October 21 is the date for the 13th Annual Llano River Chuck Wagon Cook-off and the second annual Llano PRCA EXTREME Bull Riding at the John L Kuykendall Arena. This year there will be two added events to the weekend. On Saturday morning at Badu Park, in addition to the chuck wagon cook-off is the Texas State Title Cobbler Championship, cobblers can be cooked at home or on site. There will also be vendors, live music, and kid’s events at the arena beginning at 1:00 PM. For the second year, beginning at 10:00 AM will be a trail ride from downtown to the JLK.

Chuck Wagons start rolling into town on Thursday, October 19, and getting set up for authenticity judging that begins at noon Friday. Also, during the morning on Friday, wagons are welcoming students from Llano Christian School, Llano and Packsaddle Elementary schools. They will learn the art of making biscuits from scratch and cooking them in a Dutch Oven, how to shoe a horse, branding, roping, and games that were played by children in the old west. Saturday is the big day for the Llano River Chuck Wagon Cook-off with around 700 meals being served at “High Noon”, a mouthwatering chicken fried steak, beans, bread, and dessert. By 1:00 PM, meals are finished, samples have been sent to the lucky judges, and the winners will be announced around 3:00 PM.

Also going on is the 4th Annual, Texas State Title Cobbler Contest which includes home cooked and Dutch Oven competition. The cobbler tradition dates back to the earliest recorded history of the Llano area, with the mention in the history book of “green grape cobbler” being made by the pioneers, and when there was no other fruit available, the muscadine or “mustang” grapes were gathered early-to mid-May or before they turned dark and the seeds got granite-like.

The Llano Chamber of Commerce will once again partner with Diamond S Rodeo Productions to bring Xtreme Bull Riding back to Llano on October 21st. 40 of the top PRCA cowboys compete against the NFR bucking stock of the Rafter G Rodeo Company to compete for $10,000 in prize money. Gates open at 1:00pm with live music, vendors, food trucks, kid’s activities and of course a mechanical bull followed by bull riding at 7:30 PM. Tickets go on sale September 1st for the Chuck Wagon meal and Bull Riding, 325-247-5354, for lodging got to llanolodging.com