Second Annual Dutch Oven Cook Off

Stevensville was the location of the Second Annual Dutch Oven Cook Off, held on Sturday June 16, 2007, during Stevensville's Western Heritage Days.

Dutch Oven Cook Off Event Planner, Virginia England, produced an awesome sensation for the senses. Eight cooks/teams competed against each other for over three hours to complete three courses in their allotted time to dazzle the taste buds of the four judges. Not only were there cash prizes on the line, but bragging rights and what ever title they award to master of the oven.

This year Virginia chose the Montana Hope Project to be the special Non-profit organization to receive half of the proceeds raised by the dinner. Heritage Days participants purchased tickets for five dollars to sample the meals fixed by the cooks.

Besides sharing in the dinner ticket sales, two individual business' wrote checks to the Montana Hope Project. Special thanks goes out to Tim England and his business TECE Trucking, Inc. of Lolo, Montana for his $500.00 donation. Special thanks to Great Western Petroleum in Missoula for their donation of $200.00.

Trooper Rocky Bailey (MHP 261) and his wife Kerri were on hand, handing out Hope Project water bottles and newsletters, as well as other information. Approximately sixty people stopped by their table to learn about the Monana Hope Project -- and several made donations.

The Montana Hope Project and Trooper Bailey wish to thank Virginia England for including them in this year's Dutch Over Cook Off Competition. The food and participants were all fantastic. Virginia wished to express her special thanks to Randee Stone and Kim Gibbs, who assisted her with the planning and organizing of the full day event. $1,149.00 were raised between donations and dinner ticket sales.

Photo: Virginia England presents dinner and donation money to Trooper Rocky Bailey for the Montana Hope Project.

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