Rodeo 2000: Chuck wagon delivers water
Waging a battle between man and Mother Nature on the flight line is the chuck wagon and the Rodeo Wranglers who deliver food and water.
"Working on the flight line, maintainers can't just leave to go get a meal or cold water," said Don Fellers, director of support for Rodeo. So, Rodeo planners derived the plan to bring those necessities to the maintainers.
"Safety was our primary concern," Fellers said. "No one wants the competitors to fall-out from the heat or dehydration. We thought it was critical that those maintainers on the line were taken care of."
Fellers heard about all the different teams trying to get water buffaloes to store water on the flight line, he thought the water would just sit out there and get very hot. So, he came up with a plan to procure the bottled water.
"We thought it was critical that those maintainers on the line were taken care of first," he said. "It's more important to have food and water out there. Then we can take care of everyone else."
The wagon is a converted Chevy 1-1/2 ton flatbed truck dressed up to look like an authentic chuck wagon from the 1800s minus the horses, of course. It goes to all locations on the flight line and delivers cold bottled water and as much as 50 box lunches per trip, Fellers said.
"Our motto is that if you take care of the people, they will take care of the mission," Fellers said. "The whole purpose of having the chuck wagon is service. It's not something that's new, and it isn't something that we do just for rodeo, but it is something that we'll continue to do, take care of our airmen."
Fellers said the 43rd Services Squadron and the people who actually made the chuck wagon, the 43rd Logistics Group, stepped up to the plate and made (the chuck wagon) possible.
"The Services folks are the ones who make the food, and make sure we have the water to deliver to the troops," Fellers said. "I spent three hours on the phone (Monday) just to get some ice."
Fellers estimates that because of the hot weather, Rodeo competitors will consume 60,000 to 65,000 bottles of water during Rodeo. (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND).
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