Musselshell County Spelling Bee Crowns New Champion

Reese Thatcher wins county title, advances to state competition

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Twenty students from fourth through eighth grade competed in the Musselshell County Spelling Bee, with Reese Thatcher emerging as the 2026 champion. Thatcher will now advance to the Treasure State Spelling Bee in Bozeman, Montana.

Why it matters

Spelling bees are a long-standing tradition that help promote academic excellence and healthy competition among students in local communities. Winning the county spelling bee is an important milestone that can lead to further success at the state and even national levels.

The details

The Musselshell County Spelling Bee featured 20 students from Roundup Elementary and Melstone Schools who competed in an online test through the Scripps online testing platform. Reese Thatcher of Roundup Elementary was crowned the 2026 champion, with James Moreau finishing as the runner-up.

  • The Musselshell County Spelling Bee was held on March 6, 2026.
  • The Treasure State Spelling Bee will take place on March 21, 2026 at the MSU Strand Union Building in Bozeman, Montana.

The players

Reese Thatcher

The 2026 Musselshell County Spelling Bee champion who will advance to the state competition.

James Moreau

The runner-up in the 2026 Musselshell County Spelling Bee.

Roundup Elementary

The school that Reese Thatcher and several other competitors represented in the county spelling bee.

Melstone Schools

The school that several competitors, including the runner-up James Moreau, represented in the county spelling bee.

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What they’re saying

“Congratulations to Reese Thatcher, the 2026 Musselshell County Spelling Bee Champion! James Moreau is our runner-up. Reese will now be eligible to compete in the Treasure State Spelling Bee to be held Saturday, March 21, at the MSU Strand Union Building in Bozeman, MT.”

— Millie Vescovi (Roundup Record Tribune)

What’s next

Reese Thatcher will compete in the Treasure State Spelling Bee on March 21, 2026 in Bozeman, Montana.

The takeaway

The Musselshell County Spelling Bee showcases the academic talents of local students and provides them with the opportunity to advance to higher-level competitions, ultimately testing their skills against the best spellers in the state.