Beaver Duster & Cow Chips

Get your minds out of the gutter!  Right now!  I MEAN IT!

This is not an XXX rated post but a little information about one of my favorite little towns in Oklahoma.  Beaver, OK

Beaver is in the Panhandle of Oklahoma.  It is a small town with a big heart.  Every year I drive to Beaver and conduct the annual enrollments for several businesses.  Over the past 8 years I have developed some wonderful friendships with many of the ladies I have met in Beaver.  Last week I drove to Beaver for our annual get-together and found that my favorite motel, the Hillcrest, was booked up for the week.  My first reaction was, “You have to be kidding!  What would bring enough people to Beaver to fill up a 20 room motel?”  My second reaction was “Oh crap, where am I going to stay?”  The first question was answered by Kay, the motel owner.  One of the churches was having Vacation Bible School and had brought in another church to conduct the Bible School and they brought some teens and booked most of the motel.  There were oilfield workers in the rest of the rooms.  Being the great friend that Kay is, she recommended a new Inn to me.  I called the Duster Inn and Freeda was glad to give me a room.  They are still new enough that people don’t know about them.  Well, new isn’t exactly the right word.  This is a very old motel  that began life in the 30’s as a lumber yard, was turned into a motel in the late 40’s and now has been totally remodeled in the past  10 months.  I didn’t know this place even existed.

There were only 6 rooms and they were rather small but they were clean and had all new wiring and new plumbing and fixtures.  The bed was comfortable and they had wireless internet.  What more could a girl ask for?

Beaver has cute mascot located right in the middle of town.  I don’t think he has an official name other than “Big Beaver”.   (Several years ago the high school decided that they wanted to be known as the “Dusters”.  Tired of being teased about being “Beavers” they chose a school mascot depicting a whirling tornado that kicks up the dust of the prairie.  Little did they know that someone would try to make something nasty out of that name also.)

Looks like he is holding a great big cinnamon roll doesn’t it?  Well, you’re wrong.  Every year this community holds a very popular event.  A “championship event”.  Can you guess what it is?  Read closely…….

The World Cowchip Throwing Championship!  You all know what a cow chip is don’t you?  You don’t!  Seriously?!  How about Cow patty….now do you know what it is?  No….good grief……maybe this will help….

Looks like someone stepped in this one.  Yes, it is cow poop!  Now I can just hear those wheels turning in your little brains….how do they throw this shit stuff?  Well, first they have to let it dry completely.  Then the chip gatherers go through the fields with their wagon and gather up all the dry chips and bring them to town.  The contestants gather around the wagons and pick out the “perfect” chips to compete with.  Some like them small and compact, some like them large and flat.  It all depends on the throwers personal preference.   Next they line up at a starting point and each contestant is allowed a set number of throws.  Each bare-handed throw is measured and the person with the longest throw wins the championship and is crowned

The contestants are divided according to age so that the little ones get a chance to win a fabulous trophy.

Before you get all bent out of shape and start judging those of us who live in the prairie as a bunch of idiots I want to bring you up to snuff on a few facts about cow chips.

Cow chips have been the saving grace in many range communities for hundreds of years. Early settlers depended on the humble commodity to keep them warm during the winter. Because it produces such an odorless, soot-less heat more intense than local lumber, cow chips fueled many a campfire, stove and indoor furnace — not to mention many a baby-making romp or two. Imagine the ambiance! Honey, I’ve got a heap o’ dung warming in the fire. What do you say we get nasty? So important was dried shit to the new world that some even go as far as to call it brown gold; local literature has it ma and pa used to trade wagon loads for needed food and supplies.

No longer traded for needed food, this prairie Frisbee has become the thing of which fame and fortune have come to Beaver, OK.  This unique contest has brought the likes of Paula Zahn and Harry Smith to this prairie community.  Contestants from all over the U.S. converge on Beaver in April (sorry you have missed it this year) to compete for the coveted title.  Why not plan your next family vacation to Beaver, Oklahoma and try your bare hand at throwing a chip or two.  Let me know so I can come up with my trusty camera and watch ya!