October 9, 2026
By David Miller
Five chuckwagons will compete for bragging rights as visitors sample traditional cooking, vote for their favorites and experience a piece of Kansas history.
The sights, smells and flavors of the Old West return to Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site today, Saturday, October 10, as the historic farm hosts its Chuckwagon Cook-Off and sorghum harvest celebration.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering families an opportunity to experience traditional chuckwagon cooking while enjoying a day at one of Olathe’s best-known historic attractions.
Five chuckwagons will participate in this year’s competition, preparing dishes inspired by the cooking traditions of the American frontier. Chuckwagons once served as traveling kitchens for cattle drives, providing meals for cowboys who spent long days working on the open range.
TASTE THE FOOD AND PICK YOUR FAVORITE
Visitors won’t just watch the competition. They’ll have the opportunity to sample food from all five chuckwagons and cast votes for their favorite dishes.
Food sampling begins at noon, with winners scheduled to be announced at 2 p.m.
The celebration also includes a sorghum harvest, highlighting a crop that played an important role in Kansas agricultural history. Sorghum was traditionally grown and processed into a sweet syrup used in cooking and baking before commercially produced sweeteners became widely available.
Mahaffie offers a particularly fitting setting for the event. The historic site preserves the story of the Mahaffie family and the stagecoach era, when Olathe served as an important stop for travelers heading west.
ADMISSION AND EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Event hours: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Chuckwagon food sampling: Noon
Winners announced: 2 p.m.
Adults: $9
Children: $7
Ages 4 and younger: FREE
Olathe residents: $2 off admission
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site
1200 E. Kansas City Road
Olathe, Kansas
Whether you’re interested in Kansas history, old-fashioned cooking or simply looking for something different to do with the family, today’s event offers a chance to sample frontier-inspired food and experience Olathe’s agricultural heritage.
And with five chuckwagons competing, visitors get to help decide which cook serves up the best meal of the day!
Something Different Media Group
