Record-setting crab feed

Stampeders officer Marion McCrae and President Rocky Burgess are enjoying some comradery at the baked bean station in the kitchen at the annual crab feed last Saturday. TRISH YERGES photo

Stampeder Scotty Payne, who made the trip to Astoria 24 hours earlier to pick up more than $18,000 worth of fresh crab, was amazed at the turnout.

“I don’t know if we’ll have enough this year,” he said as he watched the kitchen crews put out the food at a pace he’d never seen before.

didn’t slow up until about 6:30. The steady flow of crab lovers kept the Stampeders busy seating and serving the crab and side dishes. Organizers said they could tell that this year’s feed was going to break records. “We had people here from the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, Baker and Halfway as well as supporters from Wallowa County and the Chief Joseph Days crew,” said Bud Scoubes, spokesman for the Stampeders.

Above the friendly chatter of guests at their tables could be heard the friendly servers, “Good to see you again! How’s it going? Need anything else? Would you like coffee or water? How about more crab?”

Behind the scenes in the kitchen was Stampeder Kelly Baker, who led the crew that made seven roasters of some of the meanest baked beans west of the Mississippi. The beans were so popular among the guests that they nearly ran out.

Stampeders officer Marion McCrae was quick on the draw and fried up a large skillet of chopped bacon to add into the new roaster of beans for the hungry crowd.

Large kettles of buckaroo coffee were brewing on the stove, and coleslaw was being placed in small serving bowls as fast as the servers could carry them away.

Toward the rear of the kitchen was another crew, the crab dippers, who were shredding apart the crab in large bowls. It was hard to tell between the shredding and the camaraderie if this was work or just a fun time for them, but whatever the case, the crab was so popular that it sold out.

“That’s probably the most crab we’ve ever sold,” said Scoubes, “and the most people we’ve ever served in recent history.”

That’s all good news for the Stampeders because it’s their largest fundraiser of the year and “it will allow us to finish our Shoot Nine concession stand,” Scoubes said.

The Stampeders extend their thank-yous to all their crab feed supporters and invite them all to their steak feed the first weekend in May when the rodeo court will be introduced.