Frontier Days is a tradition dating from the first Frontier Days held in October of 1914, when White River town was three years old. A booster group, including the "Bent Q Band" and Indian dancers, traveled through Iowa, Nebraska and eastern South Dakota promoting the "wildest rodeo in the west". There were estimates of as many as 10,000 people here for the three day events.
The rodeo association sold out after the 1930 rodeo, due to hard times. In 1941 Frank Krogman and his brother, Louie, revived Frontier Days. They put together a string of great broncs, including "Uncle Sam", "B.O. Plenty", "My Buddy", "Copper", and "Oh Jesus".
Frank and Louie sponsored their last rodeo in 1954. Random rodeos were held through the next few years, but it wasn't until 1961 that we saw another Frontier Days rodeo when the Bi-centennial Committee sponsored a rodeo at the football field. Donna Jensen served as Rodeo Secretary at this rodeo, and has been on the job at every rodeo since. Jerry Krogman was a young contestant; in 1974 he started judging at Frontier Days, and still does.
In 1962, Otterman Post #94 decided that Frontier Days was a tradition we could not let die. Roy Hight managed a rodeo that year at the football field, but it was clear a permanent facility was needed. In 1963, the Legion bought land on the southeast corner of town, and the work commenced! Money, labor and equipment were donated by the community, and there was soon a grandstand estimated to seat 3200, pens, chutes, toilet facilities, adequate parking and everything else needed to stage Frontier Days on August 17 and 18, 1963. Governor Frank Farrar was a special guest of the American Legion.
The Legion has continued to make improvements. Lights were installed and a cement dance floor with a bandstand was added. Most recently, the bucking chutes have been moved so they face the grandstand, and there's not a bad seat in the house.
The Otterman Post #94 members are an inspiration to the community to make each Frontier Days the best ever. Everyone pitches in and helps, with Harold Krogman, Rodeo Chairman, and his Committee members, Alvin Tucker and Roy Ozanne, showing us the way. The chute bosses and arena crews take second place to no one, and serve year after year without being asked. The Legion Auxiliary Ladies operate their concession stand for two dances and two rodeo performances, and help out where ever needed.
White River Frontier Days is recognized for the tremendous stock provided by our stock contractors. Lyle Nelson's stock provided the thrills for the first couple of years. For over 20 years Don Hight, a hometown boy and Legion member, provided some of the roughest stock you might hope to draw. Bill Held used to furnish some mighty rough bulls out of the Nebraska country. The past few years Jeff Waln's Rodeo Company has furnished the stock, and they maintain the Frontier Days tradition and then some!
There is no greater thrill than standing for the National Anthem at our Frontier Days arena on a hot August day, and seeing the American Legion's flags of the 50 states whipping in the breeze from tall posts around the arena, with the cowboys and cowgirls and their horses on parade, bulls bellowing in the pens behind the chutes! Memories bring us back to White River every third weekend in August. August... White River, SD... Frontier Days!