Editors Note:
Since 1947, Oakley’s Pioneer Days have been promoted and sponsored by a group known as the Oakley Vigilantes. Originally organized as a riding club, they eventually emerged as a performing group, participating in countless parades, rodeos and other outdoor events. 

Riding in many local and regional events, the Vigilantes earned a reputation as one of the very finest precision riding groups, and were well-known throughout the area.

The Vigilantes produced beautiful souvenir programs, in conjunction with every recorded Pioneer Day celebration from at least as early as 1950.  The Oakley Valley Museum’s collection of Oakley Vigilante programs contains a copy of almost every celebration from 1950 to the present time, and were recently digitized. These programs contain a treasure trove of local information of the Oakley Valley, including rodeo royalty, contestants, honored guests, guest speakers and much more. During the past two decades, volumes  have also included feature articles on many noted local citizens from the area.  Many prominent businesses including many that are long-gone will be remembered by locals in the programs’ advertising sections. 

Besides sponsoring the Annual Pioneer Day celebrations, modern-day Vigilantes are known for sponsoring numerous fund-raising and benefit events in the community.  No longer a riding club, they still “sit high in the saddle” for the many worthy causes and events, serving almost as the local service club of the Oakley Valley. 

The Vigilantes published several versions of their history in their souvenir programs. The following account, republished in the mid-1990s, comes from an earlier version, later modified and updated by an unknown author.  The photos come from a separate early-1960s version.

HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF THE OAKLEY VIGILANTES

“INTRODUCING Oakley Vigilantes who hail from one of the oldest and most southern towns of the State. A place which has helped write the romantic history of Idaho for more than 70 years, where Western life was really lived and not just written about.’

“Oakley, by deed and story, knows the life of the cowboy from early spring until the last cow is rounded up in the late fall. Its men have known what it was to trail cattle from the open range to distant railway markets and sell them from $6 to $10 a head.’

“In the early seventies and eighties Oakley knew what it was to have their herds raided by the common rustlers and they also knew what it was to bring them to justice in the methods of the early west. Range wars rose to their height between cattle and sheep men and the bullets from the old .44 six-shooter claimed the lives of men on both sides.’ 

“Hence, Oakley became a fitting place for a riding club, or posse, for the love of a good horse and the desire to ride still lived in the new generation.’

“In 1946 the group organized a Riding Club. Officers were chosen for a year…to promote the programs of entertainment, better horses and horsemanship, besides improving the grounds.”  In 1947 the group was incorporated with the State of Idaho. It was named the Oakley Vigilantes by Charley Brown, the editor of the Oakley Herald. By 1948, a lighted field was made ready and riders were able to train their horses in the evening, so they no longer had to ride on Sundays.’

“Ed Hunter had the ambition to organize the riding group, sparking many skilled handlers of horses to join, including Edward Hunter, Jesse Bedke, Merrill Warr, Claude Critchfield, Willard Elison and others. They would go out and ride for the fun of it. Some of the girls also went with them…the women sold chances on a horse bridle the first year. It brought over $600.00- the first money the posse had.  Many of the descendants of those hard riding, quick-shooting pioneers are still engaged in the raising of livestock.’       

“In 1948, two groups, Men and Ladies, became charter members of Idaho State Riding Club, (attending) the division meet at Malad, Idaho, also the Ladies rode at the State meet at Rupert.

The Vigilantes have received many compliments. The Oakley Herald reported, ‘People tell them they are the best riders seen anywhere. They rode their drill with such great speed that people thought it was extremely dangerous, but precision and fine horsemanship made it possible- the women riding the same way.’  

“The Girl Vigilantes are praised even more highly. People say, ‘there aren’t any other girl riders anywhere who can even approach them in horsemanship.’ Their first drill was spelling out ‘Oakley’. They were considered the first women posse in the state of Idaho.  ‘The most fun we ever had’ was the feeling of many Vigilante.’

“As times changed, so did the purpose of the Vigilantes. The present-day Vigilantes have become more of a service club to the community, than a riding club, or performing group. They still sponsor Oakley Pioneer Days, but do far more than that in the community, hosting numerous fund-raising and benefit events for those in the area.”

Sources: Oakley Vigilantes Pioneer Days Souvenir Programs, 1949, 1994, 1999, 2016