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.
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| Getting set up |
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| Looking pretty Good |
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| Bad Water Dan |
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| Chris Doing what he does best. |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Bad Water Dan and the Blue Ribbon. |
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| 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.
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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.
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| 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.
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