The Sheridan High School football field was leveled and received new sod this summer in preparation for the upcoming football season. The project did not require the use of any funding from the Sheridan school district. 

“We were able to raise approximately $75,000 in about 45 days,” said Sheridan School Board trustee Jason Hardy. “The project was an enormous undertaking that took place in a very short period of time. We broke ground on June 2 and finished laying the sod on June 27. This goal was achieved thanks to our many talented and hard-working tradesmen and volunteers in our tight-knit community. Once the project launched, it carried an infectious vibe as people reached out wanting to contribute in any way possible. Many thanks to our volunteers and private donors that contributed to make this project possible.”

The field had not been level for as long as anyone can remember. 

“There was approximately a six-foot discrepancy from beyond the back of the end zone to beyond the back of the end zone,” Hardy explained. “I’ve talked with guys who played on the field in 1962 and it’s been that way as long as they can remember.  They claimed it was always beneficial to have the ball at the start of the second half to use gravity in their favor.”

The momentum to correct the issue with the field at this point in time came from the community. 

“We had a local excavation company (Frontier Earthworks) express interest in voluntarily taking on the project,” said Hardy. “Coach Tyler Lott composed an email which was sent out to a group of individuals that met at the field, in which a discussion was had and before we knew it, volunteers of specific trades were falling into place and just like that, the project was underway.”

“This project has been a dream, talked about for decades,” said Sheridan School Board of Trustees chair Kendra Horn. “Many of us working on the project would say ‘field of dreams.’   I never expected it to happen in my lifetime.”

“Jason Hardy took the lead on this project and with the generous help of others, it all came together,” she continued. “Jason really was the boots on the ground and put in countless hours lining up material, volunteers, contractors, manual labor, etc. Jeremy Miller and his crew were the other big piece to the puzzle. They went straight to work moving dirt. That was a significant part of the project.” 

“There is no way to list everyone that came out to help,” she expressed. “I honestly think a large portion of the community and students showed up in one way or another. We truly live in the greatest small town. People have pride in their community and school. When there is a need, they show up. The amount of gratitude I have for everyone who helped with this project is immeasurable.”

The football players, who will be the first to play on the newly leveled field, got their hands dirty in the process as well. 

“Team involvement was steady in one way or another,” said Hardy. “Most of the team was able to help at night or on the weekends, as the majority of them were working around a work schedule. The team really stepped it up when it was time to lay the 90,000 square feet of sod. The excitement was definitely building during the installation as they couldn’t wait to play on the lush Kentucky bluegrass.”

The newly leveled playing surface and fresh Kentucky bluegrass aren’t the only improvements that the field has undergone leading up to the fall season. 

“The football field project is complete with new LED stadium lights and an underground irrigation system throughout,” said Hardy.

While the project is technically complete, there is still some tending that needs to be done to the field to make sure it is ready for kickoff in the fall. 

 “The sod has taken root and is being practiced on lightly at this point in time,’ Hardy said. “The areas that didn’t receive sod have been hydroseeded and we are anxiously awaiting for it to start coming up.”

The first game on the new turf is scheduled for Friday, September 5 vs Harlowton. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.