THE GREAT CUSTER COUNTY COOKOUT
“Meat In Day” Goes Big Time in Happy Valley

by Fred Hernandez
It was Saturday, March 20th, the day “the powers that be” decided would be designated “no meat” day for the people of Colorado. No sooner was it revealed on the mainstream media and various other fake news outlets, than the freedom loving people of the state reacted with outrage and then with vim, vigor and vitality. Immediately plans were being made to hold what would be a historic statewide BBQ party of epic proportions to celebrate our great ranching industry. For us here in Happy Valley, it was to be the GREAT CUSTER COUNTY COOKOUT; the biggest barbecue party ever held in these parts.

Participating in the meatfest on Main Street and vicinity was
Elevation Meat Market, Westcliffe Meats, Custer County Cattle-
women, The Sangre De Cristo Sentinel/Blue Bucket Ranch, Custer County Republicans/Sugarlump Co., and many local businesses who kindly offered their locations for grilling, including Salty Pine Floral.
People came from every direction of the compass. Over hill and dale, across rivers and streams, through desert and plains. Dressed in their finery or in their ranch attire and they came hungry for beef. (Free beef to be exact.) The beef industry in this great state of Colorado accounts for seven billion ($7 Billion Dollars) of income to the state. It is the second largest money maker after oil and gas. Why would anyone want to diminish that income stream or even shut it off?

were set up as crowds lined up to get their burgers and beans or whatever was being offered at that particular location. At the west end of the school parking lot local business Sugarlump Co. set up their tent and dispensed gallons and gallons of refreshing ice cream doled out by none other than our almost commissioner, Lucas Epp. There was a cart with two horses offering rides to people going up and down Main Street to visit the different stands where all meat products were being offered.

At the Sentinel, strategically located on the junction of Main St. and Hwy 69, the volunteers served more than six hundred individuals (around 800 hamburgers total) with 18 lbs of delicious brisket, ten pounds of pork green chili and two hundred pounds of grass fed local beef generously donated and lovingly grilled to perfection by Jim McMahon of Blue Bucket Ranch with Richard Kreckle assisting. All of it was free. We will be always grateful to all those who unselfishly gave of their time and other resources to make this Great Custer County Cookout a most successful event. In fact, it has been suggested more than once that this could be an annual celebration.

Dignitaries who graced the occasion included Ms. Danielle Neuschwanger who is intent on running to unseat the incumbent as Governor of the state. A staunch conservative, she believes in the traditional values ensconced in the Constitution that made this country the greatest in history. Mr. Ron Hanks who was recently elected to represent HD 60 at the State Capitol was on hand to meet his many voters. It was a glorious day in the tradition of old America, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

The weather cooperated most of the day which started a little before eleven in the morning and went on until about three in the afternoon at which time ‘old man wind’ started to breathe hard on the land, causing most to scurry indoors. Yes, the great county cookout, the biggest barbecue party ever held was coming to an end but the yearning for freedom will always be there in the heart of Custer County, in the great state of Colorado.
God Bless the Folks Who Made This Happen.