Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Like cowboys of the past, cook-off teams rode out storms, snow.
Chuck Decker of Mountain Trails chuck wagon in Rye, Colorado, cooks chicken fried steaks in the cast iron skillet as hot coals cook apple cobbler and biscuits in Dutch Ovens.
TUCUMCARI — Chuck wagon teams and enthusiasts braved the harsh elements of a spring snow storm to take part in the 17th annual chuck wagon cook-off at Ute Lake State Park in Logan.
"Cowboys of the plains cooked in good and bad weather; this is authentic chuck wagon conditions," said Dean Decker of the Mountain Trails chuck wagon in Rye, Colorado.
Saturday's weather conditions were less than ideal for a chuck wagon cook-off. People huddled near the chuck wagons for warmth from the fires as the chicken fried steaks cooked in the cast iron skillets and cobblers simmered in Dutch Ovens.
The low was 35 degrees with north winds of 10 to 15 miles per hour and snow accumulations ranging from 2 to 5 inches across the county, according to Randall Hergert of the Albuquerque National Weather Service.
"It was so amazing of the chuck wagon teams to ride out the storm when they very well could have folded up tents and left," said Sharon Reid, event coordinator.
When teams on cattle drives ran into weather like this, they keep going; people have to eat, said Sam Howell of Cocklebur Camp chuck wagon out of Odessa, Texas.
Logan has always had its unique weather challenges during the cook-off; the key is to take it in stride, said Randy Whipple with the C4B chuck wagon of Amarillo, Texas.
Whipple said it was his first time to cook in such challenging conditions, but he and his team were determined to prevail over the elements.
"As long as the fires are burning, everything is OK," said Jim Walter from Rising W chuck wagon out of Rochester, Texas.
Walter said Logan's event kicks off the year of competition for his team. He said Saturday's weather is just another factor that teams have to contend with during competition.
Reid said the determined spirit of the six chuck wagon teams and the community support made the event a success when it could have been a wash. She said residents Warren Frost and Bill Bruhn came to the aid of the event by providing school buses for people and judges to sit in during the event.
Reid said despite the weather, there was still a strong attendance from residents. She said ticket sales were down this year as the weather kept people from Clayton, Albuquerque and Santa Fe from attending the event.
She said the event, sponsored by the Canadian River Renegades, raises money for college scholarships for local students.
