by Ramonda A. Thompson, HCCW
for Burns Times-Herald

The Harney County CattleWomen (HCCW) will hold their 69th annual Chuckwagon Breakfast on the Saturday of Fair Week (Sept. 9), from 6-9 a.m., at the Harney County Community Center Conference Room at the Chamber of Commerce, 484 N. Broadway in Burns. The cost is $15 for ages 12 and older and free for ages 11 and younger.

HCCW began as the Harney County CowBelles in 1952-53. HCCW is now celebrating 70 years as an active organization. The Chuckwagon Breakfast continues to be an important fundraiser and community get-together during fair time.

Little has changed about the breakfast during the past 50 years. The location has changed a few times, but steak, eggs, and coffee are still on the menu. Many of the HCCW working at this year’s breakfast are daughters, granddaughters, or daughters/granddaughters-in-law of charter members of the county organization.

The invitation to the public is basically the same, too.

“We hope to see all the cowhands, cowgals, and city dudes from miles around headin’ this way,” proclaimed one news note from 1955. “Bring big appetites.”

First heralded in several notices during the summer of 1955, it was reported that the then CowBelles were planning a breakfast that promised to be “a big, new public feature of fair week”. The CowBelles, in their second year as an organization in Harney County, would be serving up “beef steaks with all the trimmings, juice, eggs, bread, and coffee.” It was to be held outside, but rain changed plans, and the location was moved to the Burns Armory. The breakfast was held there until 1970, when it moved to the Burns High School cafeteria. In 2004, it was located in the Catholic Church Parish Hall. More recently, it has been held at the Senior Center.

The first breakfast served approximately 30 people, and reports were that “public response was so good the CowBelles are talking about making it an annual event”. There was music, singing, and dancing, and the price was $1.50 for adults, and $1 for children. The fundraising was to promote beef education and fund 4-H activities and a CowBelle scholarship – exactly the same reasons for this year’s event.

An August 1956 news article noted that, “CowBelles are in town making plans for their Chuckwagon Breakfast, now a fixed annual feature” of fair. During the next four years, attendance increased. “Guest cooks” were added to the venue – Stockgrower members, community leaders, and husbands.

Sourdough hotcakes made their appearance on the menu in 1960, prepared by Julio Urizar, with hot coffee served by Avel Diaz. A total of 990 guests were served a breakfast of steak, eggs, sourdough hotcakes, coffee, and juice. Harney County appetites have looked forward to this lineup on the Saturday of Fair Week ever since.

The Fair Court made their appearance at the 1955 breakfast, but it wasn’t until 1973 that Fair Court speeches became a part of the Chuckwagon Breakfast activities, thanks to then Fair Court Advisor Georgia Marshall. And again this year, the girls vying for Harney County Fair Court will appear at the breakfast, as well as 2023 Queen Kaylee Dunten and Princess Grace Johnson.

The cooks this year will again be Drewsey ranchers. These Drewsey cooks have been volunteering for more than 40 years. Most of these men are related to the first CowBelles from the 1950s, and several are second-, third-, and fourth-generation breakfast volunteers.

Several years ago, a silent auction was added. Funds raised from this activity go toward scholarships that are awarded by the HCCW. High school seniors and past graduates of Crane High or Burns High are encouraged to apply for scholarships.

This 2023 CattleWomen Chuckwagon Breakfast is led by HCCW Breakfast Chair Nicole Adamson. She and more than 30 active members will be on hand starting at 4 Saturday morning. HCCW Scholarship students are part of the breakfast serving crew as well.

We hope to see you at this year’s breakfast, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 9, from 6-9 a.m. at the Harney County Community Center, adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce.

Historical information was taken from news articles recorded in the CowBelles scrapbooks from 1953-1962. These scrapbooks are on file at the Harney County Museum.