BBQ with the mayor

 Mayor Carl Brewer, one of Dale's bosses, is competing tomorrow in a big barbecue competition at Cowtown. Tonight, he had about 300 of his friends and colleagues over to Cowtown to sample his 'cue.

The mayor and Dale. Brewer is an avid bbq'er, and regularly participates in competitions in the region.

Dale and Ed Flentje, who's been acting city manager while the council looked for a replacement to Dale's old boss. Ed works at Wichita State and is a former administration secretary for Gov. Mike Hayden. He returns to WSU in July.

Brewer's smoking tent.

There were a couple dozen other competitors setting up tonight, and fixing dinner while their meats were smokin'....

One of the competitors....

Of course, whenever you go to Cowtown, you run into the re-enactors, sweating tonight in their old-fashioned garb.

Dale and I, waiting for dinner.

Finally, dinner -- ribs, chicken, brisket, beans and potato salad. I must say, Brewer knows his way around a smoker.