Cut 'Em Loose!

by Beverly Tjerngren

I grew up in a small town, surrounded by forests and rivers and mountains and wheat fields and cattle pastures. When I was in high school I couldn't wait to get out of there, but thanks to the perspective that comes with distance, I've discovered what a little gem it is and how many great things it has to offer. It's been four years since I was there last, but when my heart longs for "home," Grangeville, Idaho is where I want to be.

Photo copyright Lorie Palmer

I didn't grow up thinking of my town as a "small town." It's the hub of the area, the most happening place in at least a 70-mile radius. Despite its population of just over 3000 people, Grangeville is the county seat of Idaho County, the largest county in the state and the fourth-largest county in the United States. The county is largely made up of national forests and farm- and ranch-land. The bulk of its workforce makes a living, in one way or another, off the land.

"Gem" is truly an apt description and Grangeville lies in the heart of the Gem State at the edge of a high-mountain prairie. The Nez Perce National Forest starts just a mile outside town, with 2.2 million acres of beautiful and diverse land. Here you can brave the "River of No Return" in the rugged Salmon River canyons, hike in the moist cedar forests of the Selway drainage and camp so deep in the hills that you'll forget what civilization looks like. There's ample hunting and fishing if your interests lie in that direction, and outdoor sporting opportunities are endless, but if quietly gathering wildflowers in expansive meadows is more to your liking you'll still find plenty to catch your eye here. The forest has something for everyone.

Spectacular as it is, the Nez Perce National Forest is only part of what makes Grangeville such a treasure. The beautiful Camas Prairie sprawls for miles outside town and it's lovely country for taking a leisurely drive on a sunny, early spring afternoon or for walking in peaceful solitude on back country roads. The sight of acres upon acres of golden, ripening wheat never fails to put me in a mood of deep contentment and I've always loved to be out on the prairie when harvest is approaching.

Perhaps the most prominent jewel in Grangeville's crown is Border Days, an annual July Fourth festival revolving around the Border Days Rodeo, the oldest rodeo in Idaho. Since it was first held in 1912 the rodeo has been the main event, but Border Days has expanded over the years to include parades, food stands, a carnival, Art in the Park, barbecues, dances and evening events, street games and numerous other attractions.

Border Days has a way of summoning home Grangeville's native sons and daughters. Whenever I'm there for it, just walking down the street is like a high school reunion. Don't make the mistake of thinking that it's a "locals only" event, though--literally thousands of people from all over the country travel to Grangeville to join the celebration and it's always a great opportunity to make new friends, as well as to catch up with old ones. If you're in the mood for a genuine slice of Americana with a Wild West twist, plan to spend your next Fourth of July in Grangeville!

Photo copyright Mike and Marilyn Hedges