J Bar D wins cookoff

The J Bar D Ranch was the overall champion of the 23rd annual Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff last Saturday, September 23.

The Amarillo chuckwagon team outshined 12 other teams, placing in every judging category as well as placing first in Wagon and Camp, Overall Cooking, and Overall Wagon and Cooking to take home the custom cutting board designed by Clarendon artist Jack Craft.

Officials with the Saints’ Roost Museum, which sponsors the event, said tickets to the event sold out last Thursday with wagons serving for a total of 650 people.

The tenth annual Junior Cookoff the day before the big event drew eight contestants, who were paired with experienced wagon teams to prepare potatoes for the cooks’ dinner Friday night. Addison Havens from Clarendon won first place and was teamed with the Crosstimbers Ranch from Mustang, Okla.

Haiden Norman of Hedley was second, working with the Honey-Do-Spoiler Wagon from Pampa; and Kami Duncan, also from Clarendon, was third and worked with the Cocklebur Camp from Odessa.

Other junior participants included Taylee Ehlert, Zachary Franklin, Jaythan Green, and Aubrey Stidham.

Following the Junior Cookoff, 209 people enjoyed a delicious steak dinner Friday night on the museum grounds, compared to 215 the year before. The invitation-only event was held exclusively for Chuckwagon teams and members of the Museum and their families as well as members of the Goodnight family.

The trade show was held throughout the day Saturday, and live entertainment was provided. Relatives of Chuckwagon inventor Charles Goodnight also were present for their annual reunion.

The 13 wagons served a menu of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, beans, and cobbler. Complete results were:

Overall Wagon & Cooking: 1) J Bar D Ranch.

Overall Cooking: 1) J Bar D, 2) HX Chuckwagon of Lubbock, 3) C Bar C Ranch of Hartley, and 4) Palo Duro Cowboy Church of Canyon.

Best Wagon & Camp: 1) J Bar D, 2) Crosstimbers Ranch of Mustang, Okla., 3) C4B Chuckwagon of Amarillo, and 4) Honey-Do Spoiler of Pampa.

Best Meat: 1) C Bar C, 2) Palo Duro Cowboy Church, 3) J Bar D, and 4) Tin Cup Wagon of Holly, Colo.

Best Beans: 1) Tin Cup, 2) Honey Do Spoiler, 3) Cocklebur Camp of Odessa, and 4) J Bar D.

Best Potatoes: 1) Trapdrag Wagon of Pampa, 2) HX, 3) J Bar D, and 4) T-Half Circle Wagon of Silverton.

Best Bread: 1) HX, 2) J Bar D, 3) Palo Duro Cowboy Church, and 4) Cross Wagon.

Best Dessert: 1) J Bar D, 2) C Bar C, 3) HX, and 4) T-Half Circle.