Western Hearths: Cowboy Chuckwagon Meals

June brought hot days and endless miles for cowboys driving cattle across the plains. Life on the trail could be difficult, but they could look forward to a hearty meal at the end of a long day. For cowboys, a meal provided more than fuel. It gave them the chance to sit around the fire and swap tall tales or sing songs.

The Heart of the Cattle Drive

An authentic chuckwagon that accompanied cowboys as they drove cattle across the dusty plains of the early American West. (public domain image courtesy of Carol M. Highsmith via Wikimedia Commons)

Outfitted with a simple stove, storage for provisions, and a generous supply of coffee, the chuckwagon was the heart of a cattle drive. The cook, often nicknamed Cookie, was highly respected. Besides turning dried goods, salted meat, and basic staples into filling meals, the cook kept spirits high and tempers cool.

Chuckwagon staples included:

• Beans and bacon
• Biscuits or cornbread
• Coffee (often strong and black)
• Bacon, salt pork, or jerky
• Occasional canned or dried fruit
• Simple desserts when time allowed

Cowboys spent long hours in the saddle, and the chuckwagon’s provisions needed to sustain them from dawn until dusk. Many a cowboy hit the trail with an extra biscuit and jerky in his saddle bag.

Chuckwagon Skillet Beans

You can’t get more traditional than a pot of chuckwagon beans with bacon and onions. Easy to prepare over a fire or stove, this simple supper serves up a taste of the open range.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked beans (pinto or kidney)
• 2 tablespoons bacon fat, lard, or butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2–3 slices of bacon, diced
• ½ teaspoon salt, more to taste
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional: a pinch of chili powder or paprika

Instructions

• Heat bacon fat in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
• Add diced bacon and onions, cooking until bacon is crisp and onions are translucent.
• Stir in beans, salt, and pepper (plus optional spices).
• Cook until the beans are heated through and flavors meld, about 10–15 minutes.
• Serve with fresh biscuits, cornbread, or flatbread.

Variations

For extra flavor, add a spoonful of molasses or brown sugar near the end of cooking—cowboys often enjoyed a touch of sweetness with savory dishes. You can also turn up the heat by adding chopped jalapenos or other peppers.

Bringing the Trail to Your Table

Recreate this chuckwagon meal to honor the cowboys who shaped the American West. 

As you eat, picture them gathered around the fire sharing food on the open range or mounting their horses at the start of the day.

About Janalyn Voigt

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales "written" in her head.

Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. Her Montana Gold historical romance series is based on actual historical events. Montana Gold explores faith, love, and courage in the Wild West.

Learn more about Janalyn, read the first chapters of her books, subscribe to her e-letter, and join her reader clubs at http://janalynvoigt.com.

Heroes of the Wild West: Ranchers

When we think of the heroes who tamed the American frontier, our minds may leap to lawmen, cowboys, or pioneers in covered wagons. Yet one group quietly shaped the West in profound and lasting ways: the ranchers. They were not only stewards of cattle and land but also guardians of a way of life that required faith, determination, and resilience. Nowhere is this more evident than in Montana’s Deer Lodge Valley, where lush grasslands, open skies, and enterprising hearts gave rise to one of the most iconic ranches of the West—the Kohrs Ranch.

A Divine Opportunity

As settlers pushed westward during the 1800s, wagon trains heading toward Oregon and California often left behind cattle that were sick, lame, or simply too exhausted to continue. Left to the mercy of the wilderness, these abandoned cattle thrived on Montana's rich grasses. Ranchers rounded them up, nursed them back to health, and integrated them into their growing herds. This practice not only salvaged valuable livestock but also reflected a culture of stewardship rooted in frontier practicality and Christian compassion.

One of the greatest exemplars of this spirit was Conrad Kohrs, a German immigrant who came to Montana seeking opportunity and built an empire instead. Known as the "Cattle King of Montana," Kohrs began modestly, buying and raising cattle that others had given up on. With hard work, vision, and an eye for opportunity, he turned abandoned animals into thriving herds, building what would become the legendary Kohrs Ranch.

The Open Range and a Growing Industry

The success of ranching in Montana hinged on the concept of the open range. Without fences to constrain them, cattle could roam for miles, feeding on the bounty of the land. For ranchers like Kohrs, this meant lower overhead and larger herds, but it also required trust—trust in neighbors, hired hands, and God.

Ranch life was demanding. Days began before dawn and ended well after sunset. The weather could be merciless, isolation was common, and profits uncertain. Yet, through it all, many ranching families held fast to their faith. The Bible was as essential to life as the branding iron, and Sunday worship, whether in a distant town or around the family hearth, provided spiritual rest and direction.

Markets for beef flourished as railroads connected Montana to the rest of the nation. Towns like Chicago and Kansas City became key destinations for Montana cattle, and British investors began pouring money into massive herds, hoping to cash in on the boom. But such rapid growth brought its own dangers.

Greed, Overgrazing, and the Storm to Come

By the mid-1880s, overgrazing had become a serious problem. The open range, once an Eden of opportunity, began to show signs of strain. Driven by greed and fueled by speculative foreign capital, especially from British syndicates, ranchers allowed too many cattle to graze the same stretches of land. The balance that had once sustained the cattle industry was tipping dangerously.

Then came the winter of 1886–87.

Known as “The Great Die-Up,” it was one of the harshest winters in Western history. Cattle by the tens of thousands froze or starved, unable to paw through snow to reach grass. Entire herds were lost, and with them, the dreams of many ranchers. Conrad Kohrs himself lost more than half his stock.

This devastating winter spelled the end of the open range era. Fencing, controlled grazing, and winter feeding became necessary to survive. While this change marked the beginning of modern ranching, it also closed a chapter in the romantic but rugged life of frontier cattlemen.

The Whispering Wind

Learn More

This poignant and powerful moment in history provides the setting for my novel, The Whispering Wind, a historical Christian romance that takes place during the summer just before the Great Die-Up.

Phoebe, my heroine, is the daughter—and niece—of ranchers, living on her uncle’s ranch in the Deer Lodge Valley. Skilled with horses and determined to prove her worth in a man’s world, she persuades her uncle to take her on as a ranch hand—no small feat in an era when women were expected to remain in the background.

She finds herself working under Will, the ranch manager, a man of quiet strength who has seen both the promise and perils of the cattle business. As he trains her to work cattle, their bond deepens. But their growing affection is shadowed by the troubling signs of a range pushed to its limits, and the rising tide of ambition and foreign greed threatening to unravel all they hold dear.

Writing The Whispering Wind allowed me to explore the resilience and faith of people living on the edge of change. I was inspired by the courage of women like Phoebe, who defied cultural norms, and men like Will, who bore responsibility with integrity. The novel is steeped in the rich detail of ranch life—branding cattle, riding herd, and wrestling with the moral questions raised by unchecked growth. Yet, at its heart, it is a story of love, faith, and finding strength in God when the world around you begins to shift.

The Legacy Lives On

The ranchers of Montana, like Conrad Kohrs and the countless others who followed, may not wear the same kind of fame as outlaws or gunfighters, but their legacy is every bit as enduring. They helped feed a nation, shaped the land, and left behind values of hard work, humility, and trust in God's provision.

Their stories—and the lessons they teach us—still speak today. Whether you're drawn to the sweeping romance of the open plains or the quiet faith of those who called it home, the ranchers of the Wild West remain true heroes of the American frontier.

About Janalyn Voigt

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales "written" in her head. Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. Romance, mystery, adventure, history, and whimsy appear in all her novels. Learn more about Janalyn, read the first chapters of her books, and subscribe for updates at http://janalynvoigt.com.

Cowboy Wit and Wisdom

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Cowboy Wit and Wisdom

Spending long hours in the saddle, roping and herding cattle, averting a stampede—all were duties of a cowboy in the Wild West. The iconic lifestyle of a ranch hand on the open range is the stuff of legend. Who wouldn’t want to live free, sleep under the open sky, and swap stories around an open fire? Stampedes, mosquitoes, and dust storms only add to the mystique.

Well, okay. Maybe cowboys did have it rough at times. Despite this, many of them mourned the end of the open range. Read enough of these pearls of cowboy wit and wisdom, and I think you'll understand why.   

Cowboy Proverbs

Cowboy proverbs are like a breeze blowing back the curtains over the window of time. Taken together, they reveal a picture of freedom, good humor, and comaraderie.

• Don’t fret about biting off more than you can chew. Likely, your mouth’s a whole lot bigger than you think.
• When your horse dies, get off.
• How to ride a horse—first you mount the horse; second you stay mounted.
• Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, and a fool from any direction.
• A man, a dog, and a horse never tire of each other’s company.
• When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
• Speak your mind, but ride a fast horse.
• If you’re not making dust, you’re eating it.
• Always drink upstream from the herd.
• Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
• If you ain’t made up your mind, don’t use your spurs.
• It don’t matter how big a ranch you have, or how many cattle you brand, or how many dollars you have. The size of your funeral is still going to depend on the weather.
• If your horse don’t want to go there, then neither should you.
• It’ll feel a whole lot better, soon as it quits hurtin’.
• Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
• The worst troublemaker you’re ever likely to meet, watches you shave your face every morning.
• A bad day roping beats a good day at any other work.
• Just because it’s a well-marked trail doesn’t mean whoever made it knew where he was going.

Code of the West

Cowboys did not hold any governing law as dearly as their own unwritten code. All told, it was a smart way to live.

• Never ask a man about his past.
• Theft of a horse is punishable by death.
• Look after yourself and those you love.
• Remove guns before sitting down to dine.
• Only make a threat if you’re prepared to take the consequences.
• On the trail, greet others before you come into shooting range, especially when approaching from behind.
• When greeting a person on horseback, nod rather than wave to avoid spooking the horse.
• Looking back at someone you pass on the trail implies a lack of trust.
• Riding a horse without permission is akin to violating his wife.
• A real cowman saves his breath for breathing rather than talking.
• Tend your horse’s needs before your own.
• Never cuss in front of a woman.
• Complaining about the cooking earns you a stint as the cook.
• Use your gun hand to drink whiskey to show good will.
• Help those in need, even enemies.
• Never steal another man's hat.
• Show hospitality to strangers
• Fight fair.
• To avoid being shot, never shake a sleeping man awake.
• Help a friend in need.
• Never brag.
• Be loyal.
• Be grateful.
• Don't complain.
• Never quit.
• Show your grit.
• Never shoot an unarmed man.
• Never shoot a woman for any reason.
• Let your word be your bond.
• Uphold the Golden Rule.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into a bygone era. While researching The Whispering Wind (Montana Gold 6), I came across much of this information. In each of the Montana Gold books, I brought various icons of the Wild West to the fore. The Whispering Wind honors the cowboys of the open range. If you'd like to learn more about them through entertaining fiction, be sure to check out the Montana Gold series description at the end of this post.

What's New with Janalyn Voigt

Anyone who works from home knows the difficulty of separating personal, household, and business activities. It's no different for a writer. Finding time to write is the biggest problem most writers face. An online friend of mine complained of the same trouble, and I told her I would pray for both of us on this topic. That night I dreamed of writing in a coffee shop. 

My friend latched onto the idea. Going somewhere else to write intrigued me, but I do have a comfortable home office. Leaving all the distractions behind in favor of an uninterrupted interlude won out. By the time you read this, I'll have gone for my first coffee-shop session. Watch my news here or subscribe to my newsletter for an update. 

Discover Montana Gold

Based on actual historical events during a time of unrest in America, the Montana Gold series explores faith, love, and courage in the wild west. The books follow the lives and loves of a family of Irish immigrants surviving in a hostile environment. Each inspirational story takes you on a journey into a simpler time. Find out more about Montana Gold.

Wild West Sayings We Use Today, Part 10

What do cowboys, an English author, and macaroni have in common? They all relate in some way to the latest installment in the Wild West Sayings We Use Today blog series. Jump in where we are today or start at the beginning. 

Wild West Sayings We Use Today, Part 10 

Diggings

This colloquial expression for a residence, office, or other habitual abode has its roots in the 1500’s. It evolved from the description of a mine as a place of ‘diggings.’ Some sources link the origin of this meaning to the California and Australian goldrushes, although it predated both.

‘Digs,’ common in British slang, derived as an abbreviation of the older term. It describes living in shared facilities, typically as a student or single person.

Historical Reference: Diggings first referred to an entire locality as opposed to a single lodging. The first known use of the expression to describe an individual dwelling occurred in the 1838 book, Charcoal Sketches by Joseph Clay Neal: “Look here, Ned, I reckon it’s about time we should go to our diggings; I am dead beat.”

Example: She went home to her diggings.

Dillydally

People have longed enjoyed playing with words, apparently. In 1741, a process now known as reduplication (insertion of similar-sounds) most likely created dillydally from dally, which itself evolved from the Middle-English dalien, which derived from the Old French dalier. Got it? Which form of the word do you prefer? I vote for the fun one. 

Historical Reference: As a verb meaning ‘to delay,’ the earliest known use of dillydally is from 1741. It crops up in Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, a novel by English author Samuel Richardson: 'What you do, sir, do: don't stand dilly-dallying!' The term is found as a noun even earlier, in a 1610 quotation from Gervase Babington in his "Comfortable notes vpon the bookes of Exodus and Leuiticus": “Such dilly dally is fitter for heathens that know not God, than for sober Christians.1610 'Such dilly-dally is fitter for heathens that know not God.’”

Example: Don’t dillydally. There’s work to be done.

Dude

A truly American slang term, cowboys first used dude to describe a man as a city-slicker—a dandy who dressed in fashionable clothing but lacked practical skills. This use came from the song, “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” where a fine fellow went to town, stuck a feather in his cap, and called it ‘macaroni.’ (Here, we must pause to explain that a ‘macaroni’ was a dandified young British man fond of the Italian dish by the same name he encountered during his travels. You're welcome.) 

By 1960, dude took on the meaning it retains today, as a general term for a man.

Historical Reference: In early 1883, the popular press began to call foppish young men ‘doods,’ a spelling that transitioned into ‘dudes.’”

Example: That dude really should learn to ride. 


Thanks for riding with me through time to discover the history of words that passed through the Wild West to us today.  

About Janalyn Voigt

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales "written" in her head. Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. Romance, mystery, adventure, history, and whimsy appear in all her novels in proportions dictated by their genre. Janalyn Voigt is represented by Wordserve Literary.


Learn more about Janalyn, read the first chapters of her books, subscribe to her e-letter, and join her reader clubs at http://janalynvoigt.com.

Montana Gold Series

Based on actual historical events during a time of unrest in America, the Montana gold series explores faith, love, and courage in the wild west.

Learn More>>

Ride 'Em Cowboy

It's Rodeo Time

In September I wrote about the history of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. That will begin here in Houston at the end of February. The one in San Antonio began last week. That made me curious about rodeos and wild west shows like Buffalo Bill's.

I discovered that rodeos are much older than most ever give them credit for being. Spanish ranchers along with their Mexican ranch hands (vaqueros) got together for cattle wrangling and bullfighting as far back as the sixteenth-century.

The vaqueros started equestrian contests and called them charreadas. They also practiced steer wrestling which had been part of an ancient tradition dating back to the days before the Olympics when the ancients practiced bull jumping, bull riding and bull wrestling. It is believed that bull wrestling could have been an ancient Greek Olympic event.

The events eventually found their way to the United States in the nineteenth-century at fairground, racetracks, fiestas, and festivals. However, the events of bull jumping and bull wrestling didn't have that much appeal to Anglo cowboys or audiences. Anglo cowboys preferred roping, riding, and racing. Those events were still enjoyed in Mexico at the charreada, the style of rodeo originating in Jalisco, Mexico.

If not for a Texan black cowboy named Bill Pickett, steer wrestling most likely would never have made its way into our rodeos. He's the one who devised the method of bulldogging similar to what we see today. He would jump from his horse to the steer's back, bit its upper lip and throw it to the ground by grabbing its horns.  His performances at rodeos in Central Texas led to his being discovered by an agent who signed Bill for a tour of the West. The publicity from his bulldogging at the 1904 Cheyenne Frontier Days brought him a contract to travel Oklahoma 101 Ranch Wild West shows. He is now a member of two rodeo halls of fame, recognized as the inventor of the event. That's the only rodeo event ever attributed to one individual. 

                            Picture by NormanFilms  Public Domain

Believe it or not, women appeared in rodeos in the early days of the twentieth-century. The first one was Tillie Baldwin who was a champion trick and bronc rider and racer. In 191, at an exhibition, Tillie participated in bull dogging, but women's contest    never took on, but it made the cowboys more  enthusiastic for the sport without the lip-biting. 

After the Texas Revolution, Texas Anglo cowboys learned everything about the sport of the vaqueros. Ranch versus ranch contests sprang up all over the state with events such as bronc riding, bull riding, and roping contests appearing at race tracks and fairs. 

Then along came William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) 

He created the first major rodeo to tour the nation along with his Wild West show. It opened in North Platte, Nebraska in 1882. His show was so successful that others attempted to create their own which led to professional rodeo. The two enjoyed a parallel existence with one capitalizing on the allure and fame of the other. Their popularity grew and women joined the circuit in the 1890's. Then animal welfare groups began targeting them and are still doing so today.

The actual word "rodeo" was only used occasionally for American cowboys until the 1920's, and even then, professional cowboys didn't use the term until 1945. In those early days, no standardization of the events occurred until 1929. Up to that time, frontier days, stampedes, and other cowboy contests grew in popularity. In 1897, Cheyenne Frontier Days inaugurated it's celebration and even today is one of the most significant of the annual celebrations around the country. The organization of these events fell to the local citizens and their committees who planned everything and chose all the events, made the rules, and arranged for everything else from the stock to officials. Winners at this competition were even considered "World Champions" until 1922. 

As the wild west shows died out, the cowboy competitions remained. Spectators would now pay to see the competitions and the cowboys paid to compete. The money went into a pool to make up the prizes for the winners. Many towns began having their own local rodeos just as they do today in towns like Prescott, Arizona and Cheyenne, Wyoming did in the early days. 

Much more is to be learned about how rodeos became the professional organization it is today and the pitfalls they faced. 


Houston is know for its annual Livestock Show and Rodeo in late February and early March. I loved attending those rodeos and still attend the livestock show on occasion. My favorite event has always been the barrel racing with saddle bronco riding next. 




Since I didn't have enough to have a drawing in December, we'll do it this month for a chance at my book about a barrel-racing rancher's daughter.
Have you ever been to a rodeo? What would be your favorite event? Be sure to leave your email address and comment by midnight Friday, February 14 to be in the drawing. 

Kylee is the youngest of the Danner clan and drops out of college to barrel race full-time and spend more time with her rodeo sweetheart, Jesse Martin. Connor Morris, known as Jesse Martin on the rodeo circuit, is in love with Kylee, but he hides his true identity from her. When the truth of his identity as Connor Morris is revealed in a news item on television, along with a woman claiming to be his fiancee, Kylee is devastated. Connor now has the task of explaining the news bit she saw is not what it appeared. He must gain back not only her trust, but also that of her brothers and her father.  

Martha Rogers is a multi-published author and writes a weekly devotional for ACFW. Since receiving her first novel contract at age 73, Martha has written and published over 50 books. Martha and her husband Rex live in Houston, Texas where they are active members of First Baptist Church. They are the parents of three sons and grandparents to eleven grandchildren and great-grandparents to five. Martha is a retired teacher with twenty-eight years teaching Home Economics and English at the secondary level and eight years at the college level supervising student teachers and teaching freshman English. She is the Director of the Texas Christian Writers Conference held in Houston in August each year, a member of ACFW, ACFW WOTS chapter in Houston, and a member of the writers’ group, Inspirational Writers Alive.

Find Martha at:  www.marthawrogers.com                   Twitter: @martharogers2                                                                      Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/MarthaRogersAuthor                                   

  

Nineteenth Century Cowboys ~ Truths and Legends

This month, I'm turning my slot over to my critique partner historical novelist, Cynthia Roemer. 

Most likely the term “cowboy” dredges up images of John Wayne with his rough and ready swagger and his knack for blasting his way out of tough situations. Or perhaps it’s the glamor and romance of the singing cowboys, Roy Rogers or Gene Autry that you recall.

John Wayne (Public Domain)

Through the magic of modern media, cowboys have become larger than life, able to fight their way out of any battle to win their lady’s heart. But, while this Hollywood depiction of cowboys makes for fascinating stories, one has to wonder how much is truth and how much is legend?

Vaqueros (Public Domain)

The first cowboys were Mexicans known as vaqueros, the Spanish word for “cow”. These men were usually young and unmarried, and in need of money. Skilled with a rope, as well as in the saddle, these young men worked hard to herd cattle and train horses for well-to-do ranchers. By the 1700’s, these ranches had spread northward into what is now Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  Cowboys were instrumental in the Western expansion.

(Public Domain)

Being a cowboy was anything but glamorous. They often put in fifteen-hour days, much of the time in the saddle, herding cattle, rounding up strays, or breaking in horses. Pay was minimal, typically $25-$40 a month. They had the reputation of being rowdy and often spent their earnings a quickly as they made them.

Stock Photo owned by Pamela S. Meyers

On a cattle drive, their diet consisted of bacon, beans, beef jerky, canned peaches…beans and more beans! Cowboys were generally small-framed men, not the burly sort portrayed in movies. But they had to be tough, able to endure many grueling days on the trail. Within a few weeks, a dozen cattlemen could herd thousands of head of cattle hundreds of miles. 

Typical cowboy clothes.
Stock photo owned by Pamela S. Meyers

Cowboys generally wore clothing to suit their rough conditions: heeled boots, spurs, durable shirts and pants, bandanas, and leather chaps to protect their legs. Their large broad-brimmed hats were helpful in shading them from the sun’s heat. Some of the larger hats, often referred to as 10-gallon hats for their large size, came in handy for toting water for themselves and their horses.

Cowboys loading cattle into RR cars

By the mid-1800’s, the coming of the railroad brought new marketing opportunities for cattleman. Cowboys could now round up their herds and ship them by rail from one end of the country to the other. Branding was used to distinguish one cattleman’s herd from another.

Winters were hard on the toughest cowboys.

Following the Civil War, things began to change for cowboys. The fragmented nation began to expand further west, many claiming private land and erecting fences. The range wars between farmers and ranchers made herding cattle more of a challenge. But the most devastating blow to the cattleman came in the winter of 1886-87 when a period of sub-zero temperatures blanketed the west, killing thousands of cattle. Some view this as the beginning of the end for the cowboy era.

The cowboy story will forever be an indelible part of the rich history of the United States. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I chose a cattleman as the hero of my new novel. There’s something nostalgic about the life of a cowboy. The facts shed truth of the cowboys’ rough and rugged lifestyle. Ah, but the legends of the Silver Screen paint a picture of cowboys that leave us with a sense of wonder and romance we’ll forever delight in!

Stock photo owned by Pamela S. Meyers

Resources. 

Photo of cowboys herding cattle: Kathy Weiser, owner/editor, Legends of America. https://www.ledgendsofamerica.com

Winter herding picture: Russell Friedman, Cowboys of the Wild, Go Show; Wikepedia source.

Cynthia Roemer was raised in the cornfields of rural Illinois, She enjoys spinning tales set in the backdrop of the 1800s prairie. She writes from her family farm in central Illinois where she resides with her husband and their two college-aged sons. Her debut novel, Under This Same Sky released with Mantle Rock Publishing in April, 2017. Book 2 in her Prairie Sky Series, Under Prairie Skies just recently released April 10, 2018.

Under Prairie Skies

~ Beyond shattered dreams lies a realm of possibilities ~

Illinois prairie ~1855

Available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/1945094443
And Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/2HJhTBg