Stevensville and Virginia City Mt, 2016 Cook offs

Well another busy season for us and the Circle Diamond Wagon. First stop was Stevensville, Mt at their Western Heritage Days 16th - 19th of June. As usual now, Eli and I left early for Stevensville on Thursday the 16th. We did not stop at Miracle Of America Museum this year. We arrived at Stevensville around noon I guess.

My right hand man Eli.

My new friend from West Allis, WI. Rick Wyrwas, came and cooked with us.I met Rick in Virginia City, Mt at the cook off there last year. He dabbles in Dutch Oven cooking so I invited him to come cook with us this year in Stevensville. He travels the Western States every year and come to Montana he has a brother in Billings so they meet up. He also loves to fish. 

Rick and I taking a break.

Megan came over on Friday as she had to work, It is always a joy to cook with her, I'm glad she shows interest and seems to enjoy it. She helped us in Ruidoso, NM at the Lincoln Cowboy Symposium also.

Our son Lewis and his wife Jessica and my granddaughter Eva, came over for the day and pitched in. I was grateful as I had a plate full of things going on. Jessica got on the potatoes, and Lewis stoked fires and coals so we could keep cooking. I really appreciated that.

The best part of my day was when Eva showed up in her new pioneer dress. I was so proud I stopped what I was doing and introduced her to all the wagons. It was a great surprise.

It was a good time, we only had 5 wagons this year as some off our friends were dealing with some trying times. We missed them greatly.

This is the Quarter Circle O wagon from Wyoming, My new cousins great folks. Cindy, Ray, Heidi, Charlotte

Hogans Wagon Works from Hamilton, Mt
Charlie and Gary

Lewis and Clark from Helena, Mt
Julie and Chris Munson.

Creek House from Stevensville, Mt
Ned and Terri Larson,

Circle Diamond from Columbia Falls, MT
Gary, Megan and Eli Heil

There was a kids cook off, the product was they had to cook pancakes. First a relay race consisting of running to a pile of wood for their fire, then to get their ingredients. Who ever got there pancake made first won that round.

This was the first place winner of the relay race, I'm sorry I did not get her name.

Then they were required to cook a short stack ( 3 pancakes) and they could use what they wanted in their pancakes. This is the first place winner in the short stack contest.

They all won something and they all did great, Eli even competed and he said it was fun.

Here are more pictures from Stevensville 2016

The party is over next stop Virginia City MT

Circle Diamond First Montana Cook off

Well we finally got to bring the Circle Diamond Wagon to its new home in Columbia Falls, MT.

First vehicle in our garage. While in here I pulled the front wheels and soaked them in water for a few days. Then greased the hubs and resembled. It is about a month before competition. I soaked the water barrel for about 2 weeks. Then started packing for Stevensville, Mt the first Wagon cook off for the Circle Diamond in Montana. After about 3 days of deciding what to take and where it was going to ride I got the wagon loaded. In New Mexico there were five of us loading and taking everything we could. It took 4 pickups to get us to the Lincoln County Symposium. On pulling the wagon, on pulling a trailer with cooking gear, on pulling a wood wagon and one for groceries and everything else.

So on Thursday morning the 18th of June my grandson Eli and I headed for the event.

 It took us about 31/2 hours of a normal 2 1/2 hour trip. We stopped at a Museum he spotted just South of Polson, Mt. It was the first time for both of us to visit this museum called Miracle Of America Museum. They had a little bit of everything, but no Chuck Wagons. They thought the Circle Diamond was pretty nice. There were Motorcycles, old cars, old fighter planes even a UFO exhibit. Beings I lived there for ten years.

After that we headed to Stevensville and arrived about the same time as my friends Julie and Chris Munson with the Lewis/Clark Wagon. I cooked with them last year. After getting the wagon unloaded it was time to set up everything. My friend Dan Fison better known as Bad Water Dan, came to help Megan, Eli and I cook.

Getting set up

Looking pretty Good

Bad Water Dan

Chris Doing what he does best.

Chris and Julies, Lewis and Clark Wagon

The wagons were judged on Friday for authenticity, we were dinged for a few items that I'm still trying to gather some stuff, overall I was happy with my results and thank full for the information from the judges. They had a youth cook off, only seven kids signed up with eight wagons, I asked not to have a kid, Eli could not cook on our wagon and I was not sure he would listen to anyone else. Dan's daughter Casey did cook in competition. I don't remember where she ended up in judging, but she is an awesome cook. If she would of come back on Saturday, she could of helped us, maybe next time.

Dan and Casey

Saturday I was up early starting fires and coffee, prepping the beans, meat, boiled water for the potatoes and kept hot water on the fire box for dishes. Megan did the desert, fried apples easy and simple, we had to cook Pan De Campo for a bread it is the Texas state bread. Its like a thick pancake. Dan did potatoes, we par boiled them then smashed them ended up like fried potatoes. But we won first place with them. I hope Dan has the recipe because I forgot all ready what was in them.

Bad Water Dan and the Blue Ribbon.

First Place Taters

It was a whirl wind getting everything ready for the judges and people. We were all pretty busy with not only our own but helping each other out with sampling finding stuff and trying to stay out of each others way.

Fires going for coffee, meat and extra coals.

Megan getting instructions from judges

Dan frying bacon for taters.

When it was all done, we started to clean up, dishes is everyone's nightmare especially cast iron ovens. But we had about 5 hours before judging results. While most of us were busy there was time for some checkers.

Eli, Eva playing checkers with Bill Wrights Granddaughters.

Then it was award ceremony. This is what most everyone is excited by. My philosophy is I do this for fun, put out the best meal I can. If we win great if not well that's okay also. It was fun just being there and making friends and re acquainting with old ones. There were a lot of winners, like I said earlier we won first place in taters. I was totally shocked, I new we had a good meal but was not expecting any awards. We were up against some tough competitors, most have been doing this longer than I have, but I learn from them so it is all good. I'm happy for everyone.

The Quarter Circle HO Chuckwagon was the top wagon, winning in several categories. They are repeat winners from last year. Based out of Wyoming

Hiedi Gullion Hernandez, Charlotte Reed-Brown. Cindy McFarland Gullion and Ray Gullion. I may be related to these folks from way back as my grandfather was McFarland and also from Wyoming. Even if it isn't so, I'm still claiming Cindy and her family as my cousins. 

Through this whole ordeal it was a lot of hard work and a lot of fun for me. I can't answer for Megan or Dan, but it was great. I can only hope we can continue with having a great time. 

Thanks Megan for helping out on your first Chuckwagon competition, I loved having you there with me, it meant a lot. Love you.

Cook's kissing for good luck

Until next time Happy Trails, everyone.

One happy but tired Cowboy.

Circle Diamond Finds A New Home

Megan and I traveled to Roswell New Mexico in October of 2014, one to visit our dear friends and two for me to cook at the Lincoln Cowboy Symposium Chuck Wagon Cook Off. This would be my 6th year, competing with my friends (Walt Lowe, Bob Wooley, Robert Floyd, Bill Hartman) from Roswell. Bill did not come this year and was replaced by a new cook. Walt and Bob bought a new wagon and named it Black Iron, which is the name of our gang the Black Iron Gang. I had a great time, seeing my old friends and making new ones. We cooked but did not win any awards. Our goal has always been to put out a good product and have a great time. If we won anything then that was a bonus to us.

They had herd that Phelps Anderson was going to sell his wagons, I guess he was down sizing. it was really strange as we were traveling I had asked Megan if I should call Phelps to see if he would sell us a wagon. I heard from Bob that he indeed was going to sell a wagon.

I called and talked to Phelps about which wagon he was selling, he said it was the big wagon, I did not know a big wagon, I knew he had two the Circle Diamond and the Diamond A, after some discussion we were talking about the same wagon that I would like to buy the Circle Diamond.

I had cooked on this wagon for 5 years, had taken it to the farm when we lived in New Mexico and re-oiled the wood and some good cleaning. So I had history with this wagon.

We struck a deal that made both of us happy. He new it was going to a good home and to a person that would take care of such a great part of history. I promised to give it a good home and cherish it with the respect it deserves. I also promised that if I competed with it that I would fly the New Mexico state flag. Unfortunately one of my first projects is to find a new one as the rats at a hole in the old one.

The journey to the north began on October 13th from Roswell to Columbia Falls, Mt our new home. Unloaded and repacked the wagon for the trip.

Reloading for the journey home.

We left early and headed to Fort Morgan, Co. to Megan's brothers farm (whom we unfortunately lost a couple years back). He had picked up some harness from Roswell that his dad had. We asked if we could have it if they were not going to use it. They were very happy that we would like to use it on the Circle Diamond since it would of meant so much not only to Megan's dad but her brother Cary. We arrived late on the the 13th, had a great visit and departed the next morning heading north to our next stop, Billings, Mt.

 

Casper, Wyo.

We just overnight-ed in Billings and stayed with my Mom. She rearrange her house so guests would have a comfy room to sleep while visiting. Also its always good to go home to Mom once in awhile. We did manage to meet one of Megan's friend who joined us for diner.

Big Timber, Mt.

We took another way home to show the wagon to our new friends and fellow Chuck Wagon owners Chris and Julie Munson from Helena, Mt.. I had cooked last summer with them twice and had a great time and became good friends. We had lunch looked the wagon over and departed as we still had another 4 hour drive ahead of us.

We left and made arrangements with friends of our son Lewis who had a big empty barn that we could keep the wagon until we got settled. It was a big winter and we had 20 inches of snow in one day. I'm glad the wagon was in a dry barn. Can't wait till spring to get the wagon out and continue the adventure.

Winter storage in Big Fork, Mt.