The Woodward News

Local News

September 9, 2010

Family continues old west tradition

Dave Matthews Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — This weekend, a Seiling family continues its annual tradition of reviving the Old West in Northwest Oklahoma.

The annual Daugherty Horse and Mule Field Days opens today at the Flying “W” Arena in Seiling and will continue through Sunday.

According to event coordinator Larry Daugherty, he has been putting this event on for about 19 years.

“People from the community get together and it is just a fun-filled weekend,” Daugherty said.

His daughter Cheryl Davidson said about 500 people from across the state typically attend.

The arena will open at 10 a.m. today for everyone to start coming in and setting up for the weekend, including a number of chuck wagon chefs that will be cooking Western food, Daugherty said.

While many of the activities won't kick off until Saturday, the highlight of Friday night's activities will be a new event.  Daugherty said he and a number of other Old West enthusiasts will attempt to make sorghum molasses.

“It is a challenge to cook it,” Daugherty said, noting they will start making it Friday evening and go until its finished.

“We are not sure how long it will take to make it, but we’re going to go until someone says its done or overcooked,” Daugherty said jokingly.

In addition, Saturday at 8 a.m. breakfast will be made by Gray Wright in a chuck wagon and Charles Sander from the Seiling Flour Mill, he said.

“Breakfast will go until about 10 a.m. and then all the activities will start,” Daugherty said.

He said, blacksmiths will be on hand creating horseshoes, as well as rope makers.

“We will also be grinding and shelling corn, and giving wagon rides. It will be a lot of fun for everyone,” Daugherty said.

The wagon rides will take place in the arena and the pasture beside the arena, Davidson said.

According to Daugherty, there will also be field events taking place Saturday.

“We get together with draft horses and we do some plowing and disking out in the field,” Daugherty said, noting, “Last year we have 14 teams participating in the field events.”  

In addition, there will be Dutch Oven Cook-off and a hand-cranked homemade ice cream competition, Davidson said.

“The food for competitions will be prepared outside over the weekend,” she said.

According to Davidson, the public will be able to taste all the Dutch Oven food and ice cream for a fee, starting Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

“The money raised will go towards everyone who participated in the cook-off and the ice cream making,” Davidson said, noting everyone will receive money to reimburse them for buying the cooking supplies.

However, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each competition will receive a bit of extra money, she said, noting the competition is open to everyone.

Also on Sunday, there will be a "Play Day" held in the arena in which horses and mules will go through an obstacle course, Davidson said.

“I think this is a great experience for the kids to see the wagons, horses and mules and how people lived in the old days,” she said.

All 3 days of events are free, to participants and visitors alike, and no pre-registration is required.

For more information Daugherty is available at (580) 922-5025 or (580) 922-3225 and Tandy Armstrong at (580) 922-4988.

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