FT. WORTH,TX-You can almost hear the sound of chuckwagon iron wheels turning as they start moving toward Ft. Worth for the first ever Doral Chuckwagon Cookoff Challenge and other events which will be held at the Doral-Tesoro Hotel, July 9-13, 2004. For the first time ever, real chuckwagons and chuckwagon cooks will be cooking just as they did in the 1800s on the cattle drives which went through Ft. Worth on the way north. Cooks will be cooking longhorn, buffalo, venison and other meats which would have been obtained along the trail. They will be competing for a diamond ring which will proclaim one cook the Number One Chuckwagon Cook in the World. Also, local celebrities, TV celebrities and entertainers will be invited to cook on authentic museum quality chuckwagons on July 10, at high noon, cooking the way they did 140 years ago. No microwaves, no blenders, no stoves, only a hole in the ground from the back of a wagon, cowboy style. As the cooks say "Anyone can cook in a kitchen", but when your kitchen is as big as Texas, it becomes a little more difficult.
If your mouth is watering for some of that chuckwagon food, wagons will be set up out front for the public to have samples of "real" chuckwagon grub.
For a little variety, you can go in the Doral-Tesoro Hotel and hear the finest western musicians, cowboy poets and western swing performers in the world. There will be on multiple stages, nonstop from Friday to Tuesday for the public to enjoy. There will also be a western trade show for the many items that the cowboy and the cowboy aficionado needs. Many of these items will be handmade one of a kind and some high end western art will be available. There will also be a silent auction in case you happen to want some more items.
On Friday night, July 9, there will be a mixed variety show for everyone to warm up and get ready for the big festivities. If you lean more to western swing, Dave Alexander and the Legends of Western Swing will be holding a big western swing dance, July 10, in the Doral-Tesoro ballroom. There will be a mock radio show on Sunday, July 11, evening with lots of the top western entertainers in the world. On Monday, July 12, night, a pre-awards show will be held with lots of awards being given, lots of entertainment and a few surprises.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004, 7:30PM will be the 9th Annual Will Rogers Cowboy Awards and this year it has moved to the Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium. In nine brief years, this event has emerged as the top western award show in the world. This is to the western set what the Grammies, Oscars, Emmies and others are to the non-cowboys. The "Willy" will be handed out to over 30 lucky winners at the televised event. On hand will be representatives from Billboard, American Cowboy and numerous radio stations and other media outlets from all over the US, Canada and Europe. To say this is a big deal is to say "Is Texas Big". You'll see bright lights, name celebrities, beautiful hostesses, a fabulous overhead projection of the top gear and artists' work. You'll see some of the top names in western entertainment performing. It's an evening you won't ever forget. Advance ticket sales only. No tickets sold at the door
If you would like to become involved in this international project as a sponsor or a volunteer, please contact us.
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For contact information: AWA-Awards.org
Sandra Herl, Marketing & Publicity (580) 439-5782
Bobby Newton, working_cowboy@hotmail.com (580) 389-5350
Doral-Tesoro Hotel 817-961-0800
Agenda, tenative, for the "Gathering 2004", Doral-Tesoro Hotel, Ft. Worth, Texas, July 9-13, 2004
July 9-
10 AM- Set up, showcases start, chuckwagons start setting up, trade show
7 PM-Chuckwagon Trail Drive Cookoff begins
7:30 PM-Show in Doral, variety type show, welcome ($10 per ticket)
8:30-9 PM-Chuckwagon Judging
July 10
10 AM-Showcases, trade show, etc.
Chuckwagon samplers outside
12 Noon-Celebrity Chuckwagon Cookoff (local celebrities cooking on authentic chuckwagons)
5 PM-Show shuts down for general public
7 PM-Chuckwagon Open Cookoff
9 PM-Chuckwagon judging
7:30 PM-Big Band Western Swing Dance with Dave Alexander & the Legends of Western Swing ($10 ticket)
July 11
Cowboy Church
11 AM-Trade Show, showcases, trade show
Chuckwagon samplers outside
7:30 PM Variety Radio Show with DJs and performers ($10 ticket)
July 12
8 AM-Cowboy Golf Tournament, Doral Golf Course
10AM-Trade Show, showcases, seminars, workshops, meetings for AWA members
5 PM-Show shuts down
7:30 PM-Pre Award show with award presentations, variety acts, performers, etc. ($10 ticket)
July 13
10 AM-Trade show, showcases, seminars, workshops, etc.
5 PM-Show shuts down
7:30 PM-Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium, 9th Annual Will Rogers Cowboy Awards
All ticket sales in advance, none at the door. Tickets $125-$25
After Awards-VIP Party at the Doral-Tesoro Hotel (invitation)