Honey Jackson, 9, tries her hand with roping at the stick horse rodeo under the direction of 2021 Miss Rodeo Wild Horse Stampede Tiara Whitmus at Faith Home on Saturday, July 9. (Photo by Bill Vander Weele)

Miss Rodeo Montana Briann Grimshaw gives youngsters instructions during the stick horse rodeo at Faith Home on Saturday, July 9. (Photo by Bill Vander Weele)

The Wolf Point Yellow Jackets’ softball team have a fun time in the Stampede parade. The team won the championship in the Major League this summer. (Photo by Bill Vander Weele)

The Wolf Point served breakfast to rodeo contestants at the rodeo grounds on Friday, July 8. (Photo submitted)

Dean and Marlene Malhum received the Northern Prairie Auto - Ram Appreciation Buckles chosen by Jack Nelson. Pictured are (from left) Dave Matejovsky, Dean and Marlene Malhum and JD Stensland. (Photo submitted)

Brock Copenhaver (left to right) and fellow green team members Nick Bighorn and Josh Eggebrecht during the Wild Horse Race at the Wild Horse Stampede RAM Rodeo July 8. (Photo by James Walling)

Grey team rider Mike (right) tries to lead his team to victory at the Wild Horse Race in Wolf Point July 8. (Photo by James Walling)

Almost There Yellow team mugger Jake Flynn (left to right), anchor Jarod Weyrauch and rider TJ Bow ready themselves for the next stage of the July 8 Wild Horse Race in Wolf Point. (Photo by James Walling)

TJ Bow (right) hangs on for dear life with support from teammates Jarod Weyrauch (left) and Jake Flynn (center) during Friday night’s Wild Horse Race in Wolf Point July 8. (Photo by James Walling)

While the solution — money — is simple enough, the problem is vexingly complex. Almost overnight, most skilled-care facilities in Montana, which include nursing homes, went from getting by to now being on the brink of closure. Trade journals for the industry estimate small facilities with less than 100 beds are doomed, and for Montana and its rapidly graying population, that could spell