Dateline: September 26, 2002

Museum ready to host annual cookoff 

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

A busy day is in store at the Saints’ Roost Museum as the eighth annual Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff gets underway this Saturday, September 28.

Museum officials say 12 wagons are signed up to compete for top prizes, and the day will provide great family entertainment for all ages. Two other wagons were scheduled to compete but had to pull out in recent days due to circumstances beyond the museum’s control.

“We’re encouraging everybody to come out to the museum and have a great time,” said museum board member Bobbie Thornberry. “The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend, so it will be a great time to be outdoors.”

The gate opens at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast and lunch concessions provided by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce. The tradeshow starts at 10 a.m., and museum tours will be available throughout the day.

Patrick Robertson and KEFH-FM will provide music beginning at 11 a.m. Live entertainment begins at 2 p.m., and performances are scheduled all day. The Chuckwagon meal will be served at 5 p.m. with a menu of chicken fried steak, potatoes, beans, and cobbler.

At 6:30, the museum will raffle off a pair of James Owens Handmade Boots, and the cookoff awards will be presented at 6:45.

The Clarendon College Theatre Department will present, “The Rat Catcher’s Daughter or Death Valley Daze,” at 7 p.m.

Admission to the all-day event is free. Tickets for the authentic Chuckwagon supper are $10 each and can be purchased in advance at Henson’s in Clarendon by calling 806/874-3517. Boot tickets are also available at Henson’s or from any museum board member.

On Sunday morning, cowboy church will be held under the tent at the museum with preaching by Shannon Hall of Loco, Okla.

All proceeds will benefit the Saints’ Roost Museum’s continuing efforts to preserve the history of Donley County. The museum is housed in the former Adair Hospital just off State Hwy. 70 South.