United States Eventing Association

The AEC Moves to Montana: Preview the Local Area and Book Your Trip Now!

The 2022 United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds are just months away! The AEC will be moving to the beautiful Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana this year, and the surrounding area has endless offerings of sightseeing and entertainment, to turn your AEC trip into a wonderful vacation.

The AEC will run across Labor Day weekend from Tuesday, August 30 to Sunday, September 4. Entries open on July 19, and the closing date for entries is August 16.

Rebecca Farm is a 640-acre farm located in northwest Montana that has been home to The Event at Rebecca Farm since 2002. The property has been developed into a world-class eventing venue, known for its exceptional footing and impressive cross-country courses. Kalispell is located in the heart of Montana’s Flathead Valley, with the neighboring communities of Whitefish and Bigfork. Not to mention, “the Crown of the Continent,” Glacier National Park is just a half-hour away from Kalispell. Come early to explore the local area and make your AEC experience unforgettable.

Kalispell

Rebecca Farm is just minutes from downtown Kalispell, which is the soul of Montana’s Flathead Valley. Many hotels and Airbnb accommodations can be found in town, or in the neighboring landscapes. “The opportunities in Kalispell are as endless as Montana’s star-filled night sky,” says the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. “Explore local shops, cast a fishing line on a nearby river, take in the view of the valley from a nearby mountain peak and enjoy the culinary scene.” Don’t leave town without trying the locally grown cherries and huckleberries.

Glacier National Park

Just 30 miles from Rebecca Farm, Glacier National Park is an American National Park located in northwestern Montana on the Canada -United States border. The park was established as a National Park in 1910, encompassing more than one million acres and features mountain ranges carved by prehistoric ice rivers. It features 25 glaciers and over 200 lakes, with breathtaking views and endless photo opportunities. The park features endless hiking trails, places to camp, and plenty of opportunities for water sports. Plan a day to go whitewater rafting, fly fishing, paddle boarding, kayaking, or enjoy a nice day on a boat on one of the gorgeous lakes. Take the famous Red Bus tour for a nice introduction to the park, or if time is short, the best way to visit the park is by driving along the Going-To-The-Sun Road, which provides spectacular, picturesque views with stopping points along the way.

Whitefish

Whitefish is a neighboring ski town, which also offers plenty of adventure in the summertime. Whitefish has an eclectic downtown area with bustling bars and restaurants and luxury accommodations. Whitefish is used by many as a basecamp for those visiting Glacier National Park, but also offers its own adventure at the Whitefish Mountain Resort, offering an Aerial Adventure Park, an Alpine Slide, bicycle tours, Nordic trails, theatre attractions, hot air balloon rides, and more. Whitefish Lake also provides charming views and a relaxing environment for a boat day.

Bigfork

Bigfork is just seven miles southeast of Kalispell, and provides incredible views of Flathead Lake. Flathead Lake is an expansive, natural lake along the mainline of the Flathead River. It is one of the cleanest lakes in the populated world for its size and type and is the perfect setting for a rental house during an AEC stay. The lake is surrounded by cherry orchards and vineyards, and plenty of farm stands to try the local flavors.

Accommodations for the AEC:

****This information has been updated as of 4/14/22 due to new information provided by the Rebecca Farm organizing team:

The USEA and Rebecca Farm recommend that you make your travel and lodging arrangements as early as possible, due to strong demand for accommodations in the Flathead Valley during the summer tourism season.

Several Kalispell hotels have agreed to offer special pricing on a limited number of rooms to AEC attendees. These rooms will be available on a first come, first served basis and their booking will be managed by Lisa Drye at Flathead Travel Services.

Call Lisa Drye directly at (406)-752-8758 and be sure to tell her that you are calling about the special hotel blocks for the AEC. Drye will be able to provide the latest information as to their availability and can help with other options once the special rate rooms have already been fully booked.

The USEA also recommends searching VRBO, Airbnb, and other home rental sites for local accommodations.

For additional information about lodging and activities in the Kalispell area, visit https://discoverkalispell.com

Golf Cart Rentals
Golf carts must be reserved in advance. Bissell’s Golf Carts will be renting golf carts on-site at the AEC and Greg and Susan Bissell may be reached at: (406) 897-4025

For general questions about the AEC, contact Kate Lokey. For questions regarding AEC qualifications, contact Sharon Gallagher.

About the USEA American Eventing Championships

The USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is the pinnacle of the sport for the national levels. Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Beginner Novice to Advanced. This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of horses and riders from around the country to compete for fabulous prizes, a piece of the substantial prize money, and the chance to be named the National Champion at their respective levels. The 2022 AEC also includes the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final and the 2022 USEA Adult Team Championships.