Story by Roger Edison

Sioux Falls, South Dakota host annually "The Spirit of the West Festival" which is the largest out door event in the midwest. Just weeks away, the events begin Friday September 17th through the weekend ending on Sunday September 19th.

Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving outfitted the first trail drives that moved herds of cattle which spanned from Fort Belknap, Texas to Cheyenne, Wyoming. The trail would become known as the Goodnight – Loving trail. The year was 1866 when Goodnight moved the first herd of 2,000 Texas Longhorns across the rugged Pecos terrain with a crew of 18 wranglers.

The “COWBOY WAY Church” of Hartford, South Dakota entertains “He Paid Your Fees” Chuck Wagon Cook-Off annually. The event is a western theme with a Chuck Wagon cooking competition, Dutch Oven Cooking Competition and an equestrian Play-Day Rodeo which was held over the of July 24 and 25, 2010 weekend. “The only entry fee is to simply attend the services of the Cowboy Way Church.