, and excellent craftsmanship.
Horse & Wagon Driving: Friday, July 26th 5:00 PMish
Come check out how to drive a team of horses! JD Vukonich with his team of Suffolk horses will be demonstrating how to work a team pulling a wagon. JD is a long-time cowboy who still feeds cows with a team in the winter months.
Right Choice Sheep Shearing: Friday, July 26th 6:30 PMish
Coming to us all the way from Texas, you’re not going to want to miss Katie and Darian. They are a married, traveling shearing team focused on spreading compassion and education about livestock shearing. They’ll be demonstrating how to shear a yearling Targhee sheep. Thanks to the Bair Company and Jerry Paugh for providing the sheep. #ShearingIsCaring
Crosscut Competition Practice Time: Saturday, July 27th 11:00 AM
Getting ready to enter the famous Red Ants Pants Crosscut Competition on Sunday? Now is your chance to get some practice, try out our saws, and find a partner if you still need one. Did we mention there are great prizes? You could win a weekend pass to the 2025 Festival!
Beginners welcome and encouraged!
Butcher Solutions Meat Processing: Saturday, July 27th 1:00 PMish
Come learn some tips and techniques for meat cutting from Sierra Jepson, owner of Butcher Solutions, LLC in Livingston, MT. Her company provides practical, cooler-to-counter meat science trainings. She specializes in carcass fabrication of beef, pork, lamb, goat, bison, and wild game.
Nailed It! Carpentry 101: Saturday, July 27th 2:30 PMish
One of our Red Ants Pants Foundation Timber Skills workshops is Carpentry 101*. Come join Cole Sommers and Amy Freund, two of our instructors. We know you know how to use a hammer, but have you ever competed in a nail-pounding race?? Beginners welcome!
Northern Shoshoni Traditional Buckskin Artistry: Saturday, July 27th 4:00 PMish
Leo Arriwite is a Northern Shoshoni artist and craftsman in making Bear Dance rasps, buckskin moccasins, and Northern Shoshoni tanned buckskin gloves. His gloves are designed similarly to the gauntlet gloves that his people used for ceremonies, and later as a trade commodity, from patterns dating back to pre-European contact, using methods handed down through generations. Although traditional glove making by his people was historically undertaken by Shoshoni women, when the art was being lost, he decided to take on the trade. This craft is now a family affair involving tanning and beading by his Partner, Toni Timbana, with assistance from his sons Stephen and Bailey.
Right Choice Sheep Shearing: Saturday, July 27th 6:00 PMish
Coming to us all the way from Texas, you’re not going to want to miss Katie and Darian. They are a married, traveling shearing team focused on spreading compassion and education about livestock shearing. They’ll be demonstrating how to shear a yearling Targhee sheep. Thanks to the Bair Company and Jerry Paugh for providing the sheep. #ShearingIsCaring
Crosscut Competition Preliminaries: Sunday, July 28th 11:00 AM
This festival favorite is back again! Come cheer on these folks as they saw their hearts out. Anyone over 18 years old may participate. Closed-toe shoes and gloves are required (we have extra gloves and chaps will be provided). Women’s, men’s, and co-ed divisions. Sign up at the demo area. Preliminaries are on Sunday at 11:00 AM. Finals are on Sunday at 2:30 PM.
Trailer Backing, Chainsaws, Dovetails, Women in Ag and More!: Sunday, July 28th 1:00 PMish
Come see a sampling of all the programs the Red Ants Pants Foundation has to offer. Our Work Skills Courses* include chainsaw, carpentry, dovetail joinery, and trailer backing trainings. Meet our instructors and sign up for a course. Additionally, learn about our Community Grant Program and our Women in Agricultural Communities Well-Being Retreats.
Crosscut Finals: Sunday, July 28th 2:30 PMish
Huge thanks to Red Lodge Mountain for their sponsorship of this event. Winners of the Crosscut Competition will receive a weekend pass to the 2025 Red Ants Pants Music Festival and a handmade, blacksmithed crosscut saw keychain made by JD Vukonich. Buck yeah.
*The Red Ants Pants Foundation puts on Women’s Work Skills courses each year in White Sulphur.
Sign up at the Foundation tent! More info at www.redantspantsfoundation.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS
From campground yoga, the 11th annual Red Ants Pants Beard and Moustache Competition, to a campground hymn singalong, and more!
YOGA
Saturday, July 27th and Sunday, July 28th 9:00 AM @ field north of festival campground
Back by popular demand! Guided by Livingston yogi Alyssa Davis, yoga will be held both Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM on the north side of the campground, just east of the path to the festival grounds. Alyssa teaches with an Anusara yoga style and brings an athletic flavor and playfulness to her classes. Bring your own water and mat, or connect directly with the pasture!
BEARD AND MOUSTACHE COMPETITION
Saturday, July 27th 11:00 AM
The eleventh annual Red Ants Pants Beard and Moustache Competition will be the biggest competition to date! Owner/operator of Briggs Beard Co., Briggs Weyrauch, will host the event.
Founded in 2020 in Missoula, Montana, Briggs Beard Co. continually strives to provide high-quality beard and body products while simultaneously reducing their environmental impact from seed to seal with every batch. Briggs’ specializes in natural beard and body oils and balms that are great for every skin and hair type. Winners of each category will be given a variety of prizes courtesy of Briggs Beard Co.
Compete in one of five categories: Best Moustache, Best Partial Beard, Best Full Beard, Most Creative Freestyle Beard, and Most Creative Craft Beard (for all those who are facial hair challenged). Get your beard brushed out, your moustache curled, or your own beard-like creation built.
Competitors will be judged on how well their facial hair enhances their overall appearance, style, and personality. In the freestyle categories the judges will be asked to consider originality as well as creativity.
FRIENDS OF YOKED PARISH HYMN SING-ALONG
Sunday, July 28th 11:30 AM
Bring a camp chair to the Middle Gate between the campground and festival grounds and join your festival family in a welcoming hymn singalong to kick your Sunday morning off right! Lyrics will be provided.
No experience necessary, just come sing along!
RED ANTS PANTS FOUNDATION TENT
Proceeds from the Red Ants Pants Music Festival support the work of the Red Ants Pants Foundation. Programs include Community Grants, Work Skills Courses, the Girls Leadership Program, Women in Agricultural Communities Well-being Retreats and more. Come visit our Foundation Tent – located next to the demo area- to learn more about our impact!
RAFFLES
Thursday, July 25th – Sunday, July 28th 3:00 PM
Guitar Raffle – Martin SC-13E – with its patented Sure Align® neck system, this guitar gives you full access to all frets so you can comfortably reach those high notes. Here’s your chance to take home this guitar, valued at $1,599, for the price of a raffle ticket. The Martin Guitar Raffle will open on Thursday at the street dance and the drawing will be Sunday at 3pm on the Main Stage. Tickets are $10 each or three tickets for $20. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.
Daily 50/50 Raffles – Once again, we’re bringing this classic raffle back. There will be one winner each day and 50/50 raffle tickets will only be entered to win on the date purchased, so make sure you get your ticket for each day! Half of the sales will go to the winner and the other half will go to the Red Ants Pants Foundation to support their mission-based programming. Tickets are one for $10 or three for $20. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.
Our Girls Leadership Program alumnae and Foundation staff will be selling both types of raffle tickets at the street dance on Thursday and around the festival grounds Friday through Sunday. Thursday you can find tickets in front of the Red Ants Pants shop. Friday through Sunday tickets are available at the Red Ants Pants Foundation Tent (near the demo area) and the 2 Basset Brewery Tent (just west of draft beer). Please consider purchasing raffle tickets to show your support for working family farms & ranches, women’s leadership, and our rural communities!
GIRLS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – BRACELET MAKING
Saturday, July 27th 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
We invite preteen and teenage girls attending the festival to come make a free morse code bracelet with our Girls Leadership Program alumnae. Come learn more about the Girls Leadership Program and our new Eastern Montana Girls Leadership Program.
2024-25 GIRLS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
Each year, eight girls entering their junior year in high school embark upon a year-long leadership journey designed to inspire hope, build strength, develop pride, and foster courage. Paired with a young professional mentor, each participant attends leadership retreats and facilitates a service project in their own community. You can learn more on our website: redantspantsfoundation.org/girls-leadership/
WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER MEET-UP
Saturday, July 27th 3 PM – 4 PM
To celebrate the contributions of wildland firefighters in keeping our Montana landscapes safe, healthy, and beautiful, the Red Ants Pants Foundation, American Wildfire Experience, and MYSTERY RANCH invite all current and former wildland firefighters—volunteer and career—to swing by the Foundation Tent, say “hello” and share a drink with us!
RED ANTS PANTS FOUNDATION SHOWCASE
Saturday, July 27th 5:30 PM – 5:45 PM
Come learn about the programs of the Foundation and how the Red Ants Pants Music Festival fuels our mission! This year the Red Ants Pants Foundation will be awarding one Golden Ant Grant to an organization who is doing exceptional work enriching and promoting their rural community. Join us in recognizing their amazing work!
MARTIN GUITAR RAFFLE DRAWING
Sunday, July 28th 3:00 PM
Martin SC-13E – with its patented Sure Align® neck system, this guitar gives you full access to all frets so you can comfortably reach those high notes. Here’s your chance to take home this guitar, valued at $1,599, for the price of a raffle ticket.
WOMEN’S WORK SKILLS COURSES
Proceeds from the Red Ants Pants Music Festival help fund chainsaw, carpentry, and trailer backing courses offered annually. These courses are designed for participants to learn the safety and practical applications of the skill set in a welcoming and supportive environment.
There are limited spots available for our Chainsaw 101 this Fall, register today! Spring course offerings will open in early 2025 including Dovetail Joinery as well as Trailer Backing. Stop by the Foundation tent for more info and sign up to receive notification when course registrations open at the tent or online at redantspantsfoundation.org/mailing-list.
WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES WELL-BEING RETREATS
This program was created to connect women from a variety of agricultural backgrounds across Montana. During the retreats, participants will use writing, group discussion, informal connection, and guided reflection to draw on their experiences and reset for the year ahead.
Over the course of three days, our professional facilitator team provides participants restorative skill sets and mental health resources. For these women in often isolating rural environments, the retreat brings a renewed sense of community, connection and skill building for sustainable, healthy mindsets. Interested in joining a retreat, please visit our website to learn more.
THANK YOU! The Music Festival is the main fundraiser of the Red Ants Pants Foundation. Your contributions are vital to the work we do. If you are interested in learning more or becoming involved, our staff and board members would be happy to answer any of your questions in the Foundation Tent. Please consider continuing your support of the Red Ants Pants Foundation with a donation. Cheers!
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
If you don’t see your question answered here or in any of our Festival Info, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d be happy to help in any way we can.