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| Old and new to kick off Buckeroo |
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| Tradition Buckeroo Trail Ride joined in opening weekend by BBQ classes |
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 | | File Photo | | Riders embark on the traditional Buckeroo Trail Ride. |
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By Jerry Raehal
It’s getting that time of year again — Buckeroo time.
And like in the past, the Buckeroo Trail Ride is the traditional start of Molalla’s signature event.
“It’s a kickoff celebration for the rodeo,” Buckeroo Association member Lisa Banyard said.
This year, Sunday’s Trail Ride isn’t the lone kickoff event for the Buckeroo.
Joining the kickoff weekend are two classes offered through the Oregon Buckeroo BBQ championships, with a barbecue judging class and cooking class scheduled for Saturday at Clark Park.
Trail Ride
Registration for the trail ride begins at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at the Buckeroo Grounds.
The first riders are scheduled to leave the grounds at 9:30 a.m., with the last riders going out at 11:30.
Banyard, associate of the Buckeroo Association, said riders will experience a wide range of landscape on the estimated two-and-a-half-hour saunter.
“They’ll experience fields, wooded trails, through water, and there are some hills and that kind of thing. There is not a lot of pavement riding,” she said.
Like the previous five years, the Trail Ride will also be a poker ride. Poker hands cost $5 each, and contestants can buy as many poker hands as they would like. A poker hand also includes a free lunch. Breakfast is also available for an additional cost.
This year’s proceeds are going to a yet-to-be named education scholarship fund, but Banyard said the plan is for it to go local.
Last year, 500 riders participated in the contest.
Banyard does not have a goal for the number of riders participating in this year’s event, but she does want to raise $5,000 for the scholarship fund.
There are also “lots of prizes,” according to Banyard, ranging from horse equipment, to flowers, to the yet-to-be-named top prize.
If people are unable to participate in the Trail Ride, but want to contribute to the scholarship, a 50/50 raffle will be held during the Fourth of July festivities at the Buckeroo, with proceeds going to the scholarship.
For more information, on the Buckeroo Trail Ride, call 503-829-8323.
Get your grill on
Nothing says summer like barbecue, and the Oregon Buckeroo BBQ championships are offering two tasty ways to get in the mood — a cooking class and a judging class.
The cooking class starts at 7 a.m. running ‘til 5 p.m.
“Students will be taught the right way to deal with the meat, the spices and the rubs,” said Jude Strader of the Molalla River Education Foundation, the group putting on the BBQ championships. “They will learn about the traditional meats, pork butt, ribs, chicken and beef briskets.”
All meats for the class are provided, but students will need to provide their own cookers, utensils and tables.
Award winning barbecuer Anthony James, head cook of the Raven’s Fyre BBQ Team, will be teaching the class.
James has been involved in competitive barbecue for about five years, after he took a Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association class, similar to the one he’s teaching.
“It’s the perfect opportunity to learn how to do the authentic low and slow cooking. It’s not grilling,” Strader said. “This is the real deal, low and slow barbecue.”
The judging class begins at 1 p.m. and those in that class will taste the BBQ from the cooking class.
Those who complete the judging class will be officially certified by the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association.
Judging BBQ is not as simple as how the food tastes, Strader said.
“There are some pretty specific things to look at,” she said. “The instructor will talk to you about ribs — it’s not only the taste, but how the meat comes off the bone, the tenderness of it.”
The cooking class costs $125 per team (last year the charge was per person). The judging class is $50 per person.
To get an application, go to www.molalla-ed-foundation.org.
A taste of award winning BBQ
The third annual Oregon Buckeroo BBQ championships continue on July 2 and 3 at Clark Park, where contestants come to town to stake claim as the best barbecues in the region.
“It’s competitive barbecue cooking,” said MRED President Alice Erickson. “It will be the best barbecue you’ve ever tested. You’ll have an opportunity to talk to the cooks and learn from them.”
This year’s event offers a new taste with the barbecue — wine.
Local wineries St. Joseph’s and Marquam Hills will sell their products by the glass and bottle in a wine garden.
“We just thought it would be good to showcase our local vineyards,” Strader said. “And there are some really excellent wines that goes with barbecue.”
The wine garden will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days.
Also new this year is the ability for spectators to purchase barbecue contestant’s cooking.
The foundation will sell “BBQ money” at the entrance, which spectators can use to buy contestants’ BBQ.
“Some of them were giving (their barbecue) away, and some of them weren’t,” MREF President Alice Erickson said. “It was kind of confusing. I think it will also encourage people to cook a little bit more so there will be more goodies for people.”
Script will be sold for $1, and the cooks will decide on how much to sell their product, ranging from samples to meals.
Contestants will be selling their wares from 10 a.m to 8 p.m both days.
The championships also offer entertainment that includes music, a magician and food vendors.
Kids can try their hands at barbecuing at 2 p.m. Sunday, with the Kids-BBQ contest.
At 4 p.m. Sunday, a watermelon eating contestant will be held.
The Oregon Barbecue Championships has earned national recognition in various publications, and is quickly becoming part of the Buckeroo ethos.
“That’s what we would like it to become — part of the Buckeroo tradition, so that the people have a variety of things to do when they come to Molalla,” Erickson said. “The Buckeroo is always the big draw ... people have come for generations, but we want to give them something to do between shows.”
The Oregon Buckeroo BBQ Championships is the biggest fund raiser for the Molalla River Education Foundation, which raises money for schools, grants and scholarships.
For more information on the barbecue or on MREF, go to www.molalla-ed-foundation.org.
Golf anybody?
The 39th annual Molalla Buckeroo Golf Tournament tees off on Sunday, July 2 at Arrowhead Golf Course.
“The Buckeroo Golf tournament is not a serious tournament,” Arrowhead Golf-Pro Bruce Stewart said. “It is just a fun, amateur golf tournament.”
The entry fee is $100, and must be in by 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 28.
Between 130-150 people sign-up for the event annually.
The tournament offers individual hole prizes, trophies, tee prizes and food and beverage tickets.
There are four divisions: men’s handicap, men’s senior, men’s callaway, and ladies’ handicap.
Golf cart reservation is required in advance.
For more information, call 503-829-8080. |
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