The clubhouse at the McKean County Rifle Club had a fragrance that hasn’t been experienced very much at public events the past couple of years — the aroma of cooked leeks and ham along with leek dip.
The purpose of the gathering was the annual Ham & Leek Shoot and Ax Throw competition, but part of the allure was the delicious food served on the side.
Tim Bean, president of the Rifle Club, located at 1142 West Warren Road in Marshburg, said the social aspect of the gathering has always included leek cuisine made from wild onions, or ramps, found on area hillsides in the spring. The community had celebrated the tasty dishes made from leeks in the past with events that included the former Stink Fest. Over the past year and a half, however, many social gatherings have fallen by the wayside because of the pandemic.
Rob Drummond, longtime member of the club and its former president, said the event dates back more than 30 years.
“The Ham & Leek Shoot and Ax Throw started back in 1987,” Drummond recalled, noting there are other similar events during the year at the club such as the Eskimo and Goldenrod shoots.
Bean said the competition aspect of the gathering draws in many men, women and youngsters who want to try their skills with shooting shotguns, rifles and pistols, and throwing axes and horseshoes. Between 30 and 40 people participated in Saturday’s event. Many also bring delicious foods and dips to the event.
“We get people from Johnsonburg and from outside of Jamestown (N.Y.)” to compete, he added, noting winners receive hats for each individual event and various categories.“We have a real strong following of people who have done this every year.”
The results will be published in the Bradford Era sports section.
Bean said he is glad that the club keeps up with the local tradition of the shoot and the serving of the food. He noted club members followed pandemic protocols inside, as well as during the competition staged outside.
“People like tradition and we keep the same format for our shoot,” he added. “The only difference is we used to buy all the food and now some people bring their own dishes, which is kind of nice.”
Bean admitted the club doesn’t make all that much money from the event, as some money is given back to the competing teams.
A participant, Dan Mackey, said he enjoys the event and has won several of the competitions, and even the whole event in the past.
When asked what he likes best about the event, the food or the competition, Mackey replied, “Just the friends, just the people getting together,” he said. “It’s just a bunch of good guys (and women) getting together and having a good time.”
For more information on the club, which welcomes new members, send emails to mckeanrifleclub@gmail.com or visit McKean County Rifle Club on Facebook.
