Registration
will open online:  February 1, 2024.  
Here is a link to a Registration Video.
Here is a link to Register for the Conference

Cost:  $250/person
Includes meals Thursday am to Saturday pm,  cost of Woman's Club rental and insurance coverage, paying our teachers and chef!

One-day attendees:   $100/day
includes meals; classes are extra

Schedule
Includes an evening event at local braider Heidi's home.  One evening is Show & Tell (a favorite event) and presentation of the Rug Challenge:  Wild, Wild West.  Author and Braider Betsy Sturges (The Braided Rug Book) will share some of her mother's rugs
Print the schedule:  click here

Classes
Beginner Braiding, Zigzag Tote Bag, Candle Basket, Multistrand Border & Butt, and Butting Classes (Sturges, Annie's Fanny). Classes are priced inexpensively at $20/session; a two-session class is $40.  View or Print class information here

Scholarship Information
Six scholarships for $150 off the cost of registration ($250) are available.  Must be a VF Guild member to apply. 
For more information:  click here.

Lodging
Attendees make their own lodging reservations. There are a variety of lodging options available based upon the size of your family or braiding buddies attending with you. Solo attendees are welcome too of course.  There are options within Story, (The Story Pines Inn, Waldorf A'Story Guest Haus), and more in nearby Sheridan and Buffalo, which are 15-20 minutes away by car.  Also consider VRBO and Air B&B:  there are several in Story.  

Camp Sites:  
The Story campground is in ownership transition and might not be open in June, 2024. More dependable campgrounds to stay at  are in Sheridan or Buffalo.  Buffalo has shade trees; Lake DeSmet has fishing and boating. 
Sheridan             Buffalo  
North of Buffalo:  Lake DeSmet 

The Site:  Story Women's Club
With a large kitchen, plenty of table space for up to 36 braiders, bathrooms and light and windows, the Women's Club will be a comfortable place for us to braid together!

Meals
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus afternoon snack & coffee/tea, Thurs breakfast through Saturday dinner,  are included in the cost of registration.  Excellent chefs have been hired to prepare delicious meals!  Gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options available.  Pitch in to help clear your dishes and clean up.

Trailing Spouse
This term refers to a spouse, relative, or friend who will be eating with us but will not be attending our braid sessions or classes.  The fee is $30 PLUS meals that the spouse/friend shares with us:  keep a tally of which meals are eaten with braiders and pay by check at the end.  Breakfast $10, Lunch $14, Dinner $16.
 
Airports:
Closest is Sheridan Airport.  Locals will provide transportation from the Sheridan airport.  
Billings, Montana airport is 2 hrs, 15 minutes drive away;
Casper, Wyoming is 2 hrs drive;
Cody/Yellowstone is 4 hrs drive;
Denver International is 6 hrs drive. 
TO SHARE RIDES from airports, email Janet O'Connell
regarding your travel arrangements

Nearby Attractions:  
Big Horn National Forest
South Piney Creek Trails
Story Fish Hatchery & Visitor's Center
The Brinton Museum in Big Horn
Wagon Box Battle Monument
Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site

 Yellowstone National Park-- 5 hour drive away

Rug Challenge:  The Wild Wild West! 
Think cowboys, saloons, sheriffs and their stars, revolvers, buffalo, Native Americans, prairies, wanted posters, cowboy boots and cowboy hats, mesas, mountains.... Bring your braided items to share at the Show & Tell event, or send them to be featured (more info on where to send them will appear later). 

Fishing Sites
Tongue River Reservoir (hour  away) for walleye, northern pike, bass, crappie… Tongue River Canyon for trout - Lake DeSmet for trout, and TONS of mountain streams in the Bighorns.