Shelley Malicote Stutchman, correspondent
The spirit of the Old West came alive Tuesday, April 14 as the ‘89er Days Chuck Wagon Feed drew a large crowd to the Logan County Fairgrounds, where good food, music, and community pride filled the air.
Catered by Hello Catering, the meal delivered a true taste of the frontier, with guests enjoying hearty barbecue and all the fixings. Adding a sweet finish to the evening, the women of Guthrie’s First United Presbyterian Church Women’s Ministry generously donated hundreds of homemade desserts that quickly disappeared from plates.
The Wagon Wheel Band played a collection of old favorites, their music setting toes tapping across the room, while guests clutched raffle tickets in hopeful anticipation. Among the evening’s prized giveaways were two sought-after 1889 coins.
Dennis Ochs kept the energy high as auctioneer for the live auction. In total, over 180 dinner tickets were sold in support of 89er Days festivities.
Adding a special highlight to the evening, Oklahoma’s News 4 reporter and storyteller Galen Culver took the stage. Known for his long-running segment “Is This a Great State or What?”, Culver reflected on his many visits to Guthrie over the years, noting that no town has appeared in his stories more often. Culver was also recently honored as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 89er Days Parade.
For many attendees, the night was about more than food and fundraising. It was a chance to reconnect and celebrate a shared heritage.
“It was good, authentic Western BBQ,” said Clifford Hanks. “I liked the baked beans, potato salad, and coleslaw.”
As laughter echoed and plates were cleared, one thing was certain: the Chuck Wagon Feed once again proved that in Guthrie, community is always the main course.