2026 Officers & Board

Scott Tibbets, President (Weatherford, TX)
Bart Saucier, V.P. (Sparta, TN)
Becky Conway, Secretary (Cambridge, KS)
Leon Fischer, Treasurer (Chattanooga, OK)
Mark Day, Director (Conway, MS)
Justin Jackson, Director (Howe, OK)
Jon Pugh, Director (Cleburne, TX)
Homer Robertson, Director (Granbury, TX)
David Sneed, Director (Flippin, AR)

Ray Schmid, President, Mid-America Satellite Chapter (West Alexandria, OH)

Maribeth Sexton, Admin Assistant

ACWA Contact Info:
ACWA, P O Box 626, Belton, Texas 76513
Email: acwa@chuckwagon.org
Phone: 940-532-1788

Business Card Roundup

*Clicking on some of the business cards will re-direct you to their business site.

Everyone is Welcome at the Wagon!

You have found the online home of the American Chuck Wagon Association, a 501c3 organization. Our focus is to preserve the heritage of the Chuck Wagon.

A chuck wagon continues to be an iconic symbol of the great cattle driving era in the American West. This group is dedicated to preserving the history of the chuck wagon and the cooking methods used over a century ago. Those same methods and recipes are used today by many of the award-winning chuck wagon cooks that you can meet at various chuck wagon events.

Mission Statement

To preserve the heritage of the Chuck Wagon.

The American Chuck Wagon Association started out as a small group of Old West enthusiasts and has expanded to world wide association preserving the American past through competitions, demonstrations, charity and school events and other venues.

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View From the Trail ~

Message from ACWA President Scott Tibbets

February 2026

Greetings ACWA Family,
Hopefully, all of you are staying warm and safe as January comes to an end. We, here in North Texas, are trying to thaw out from our first taste of winter. We have been spoiled this year and became accustomed to the 60- and 70-degree weather until last weekend. We all knew Mother Nature would remind us that it was January. She did!

I am often asked what and how I found my love for the chuck wagon? “How long have you been doing this?” “How did it start?” I sometimes say, “Way too long and pure stupidity!” That is not the case at all. I was blessed to have a friend whose dad had a wagon, built and repaired wagons as well as built chuck boxes and repaired wheels. Through that friendship, I was asked to help one time. That “one time” changed my world and life forever. Frank Laramore, Gene Cadell, and Kathy Christensen helped me immensely! All three in different ways. Frank was that friend who asked me to help. Through that friendship, I learned the ins and outs of the wagon. I also learned the “how to” and how NOT to” around the wagon. He took me under his wing and let me be a part of something. In addition to Frank there was Gene Cadell, who at first was our arch nemesis. He had the wagon, the skills, and the attitude to walk the path of what I thought was as close to what a “cookie” would have been. He was intimidating and goal driven. And finally, Kathy Christensen was, and still is, the knowledge and calmness I needed to grow my own brand. She had the answers before I knew the questions. All three of these people have had a profound impact on my life. Wagon, or no wagon, I am a better person because of them.

Why do I tell you this? Because these three, along with countless others, have inspired me to be better, know more and share the love of the chuck wagon with others. Is it love or a curse? Is it an affliction or curiosity? Does it matter? I’ll leave that up to you. This passion we have is individual. Mine has carried over to family and friends. This passion has crossed borders and opened doors I would have never experienced if not for the chuck wagon.

One hundred and fifty years ago, the cowboys, cookies and lives that changed on the trail, would not believe we are conveying their heritage to anyone who will listen. I ask all of you to keep “inspiring” the people we meet. Inspire the next generation. Someone inspired you. Now it’s our turn.

Now on to February. Hopefully, the weather will begin to warm, the ice and snow will begin to melt, and we will continue to share our stories and love.

Dust the wagons off, the trail is calling!

Best wishes,
Scott
ACWA 2026 President

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You can promote your business with ACWA! Whether you want to promote your event, wagon, or catering business, click on the RESOURCES tab at the top of the page for more information.

2026 Chuck Wagon Events

Click on EVENTS tab at the top of the page for information on how you can participate or attend a chuck wagon event near you.

The American Chuck Wagon Association is happy to provide assistance to anyone wishing to host a chuck wagon competition, gathering or sampling. We have compiled tips and suggestions for successful cook offs; there are sample forms for food judging; youth competition forms and tally sheets to help you get started. If you would like to request these forms, have questions or would simply like to visit with someone about your plans, feel free to contact us through email or contact one of the directors.