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The Frontier Western Celebration brought fun, activities, food, and of course, bull riding to El Dorado over the weekend.
“There’s nothing more fun than fun and that’s what this weekend is all about,” said David Ellis, Western Celebration coordinator.
Following Friday night’s concerts there were a variety of activities Saturday during the Heritage Events.
Among those events was the new addition of the Dutch Oven Cook-off this year. Four teams were taking part in the competition.
One of the teams was from Newkirk, Okla.
They were working on preparing stuffed bread as part of the food they were cooking Saturday morning.
Dawn and Jim Mills attend as many Dutch Oven cook-offs as they can find within a reasonable drive.
They began Dutch Oven cooking about six years ago.
“He actually did Dutch Oven cooking with the Scouts,” Dawn said of Jim.
Then in their hometown, there was a heritage festival started one year, with food and other events. The second year Dutch Oven cooking was added, so Jim and Dawn borrowed a Dutch Oven and participated. They did the same thing the next year, and by the third year they had all of their own supplies.
The fourth year they and some others decided to form a group, the Heartland of the Prairie Dutch Oven Chapter.
They get together once a month for a DOG (Dutch Oven Gathering).
Then the past two years they have qualified for the International Dutch Oven World Championship Cook-Off in Utah.
Another group was from a little closer.
Sam Johnson from Marion was participating with his nephew, Jonnie Johnson, who is from El Dorado.
“I’ve been doing it at least 20 years,” Sam said.
Jonnie has been doing Dutch Oven cooking for at least six years.
“This is our first competition,” Jonnie said.
Previously they had just cooked because they enjoy doing it.
“Just the challenge of it,” Sam said of why they decided to compete.
“We kind of talked about it a little and decided to form a team,” Jonnie added.
There also was rope making, painting and spinning demonstrations during the festival.
Laura Spradlin was doing her spinning.
She began spinning about two years ago.
“I dye yard and wool for spinning and ell it online,” she said, adding that she is looking to open her own store here in El Dorado.
“Spinning is actually on the coattails of knitting in resurgence of popularity,” she said.
The Frontier Western Celebration brought fun, activities, food, and of course, bull riding to El Dorado over the weekend.
“There’s nothing more fun than fun and that’s what this weekend is all about,” said David Ellis, Western Celebration coordinator.
Following Friday night’s concerts there were a variety of activities Saturday during the Heritage Events.
Among those events was the new addition of the Dutch Oven Cook-off this year. Four teams were taking part in the competition.
One of the teams was from Newkirk, Okla.
They were working on preparing stuffed bread as part of the food they were cooking Saturday morning.
Dawn and Jim Mills attend as many Dutch Oven cook-offs as they can find within a reasonable drive.
They began Dutch Oven cooking about six years ago.
“He actually did Dutch Oven cooking with the Scouts,” Dawn said of Jim.
Then in their hometown, there was a heritage festival started one year, with food and other events. The second year Dutch Oven cooking was added, so Jim and Dawn borrowed a Dutch Oven and participated. They did the same thing the next year, and by the third year they had all of their own supplies.
The fourth year they and some others decided to form a group, the Heartland of the Prairie Dutch Oven Chapter.
They get together once a month for a DOG (Dutch Oven Gathering).
Then the past two years they have qualified for the International Dutch Oven World Championship Cook-Off in Utah.
Another group was from a little closer.
Sam Johnson from Marion was participating with his nephew, Jonnie Johnson, who is from El Dorado.
“I’ve been doing it at least 20 years,” Sam said.
Jonnie has been doing Dutch Oven cooking for at least six years.
“This is our first competition,” Jonnie said.
Previously they had just cooked because they enjoy doing it.
“Just the challenge of it,” Sam said of why they decided to compete.
“We kind of talked about it a little and decided to form a team,” Jonnie added.
There also was rope making, painting and spinning demonstrations during the festival.
Laura Spradlin was doing her spinning.
She began spinning about two years ago.
“I dye yard and wool for spinning and ell it online,” she said, adding that she is looking to open her own store here in El Dorado.
“Spinning is actually on the coattails of knitting in resurgence of popularity,” she said.
“The Internet has just created an explosion of new spinners.”
She also said spinning, along with knitting and crocheting, is attracting a younger audience now.
“It’s one of the most satisfying activities I’ve done,” she said. “The whole creative process of spinning is very rewarding and relaxing. I love to have the opportunity to do it.”
There also were performers throughout the day Saturday, as well as activities for the kids and horse rides.
Saturday evening brought the first round of the bull rides, followed by a dance.
Sunday was time for cowboy church, mutton bustin’ and the last of the bull riding.
