Head ‘em up and move ’em out!

Any time, a wagon train moves out, there’s a chuck wagon rolling along

And, so it will be on Saturday, September 21 when the Burning Bush Cowboy Church in Troy hosts a Chuck Wagon Cook-Off at the Burning Bush Cowboy Church next to Cattleman Park on Highway 231 south of Troy.

Alvie Walker, church pastor, said four or five chuck wagons will challenge for first place honors in the Chuck Wagon Cook-Off along with local Dutch oven cooks.

This will be Burning Bush Cowboy Church’s first Chuck Wagon Cook-Off and chuck wagons will roll in from North Alabama and Mississippi and possibly from Tennessee to participate.

Walker said chuck wagon cook-offs are throwbacks to the Old West when the chuck wagon was a vital part of any wagon train.

“A chuck wagon carried everything it needed to cook the meals on the trail,” Walker said. “The teams that compete in the cook-off will supply everything they need to prepare a stew, cornbread and a dessert. Everything must be prepared on site and over an open fire.”

Judges from local churches will determine which meal is best and a winner will be declared.

When the dinner bell rings, everyone will be invited to drop a donation in the box and chow-down.

“A lot of people have never seen a chuck wagon and never had a meal prepared by cowboys over an open fire,” Walker said. “We invite everyone to come and enjoy the Chuck Wagon Cook-Off and the other activities we have planned.”

The Cook-Off will begin around 8 a.m. with a winner declared around noon. There will be live music throughout the event that includes The Sheppard Family, Tommy and Tina Mann and The Garners.

“We’ll also have vendors and we’re not charging a vendor fee but would appreciate a donation,” Walker said. “Our outdoor arena will be open and activities will be going on in there. The Chuck Wagon Cook-Off will be a day of Old West family fun. We invite everyone to come out and join us.”

For more information about vendor space or to enter the cook-off text or call 334-372-2492.