Editing Chuckwagon

{{Short description|American field kitchen covered wagon}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{other uses}}

[[File:An authentic chuckwagon, the cook's wagon that accompanied cowboys as they drove cattle across the dusty plains of the early American West, on the rodeo and Frontier Town grounds at the Cheyenne LCCN2015633288.tif|thumb|An authentic chuckwagon at the Frontier Town grounds in Cheyenne, Wyoming]]

A '''chuckwagon''', or '''chuck wagon''', is a horse-drawn wagon operating as a mobile [[field kitchen]] and frequently [[covered wagon|covered]] with a white tarp, also called a '''camp wagon''' or '''round-up wagon'''.{{r|smith}} It was historically used for the storage and transportation of food and cooking equipment on the [[prairie|prairies]] of the United States and Canada.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Sheryl |url=http://www.americanprofile.com/article/5321.html |title=Cowboy Cooking |publisher=American Profile |access-date=2010-01-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708090334/http://www.americanprofile.com/article/5321.html |archive-date=2009-07-08 }}</ref> They were included in [[wagon train|wagon trains]] for settlers and traveling workers such as [[cowboy|cowboys]] or [[Lumberjack|loggers]]. In modern times, chuckwagons feature in special cooking competitions and events. Chuckwagons are also used in a type of competition known as [[chuckwagon racing]].

== History and description ==

[[File:Chuckwagon Texas 1900.jpg|thumb|Chuckwagon on a Texas roundup, 1900]]
While some form of [[mobile kitchen|mobile kitchens]] had existed for generations, the invention of the chuckwagon is attributed to [[Charles Goodnight]], a Texas rancher known as the "father of the Texas Panhandle,"<ref>In the Driftway. (1928). [Article]. Nation, 126(3281), 589-590.</ref> who introduced the concept in 1866.<ref>{{Cite web|title=American Chuck Wagon Association: The Invention of the Chuck Wagon|url=http://americanchuckwagon.org/chuck-wagon-invention.html|access-date=2021-11-05|website=americanchuckwagon.org|archive-date=2021-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904014407/http://www.americanchuckwagon.org/chuck-wagon-invention.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="Harding" /> After the [[American Civil War]], the beef market in Texas expanded. Some cattlemen herded cattle in parts of the country that did not have railroads, requiring them to be fed on the road for months at a time.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Bill|title=American Chuck Wagon Association|url=http://americanchuckwagon.org/chuck-wagon-history.html|access-date=2014-10-30|archive-date=2011-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902052644/http://americanchuckwagon.org/chuck-wagon-history.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Goodnight modified a [[Studebaker#18th-century colonial family business|Studebaker]]-manufactured [[covered wagon]], a durable Civil War army-surplus wagon, to suit the needs of cowboys [[Cattle drives in the United States|driving cattle]] from Texas to sell in New Mexico. He added a "chuck box" to the back of the wagon, with drawers and shelves for storage space and a hinged lid to provide a flat working surface. A water barrel was also attached to the wagon and canvas was hung underneath to carry firewood.  A wagon box was used to store cooking supplies and cowboys' personal items.<ref name=Harding>{{cite web |url=http://www.hardingcounty.org/people/charles_goodnight.htm |title=Charles Goodnight |last=Garrison |first=Mary Helen |work=Harding County, NM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002141502/http://www.hardingcounty.org/people/charles_goodnight.htm |archive-date=2011-10-02 }}</ref>

Chuckwagon food typically included easy-to-preserve items such as [[baked bean|baked beans]], [[Curing (food preservation)|salted meats]], [[coffee]], and [[sourdough]] [[biscuits]]. Food would also be gathered ''en route''. There were no fresh fruit, vegetables, or eggs available, and meat was not fresh unless an animal was injured during the drive and therefore had to be killed. The meats were greasy cloth-wrapped bacon, salt pork, and beef, usually dried, salted or smoked.<ref>Sharpe, P. (1996). Camping it up. [Article]. Texas Monthly, 24(9), 92.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/from-chuck-wagons-to-pushcarts-the-history-of-the-food-truck | title=From Chuck Wagons to Pushcarts: The History of the Food Truck | publisher=HISTORY.com (A&E Television Networks) | date=August 8, 2014 | access-date=13 December 2014 | author=Butler, Stephanie | archive-date=14 December 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214235120/http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/from-chuck-wagons-to-pushcarts-the-history-of-the-food-truck | url-status=live }}</ref>  On cattle drives, it was common for the "cookie" who ran the wagon to be second in authority only to the "trailboss." The cookie would often act as cook, barber, dentist, and banker.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phudpucker.com/bluebonn/chuck%20wagon.htm |title=Chuck Wagon |publisher=Phudpucker.com |access-date=2010-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509022956/http://www.phudpucker.com/bluebonn/chuck%20wagon.htm |archive-date=2008-05-09 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

Doug Hansen, a contemporary restorer of old chuckwagons and maker of replicas, describes a chuck wagon as "a factory made-vehicle that [was] retrofitted with the chuck wagon equipment, to support a cowboss and his dozen wranglers in a cross-country trek." He says it takes about 750 man-hours to construct a new chuckwagon.{{r|ewbank}}

{{Blockquote |text=On the back of the wagon, they bolt in the chuck box, ... a combined cupboard and workspace that folds down as a work table. It stores cooking utensils, spices, and essential ingredients, such as dried beans and coffee. ... Underneath the chuck box [is] a pan boot to hold heavy pots and pans, such as a Dutch oven, which could bake well when surrounded by coals. ... [C]arrying fuel, food, cooking implements, a water barrel, and bedding ... loaded chuck wagons could weigh several tons.{{r|ewbank}} }}

== Contemporary use ==

[[Image:Chuckwagon.jpg|thumb|An authentic chuckwagon, Texas 2007]]
The American Chuck Wagon Association was formed in 1997 to "preserve the heritage of the chuck wagon" including educating the public and promoting chuckwagon activities. They document chuckwagon heritage including equipment, food, cooking styles, campsites, and clothing, and keep a registry of wagons. Its members participate in chuckwagon [[cook-off]] competitions throughout the US where teams are judged on their cooking as well as the authenticity of their vehicle.{{r|ewbank}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://americanchuckwagon.org/downloads/bylaws.pdf |title=By-laws |date=November 2018 |website=American Chuck Wagon Association |access-date=2023-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202224726/http://americanchuckwagon.org/downloads/bylaws.pdf |archive-date=December 2, 2021 |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanchuckwagon.org/chuck-wagon-events.html |title=American Chuck Wagon Association: Competitve Events |publisher=Americanchuckwagon.org |access-date=2020-01-04 |archive-date=2019-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225021638/http://www.americanchuckwagon.org/chuck-wagon-events.html |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url =https://americanchuckwagons.com/ | title =2025 Officers & Board | last =Jackson | first =Justin | date =2025 | website =American Chuck Wagon Association | publisher = | access-date =January 4, 2025 | quote =The American Chuck Wagon Association started out as a small group of Old West enthusiasts and has expanded to world wide association preserving the American past through competitions, demonstrations, charity and school events and other venues.}}</ref>

The [[Academy of Western Artists]] presents an annual award for outstanding chuckwagon cooking, as well as honors in other fields relating to the culture of the American cowboy.<ref>{{cite web |title=About AWA |url=http://awaawards.org/?page_id=1758 |website=The Academy Of Western Artists |access-date=December 24, 2017 |archive-date=January 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131130821/http://www.awaawards.org/about.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

Chuckwagon cook-offs are typically annual events open to the public—some drawing over 1,000 attendees—and private events may hire chuckwagon caterers. Chuckwagon suppers are held across the traditional cattle ranges of the Western United States and Western Canada, either on their own or as part of a [[trail ride]] or stay at a [[dude ranch]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pioneer Fare: The Chuck Wagon Dinner|url=https://www.visittheusa.ca/experience/pioneer-fare-chuck-wagon-dinner|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Visit The USA|language=en-ca|archive-date=2017-03-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323224125/https://www.visittheusa.ca/experience/pioneer-fare-chuck-wagon-dinner|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2361475/ranches-offer-old-west-adventure|title = Ranches Offer 'Old West' Adventure|date = 30 June 1991|access-date = 6 April 2021 |website=The Oklahoman |archive-date = 5 November 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211105084544/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2361475/ranches-offer-old-west-adventure|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Eat Like a Cowboy at These 4 Chuckwagon Experiences |url=https://texashighways.com/travel-news/eat-like-a-cowboy-at-these-4-chuckwagon-experiences/ |first=Susan L. |last=Ebert |date=August 26, 2021 |website=Texas Highways |access-date=December 21, 2023}}</ref>

== Chuckwagon races ==

{{Main |Chuckwagon racing}}
[[File:GMC Rangeland Derby (10) (35123108083).jpg|thumb|The Rangeland Derby race at the Calgary Stampede (2017)]]
Chuckwagon racing is an event at some [[rodeos]], such as the [[Calgary Stampede]] which started in 1923.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/chucks.htm |title=Calgary Stampede Chuckwagon Races |publisher=Roadtripamerica.com |access-date=2010-01-25 |archive-date=2010-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206145447/http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/chucks.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Chuckwagon races were held from 1952 until 1998 at [[Cheyenne Frontier Days]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sharkonline.org/?P=0000000556 |title=Wagon races may return |publisher=Sharkonline.org |date=2006-10-19 |access-date=2010-01-25 |archive-date=2010-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714031915/http://www.sharkonline.org/?P=0000000556 |url-status=live }}</ref> one of America's biggest rodeos. The National Championship Chuckwagon Race in [[Clinton, Arkansas]] draws tens of thousands each Labor Day weekend.{{r|ewbank}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chuckwagonraces.com/ |title=Chuckwagon Race |publisher=Chuckwagonraces.com |access-date=2010-01-25 |archive-date=2010-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111020207/http://www.chuckwagonraces.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

These competitions use modern stripped-down versions of chuckwagons usually pulled by a team of four horses. The driver and his outriders "break camp" by tossing a barrel (the 'stove') and some 'tent poles' into the wagon, complete a figure eight around two barrels, then circle a race track. The outriders and all equipment must finish the race course along with the chuckwagon.<ref>{{cite book | title = 2009 Calgary Stampede Evening Show Program | publisher = Calgary Stampede Board | page=11}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Cookhouse]]
* [[Covered wagon]]
* [[Field kitchen]]
* [[Food truck]]

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="ewbank">{{Cite web |title=The Company Building Chuck Wagons for Races and Cowboy Cookoffs |first=Anne |last=Ewbank |date=April 15, 2019 |website=Atlas Obscura |access-date=December 21, 2023 |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/chuck-wagon}}</ref>

<ref name="smith">{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Horse Drawn Vehicles |first=D.J.M. |last=Smith |year=1988 |publisher=J. A. Allen & Co. Ltd. |isbn=0851314686 |ol=11597864M |pages=34,45,143 |quote=Camp wagon. Alternative name for the American 'Chuck' or food wagon, also known as the Round-up Wagon. A four-wheeled vehicle, drawn by two or more horses in pole gear, used as a mobile canteen on farms and ranches in Western states of North America. Usually dead axle but having a fully sprung driving seat. A canvas top would be stretched over hoops or tilts. Similar vehicles were also used in the wagon trains of early settlers. ... Chuck wagon. Now widely used in western rodeos and stampedes for an updated version of chariot racing.}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Chuckwagons}}
*[https://americanchuckwagons.com/ American Chuck Wagon Association]

{{Horse-drawn carriages}}
{{Portalbar|Food|Transport}}
[[Category:American cattlemen| ]]
[[Category:American frontier]]
[[Category:Wagons]]
[[Category:Cuisine of the Southwestern United States]]
[[Category:Cuisine of the Western United States]]
[[fr:Chuckwagon (chariot)]]