4-H Chuckwagon gets equipment donation

A donation of a large amount of kitchen equipment from Town Pump has helped put the Hill County 4-H on track for its proposed new Chuckwagon at the Great Northern Fairgrounds.

Volunteers were scurrying around the old Wendy's Building Tuesday, moving some of the kitchen equipment onto trucks that would transport it to the fairgrounds. Others were put into storage containers donated by Patrick Construction Co.

Town Pump, the Butte-based company that has convenience stores around Montana, bought the old Wendy's restaurant. It plans to open a casino there later in the year.

Town Pump has no need for the kitchen equipment, so it donated it to 4-H for the new Chuckwagon.

"This was a very generous donation," said Lon Waid, chair of the 4-H's Chuckwagon Committee.

Grills, refrigeration units, a hood and fire-suppression units, tables and booths were among the items donated to 4-H.

Up to 25 volunteers were on hand to help move the equipment, including many 4-H'ers.

Waid said the hood and fire suppression system is especially important.

The present chuckwagon dates back before existing building and fire codes, Waid said. The new building will have to comply with newer, stricter rules.

4-H Agent Lea Ann Larson said the existing building was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps prior to World War II, and has been the 4-H Chuckwagon since the 1950s.

The new building will cost about $250,000 to $300,000, she estimated.

Fundraising will begin in earnest this spring, she said, and 4-H hopes to have the new building in operation by the 2015 Great Northern Fair.

It will be used by 4-H to sell food at the fair, she said. But it will be available to other community groups that want to use it, she said.

She said 4-H'ers and volunteers have done a good job over the years of preparing great food in the old Chuckwagon, but it should be much easier for them with the new facility.

Volunteers have done a great job of securing the Town Pump donation and getting it transported to the fairgrounds, she said.