Folks came from far and wide, some to cook, some to eat, some to see. Those who came to cook, came in style, too. Seventeen original or restored chuckwagons, accompanied by top shelf cooking teams, gathered around the grounds the Saints’ Roost Museum this past Saturday. Charlie Goodnight, if he were still with us, would be right in the middle of things and having a high old time. As it is, I can see him smiling down on us from Heaven, as we gathered together for good food, good entertainment, and good conversation.
I bought my ticket at my bank, the Donley County State Bank, and good fortune immediately commenced to smile upon me. I was assigned to eat the “C – C” (C Bar C) chuckwagon, out of Hartley, Texas, located in the northwest corner of the Texas Panhandle, just south of Dalhart.
The chicken fried steak dinner that head cook Sue Cunningham and her team served up was probably the best chicken fried steak dinner I’ve ever eaten. After two brain surgeries, and a few unfortunate self-inflicted brain traumas – like slipping on ice and landing on the back of my head, twice no less – I may not have the most acute memory in the land. I can, however, say with absolute certainty, that it was the best chicken fried steak dinner that I’ve ever eaten, or remembered eating.
Throw in a generous helping of mashed potatoes, a couple of homemade rolls, and mighty fine peach cobbler, and ‘twas a veritable feast. The only negative, if there was one, in the entire meal was a somewhat paltry serving of peach cobbler. Of course, Sue and her crew may have noticed that my gut appears to be unduly extended, primarily because I’m apt to eat too much of the wrong foods – mostly comfort foods if you must know – and therefore they may have cut my portion of peach cobbler accordingly, in the hopes of adding months or even years to my life.
Anyway, back to the Chuckwagon Cookoff. It turns out that the C – C won this year’s competition for the best overall wagon and cooking. Not surprisingly, they won it last year too.
The crowd was large, featuring folks from all over the Panhandle, and a sprinkling of folks from Oklahoma and New Mexico who drove down for a nice dinner. It was easy to spot the veterans. They came in family groups and carted in tables and chairs, etc, and settled in for the long haul.
The museum itself was also a star of the day. It remained pretty much packed all day long, with myriad folks strolling through the place and enjoying the excellent displays. Young people outfitted in period costumes provided needed commentary and politely answered a wide variety of questions from the roving guests.
Heck, thanks to the Hedley Senior Citizens Center, I was able to enter a raffle for an AR-15 assault rifle. Only in the Chicken Fried Nation can you enjoy a fine chuckwagon dinner with good folks from around the area, listen to a little gospel music, stroll through a museum and enter a contest to win an assault rifle. I’m hopeful that Providence will once again smile on me and allow me to win the AR-15.
While strolling through the museum grounds, while digesting my dinner and visiting with family and friends, I noted that the attendees were old and young, of varying sizes and shapes, some smart, some not so smart, some ranchers, some stock farmers, along with townsfolk and assorted others – all seeming to enjoy each other’s company.
I was also pleased to see that many reasonably well adjusted individuals were packing concealed firearms. With so many locals packing, in the event that a dastardly individual comes along and needs to be shot, I figure that they can handle the shooting, do the required paperwork, and serve any jail time that is deemed appropriate, thus allowing me to feel safe and secure in such a well armed community.
Entertainment was also provided for the diners, with a little rock-n-roll, country and Western, and a touch of gospel. Perhaps sometime in the future, the organizers of the cookoff, who do a fabulous job, will invite a few cowboy poets to come and recite their special form of poetry to the crowd. Everyone should have the opportunity to listen to good cowboy poets as they enthrall and mesmerize their audiences.
The Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff is an extraordinary event, with the proceeds going to a very special cause – the Saints’ Roost Museum. Clarendon and the surrounding area offer many wonderful cultural opportunities that seem to be somewhat overlooked, which is a shame.
Next month, Clarendon once again offers two more opportunities to partake of our cultural bounty. The 2012 Clarendon Arts Festival happens on Saturday, October 27, and Sunday, October 28.
That same weekend Clarendon College will present the first inaugural Clarendon College Stampede, an intercollegiate rodeo, from Thursday, October 25, through Saturday, October 27.
In line with the new rodeo, we also have a new business opening its doors. It’s called Straight Off the Ranch, and the proprietress is Jamie Bebout. Jamie hand crafts various leather items that come off the ranch. Things like chaps, bridals, and handmade leather purses. Her shop is located on Kearney Street, a couple of doors south of Jim Owens’ Boots. Stop in and introduce yourself and welcome her to our fair town.
Folks who say that not much goes on in our neck of the Chicken Fried Nation simply aren’t paying attention.
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