Black Iron Gang goes to the Cowboy Symposium

Our preparation for the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium Chuck Wagon Cook Off, started back in September. We had a few cookouts to give us ideas of what we would be doing. I for instant baked different types of bread, Sourdough and Yeast breads. Walter worked on his turnovers, not knowing what we were getting he made pecan turnovers. We both entered our practice food in the Eastern New Mexico State Fair. Walter received a 4th place for his pecan turnover, I received a 1st place for my sourdough bread.

We stated to load up the cargo trailer with my stuff then out to Walters so he could load his Dutch Ovens and things in it. With both our equipment loaded we filled the 14 ft. cargo trailer up.

We all left for Ruidoso around 10 am. anxious to get there and start setting up our camp. Well the winds did not co-operate we had gust to 60 mph. Not a good time to set up tents or wagon fly's

    

Staying out of the wind

Flags straight out, Cunningham wagon waiting for wind to stop so they could put up their fly.

Chained to a 1/2 ton pickup.

The big tent even needed anchoring.

We did eventually get our pantry tent and two range tents up.

We packed a lot of stuff

We had diner at the Grubelnik Ranch camp as they were the overall winners last year. We met some other competitors Susan and Russ Richins, Glenn Moreland; the Cunningham sisters. It was great to meet and talk to all these people.

Beans on the flat top.

Dale Grubelnik, and friends having a good chat.

Friday morning I cooked breakfast for our camp and anyone else who wanted to come and eat as I had plenty.

Eggs, Onions, peppers, potatoes, sausage.

Warming up the Tortias

Our fire boxes

Ready for Judging

We finally got camp set up after breakfast as the winds had died down a lot.

For supper Friday night we had some Ribs, Brisket,Pulled Pork, Pork Tenderloin

and Jalapeno poppers. We fed our crew the ground crew, a couple of wagons that were working late on their prep for Saturday and Hopper and Kate, he was the Black Smith we met in Lincoln at Billy the Kid Days.

Cream Cheese, Little Smokies
stuffed Jalapeno's

Cream Cheese & Green Chili
Stuffed Pork Loin

Our youngest Member of the
Black Iron Gang Robert Floyed

Saturday Morning was a whirlwind of bodies trying to get the food going so we could have it ready for judging and our 50 costumers that were eating on the wagon.

Robert and Walt making
Desert 

Everyone is busy

           

Garrett Floyd came up to help
on the wagon. Bill Hartman
Praying for success.

We got everything done on time to send to the judges. Then we served our costumers the best lunch they ever had on a chuck wagon. There were a lot of compliments on all the food. If it was not for all our crew, which grew from 6 to about 12. Thanks to Troy Floyd, Garrett, Floyd, Megan Heil, Jana Wooley, Mike Lowe and the Black Iron Gang : Bill Hartman, Bob Wooley; Gary Heil; Robert Floyd; Walt Lowe. 

After our paying customers left we brought out our friends food and served maybe another 50 + people. It was all good. 

Then it was time to clean up camp and start packing for the trip home. Most of us stayed back at camp while the awards ceremony was being conducted. Walt called and said we were awarded 5th place in the meat category. Which was a surprise, since we were competing against all the professional wagons ( people who travel all over for competition and catering gigs). We only do this once a year mainly for fun, so it is a surprise when we win something. Our goal has always have fun and put out a good meal for the paying customers, their praise is our reward. Placing is a bonus.

Overall I think we accomplished our goals as a team and had a good time doing it. When it gets serious then I will hang my irons up on another wagon( or mine once I get settled in Montana) that just wants to have a good time cooking.

After loading most of Sunday morning it was time to hit the trail until next time.

Empty camp site

                                                                  

Passing the Office

Heading East to home

I don't even know who won the darn thing so I will have to wait until it is posted on the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium web site.Until next year Cowboy Symposium, Happy Trails.

Billy Kid Days Lincloln NM 2013

Megan, I and Walt all went to Lincoln August 3rd to see the town all gussied up and celebrating Billy Kid. Walt and I also wanted to visit with our friend and fellow chuck wagon cook Wayne Calk (from El Paso TX). Wayne had brought his Chuck Truck instead of his wagon.

Mr. Wayne Calk

Wayne's on the right.

With Wayne was with his friend Steve Woods from Denton TX. He was a pleasure to be around.

 Steve cooking hoe cakes and hot dogs. (real Chuck wagon fare them dogs)

We had a great time just shooting the breeze and visiting. Walt drove his project 1941 Chevy truck up which some day will be a Chuck Truck. He was getting some good ideas off of Wayne's truck.

Walt's in middle Rory's car on left

 My brother in law Rory McMinn had his 1939 chevy car there all three looked good together. There was a lot of discussion going on waiting for the parade.

There was a parade scheduled on Sunday so Walt and I went up, also taking some supplies to Wayne and Steve. Before we got to the parade start route, Wayne decides we need to warm up our vehicles so we went on a pre parade drive through town. When Walt and Rory turned around Wayne had been pulled over by the Deputy Sheriff. Not sure what the were discussing but it looked serious.

I believe it went something like this. What the heck is he doing. What do you mean I was to slow, there is a slow limit, hell them horses are slower n me. Now look here officer you come back to camp and I will feed you some fine chuck. Let me see, hey Steve, Gary, Walt you have enough money to bail me out of jail. I'm sure them are about the same words Billy the Kid used in his time. Well the bail money and promise of some chuck got Mr. Wayne free.

We did make it to the parade, and it was a good one, we did not know we were suppose to bring candy and throw it to the kiddo's. Our fault been so long since any of use had been to a parade.

 Steve decided to make some more hoe cakes, (this is how the slaves cooked them in the days. They took the head off their hoe and heated it in the fire then cooked their corn meal cakes on it.) man they were good we even had some black strap molasses to pour on them.

Fun and good friends is always the way to go, we all had a blast just sitting around the fire box, cooking, eating and swapping lies and recipe's. Until next time Happy Trails.

Jesse Andrus & Mike Hillman Memorial Bull Riding in Roswell, NM

Some of the gang got involved with the Jesse Adrus & Mike Hillman Memorial Bull Riding in Roswell, NM. and Don Gay Bull Riding Tour. This was a two day event. Jesse and Mike were some really nice young men who passed tragically in their young lives. They are greatly missed in the Roswell community as well as the Rodeo community.

We brought the Circle Diamond Chuck Wagon to Roswell, thanks to our great friend Phelps Anderson who owns it. We have competed with this wagon going on five years at the Lincoln Cowboy Symposium Chuck Wagon Cook off.

On this occasion we were asked to cook cobblers for the VIP'S , there were looking at around two hundred people, not sure they all were there but their sure was a lot of folks eating. We had some great comments on our cobblers, we had two to choose from we had peach with lattice work and we had mixed berry with cake topping.

             

The bull riding was great as they had over 100 bulls to buck out in two days, they came from all over NM and TX. Don Gay eight time PRCA World Champion Bull Rider was there and stopped by the wagon, it was great meeting a legend.

This could not of happened with out the Black Iron Gang, Wayne Slinkard, Walt Lowe and my self.

Walt Lowe

Gary Heil

Wayne Slinkard

In all I believe there were close two 400 VIP's that ate cobbler, it was a great feat but we told them to call us next year. Thanks to the Andrus family and the Hillman family for having us at this great event our first annual event with them hope many more.

New Mexico Military Institute Trail Ride 2013 (NMMI)

Jim Lowe Alumni Director at NMMI.

I was invited to go on the NMMI by fellow Black Iron Gang members Bill Hartman and Walt Lowe. They needed someone to help shuttle supplies to this annual event. The perks were it would not cost me anything, I got to bring a horse to ride the trails and to cook for the pre-ride folks before the kitchen staff arrived. I have over 150 photos and I will not be able to post all of them sorry. But I will give you some of what happened. We arrived Saturday afternoon in the Quemodo Lake area in the Apache National Forest. Inside this Forest or bordering it is the host ranch El Capo, Buzzy Eastling and his family were gracious hosts. Sunday morning Walt and I fixed breakfast, lunch and super for about 10 folks. Monday the tents arrived and we spent most of the day assembling the camp structures which were the mess hall, entertainment tent and two shower tents. Bill Walt Jim Lowe his wife Joy (no relation to Walt) and I started to assemble the shower tents. We had to bring all the plumbing parts, water tanks, propane water heaters, all the water lines, faucets etc.. to make a great shower. We even had artificial grass on the ground to walk on instead of dirt in the showers and some horse trailer mats to stand on while showering.

Dish washing serving area                           Sam at hand wash area

Folks gathering for lunch                            Garcia's crew setting up the tents

I Walt and Bill finally got to ride together on the first trail ride, it was a great ride we packed sack lunches from the dining hall. We had a wrangler and he was the beer/soda/water packer. We rode out about 2 hours from camp and stopped for lunch under some trees, then back to camp we came for a night of getting to know people and join everyone in the entertainment tent (snacks, beer, wine, soda and water). Then supper under the big dining hall tent. They had a small band play, I went to bed as the rest partied.

The three Amigo's

Lunch under the shade trees

The beer horse

The band.

On the Thursday trail ride they wanted a hot lunch on the trail. So Walt and I packed up his pickup with food Dutch ovens coolers stands everything we needed.

We served them pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw and fresh backed individual pies (apple, cherry, strawberry). We served nearly 50 people on the trail.

Cooking on the trail                        Getting ready to serve

 

Handing out water                           These pies were a hit.

 Terry Brown and his wife Susan

We met some really good people and made some wonderful new friends.

 

Sam and Clarinda Shook                            Jim Lowe

 Joy Lowe

                                                    Deborah Moncrief

There was an award ceremony at the last super. Both Bill and Walt got really nice praise for all the work they did and were recolonized with plaques of appreciation for all the did. I also was awarded a thank you gift from the General, I was shocked as I was a last minute deal and was not expecting any recognition.

Bill and Walt receiving their award

In closing I just want to say thank you Bill and Walt for inviting me along on this great adventure. I enjoyed being there and helping you out. I also made some great new friends, and you are all welcome to my fire anytime. Happy Trails until we do it again.

PS. If this goes crazy it looked nice before I posted it. All in line with captions in the right place etc.. LOL