The World Championship Goat Cook-Off

My family drove to Brady and stayed the weekend for the annual Goat Cookoff; no, I'm not joking. This is the single biggest event held in Brady each year. As my 'home town' and with family still living there, that would be draw enough. But, the older of my brothers, Jessy, enters the cook off each year, which is a HUGE endeavor.

Each team pays like $500 entry fee, has to rent out expensive places, supplies food and drinks all weekend long. Jessy said he spent almost $3,000 this year. Most serious compete rs will get sponsors, which Jessy did on year. But the sponsor had so many rules and regulations that no one was comfortable sitting around camp, which is basically what it's all about.

There are two dances during the Goat Cookoff; a free one on Friday night and a street dance on Saturday. There is a craft show and a festival on Saturday along with the judging. They also have all kind of events you can choose to participate in; horseshoes, spitting, sand castles building, etc. But that's not what draws most of the repeat attenders; it's the cookout/RV groups.

Each entry has a 'camp site' where they sit up chairs, drink, play loud music, drink, cook for cook off and for fun, drink, play games, drink, visit, drink, lie, drink, and socialize. Did I mention they drink?

Jessy and his family rent an RV and literally stay down there on site Wed-Saturday nights. There is always food on, Jessy loves to cook. They buy bright fun colored t-shirts for each family member that comes up. And the kids all just run wild and play in the dirt, rain, mud, hay, whatever they can find. Jessy has four children; 20, 16, 4, and 2. Byjo and her family came with her two children: 6 and 4. And Steve and I were there with Will, age 4. So for the better part of three days there was a 6-year old, THREE 4-year olds, and a 2-year old chasing each other around the camp.

Jessy and his family are also very well known in town due to his business, cooking, and their church affiliation; so all weekend long there are no less than 5 other non-related family members in the camp at any given time -- sometimes up to 15-20 of them.

Everyone comes and goes as they want. Generally, my family would show up down at the park around 10 am and leave around 8 pm. But the party didn't stop until 2-3 each morning; I'm just to damn old to think that even sounds like fun. LOL

In fact, I'd have to say that my recollection of every Goat Cook off I've shown up to support Jessy hasn't been that enjoyable. I've been stressed by the people, strangers, family, heat, odd eating habits, lack of attention, over attentiveness, etc. I go, but I always feel like the squeaky wheel everyone wished had stayed home.

This year was different and I'm sure I can contribute to my good friend Zoloft. :) I upped my dose Thursday night (we left on Friday), Friday night, and Saturday night. I had NO side effects on Friday or Saturday, which tells me I used the extra medication. Today we left town early and I paid for my overdose with 4-5 hours of exhaustion verging on comatose. But it was worth it.

For the first time, I really enjoyed the entire visit. I visited with people when they wanted to visit, read a book when no one was around, ate when there was food, went and bought something to eat when there wasn't. I drink my diet cokes and had a couple wine coolers one evening. I visiting with family and played with kids. And best of all, I didn't stress.

Oh, the weekend wasn't perfect, and I sure as hell ain't no Polly Anna. But it was real. I got to interact with my family, including Paul's boys who came to the Goat Cookoff with their mom. I got to set and watch my son play until he dropped with his cousins that we only see once or twice a year. I got to hug, pick at, touch, and talk to siblings and sibling-in-laws.

All was right with my world this weekend at the World Championship Goat Cook-Off.