History
The West Jefferson Community Association began in the late 1940’s as the West Jefferson Businessmen’s Association. Later the name was changed to the West Jefferson Businessmen’s and Community Association and then again to the West Jefferson Community Association. The first Ox Roast began in 1951 with the giving away of free beef Sandwiches. The West Jefferson Community Association sponsors the Annual Ox Roast each Labor Day Weekend. The official opening begins on Saturday with a parade beginning at 12:00 noon on the west end of West Jefferson and proceeding through downtown to the Ox Roast Grounds. The famous Ox Roast Sandwiches are sold on Monday, Labor Day beginning at 12:00. The annual festival includes rides, a queens contest, entertainment, craft tent, kiddie tractor pull, watermelon eating contest, and a large variety of food. The West Jefferson Community Association owns the property where the Ox Roast is held which includes 2 softball fields and parking areas. There are 3 buildings on these grounds. In an agreement with Jefferson Local Schools, which owns the land Garrette Park is on, the Association and schools share all the land. The Park contains a shelter house, storage buildings and a playground. Read more below!
History of the land acquisition into what now is the "ox roast grounds"
The members went back to the purchase of the bonds and asked if they would turn them in without payment. All except $925.00 of the total was donated to the Association. With this money they were able to purchase lights. The holes for the poles were dug by the members and the poles were set by the Electric Company. The wiring was done by Tab Braithwaite.
The land was seeded and fertilized and the members rented bleachers for two years. The balance of the above money with $1100.00 donated by the school was used to erect a permanent stadium of cement blocks and concrete. Bolts, nuts and other hardware was donated by Ralph Parsons, concrete was donated by “Sid” Stratton and Fred Norris donated his time and labor to install the plumbing in the locker rooms under the stadium. A press box was erected by Bill Yantes and other members. Walter Loveless donated material and wires the press box. Many other individuals provided labor and material to provide for the schools and the community.
In April, 1962, Sid Stratton and Leigh Bradfield presented a resolution to the Athletic Association to turn over all assets, including real estate in Jefferson Township, over to the West Jefferson Community and Businessman’s Association in consideration of the Association taking care of the said lands. The resolution was passed unanimously by the members present. It was specified in the deed delivered to the West Jefferson Community and Businessman’s Association that the school board had first priority on the use of the land and the community to have second priority.
The first officers of the association were Ralph Parsons, President, Earl Huffman, Secretary and William B. Culp, Treasure. Vice Presidents were Percy Harbage, Leigh Bradfield, Charles Phillips and Merrill Mellott. The purpose of the group was to purchase land for athletic fields to be used by the school and community.
After several meetings they decided to sell “Baby Bonds” – non interest bearing bonds to raise money. Their efforts raised approximately $4,400.00 with which they purchased land- now identified as the “old football field, the Ox Roast Grounds, the Middle School grounds” or whatever your name is for it, from C.F. Kuener. After the field was laid out they did not have enough so and additional five acres was from Mr. Smith. This piece of property is not the tennis courts. An additional piece of land was donated by Larry Kahoe providing a fence be erected and maintained. During the grading of the property three foot of dirt was removed from the northern part of the land and moved to what is now the baseball field. The grading was done by Russell “Scotty” Keel and L.C. Clymer.
**The above was prepared by Jack A. Pfeil from information recorded in the Minutes of the Jefferson Township Athletic Association, from Ralph Parsons and other sources. Any omission of information or mis-information is unintentional.**
The land was seeded and fertilized and the members rented bleachers for two years. The balance of the above money with $1100.00 donated by the school was used to erect a permanent stadium of cement blocks and concrete. Bolts, nuts and other hardware was donated by Ralph Parsons, concrete was donated by “Sid” Stratton and Fred Norris donated his time and labor to install the plumbing in the locker rooms under the stadium. A press box was erected by Bill Yantes and other members. Walter Loveless donated material and wires the press box. Many other individuals provided labor and material to provide for the schools and the community.
In April, 1962, Sid Stratton and Leigh Bradfield presented a resolution to the Athletic Association to turn over all assets, including real estate in Jefferson Township, over to the West Jefferson Community and Businessman’s Association in consideration of the Association taking care of the said lands. The resolution was passed unanimously by the members present. It was specified in the deed delivered to the West Jefferson Community and Businessman’s Association that the school board had first priority on the use of the land and the community to have second priority.
The first officers of the association were Ralph Parsons, President, Earl Huffman, Secretary and William B. Culp, Treasure. Vice Presidents were Percy Harbage, Leigh Bradfield, Charles Phillips and Merrill Mellott. The purpose of the group was to purchase land for athletic fields to be used by the school and community.
After several meetings they decided to sell “Baby Bonds” – non interest bearing bonds to raise money. Their efforts raised approximately $4,400.00 with which they purchased land- now identified as the “old football field, the Ox Roast Grounds, the Middle School grounds” or whatever your name is for it, from C.F. Kuener. After the field was laid out they did not have enough so and additional five acres was from Mr. Smith. This piece of property is not the tennis courts. An additional piece of land was donated by Larry Kahoe providing a fence be erected and maintained. During the grading of the property three foot of dirt was removed from the northern part of the land and moved to what is now the baseball field. The grading was done by Russell “Scotty” Keel and L.C. Clymer.
**The above was prepared by Jack A. Pfeil from information recorded in the Minutes of the Jefferson Township Athletic Association, from Ralph Parsons and other sources. Any omission of information or mis-information is unintentional.**
Making of the Sandwich "Since 1951"
It all begins with 5000 pounds of Round Roast. On Sunday morning, the roasts are opened and seasoned with “Rudy’s Secret Recipe” at the high school cafeteria kitchen, wrapped in heavy foil and loaded back on the refrigerated truck, to be delivered to the Pit Area. At the same time the pit is dug by Buckeye Septic. The pit is 140 feet long, 4-foot-wide and 4 foot deep. 30 tons of slab wood stands nearby to be loaded into the pit for burning to make a bed of coals for cooking. At 5:30 p.m. on Sunday evening the official lighting of the pit takes place. The wood burns for about two hours then is reloaded with more wood by volunteers to burn again for another 2 hours. At about 9:30 p.m. the pit is once again loaded with more wood for burning to make a good bed of coals of about two feet for the meat to cook on. At about 11:30 p.m. any large chunks of wood are removed and the coals are raked level with long heavy duty rakes. The next step is to cover the coals with a thin layer of sand. 30 tons of sand are shoveled onto the coals. Next comes the roasts, which are laid directly on the sand in the pit. The next step is to cover the pit to create an oven with fence posts laid across the pit and covered with sheet metal. The metal is then covered with more sand to keep in the heat. Finally, a tarp is laid across the sheet metal and more sand around the edges. This last process takes about two hours to complete, all done by volunteers and hand shovels. The meat is allowed to cook about 12 hours until it is opened at about 11:30 a.m. and checked for doneness. Once given the OK by the Health Department, the roasts are pulled from the pit, taken to the prep tent, where they are opened, drained of the juice, any fat is cut off then taken to the slicers. Usually about six slicers are waiting for roasts to be cut then taken to the sandwich making area to be made into large sandwiches and served to the public.
All work is done by volunteers and is done by hand. Wood, sand and meat are moved by volunteers, many second and third generations of their families. On Monday, more volunteers show up to uncover and dig out the roasts, carve them, slice them, make sandwiches and served them. You can always hear “We need more meat” and “We need buns”. Tickets are sold in the Ox Box for the sandwiches and condiments are found in the garage near the serving area stocked with pickles, BBQ sauce, horseradish, and mustard.
Volunteers are always needed as the tradition of the Ox Roast carries on for another year. You can view a print version below!
All work is done by volunteers and is done by hand. Wood, sand and meat are moved by volunteers, many second and third generations of their families. On Monday, more volunteers show up to uncover and dig out the roasts, carve them, slice them, make sandwiches and served them. You can always hear “We need more meat” and “We need buns”. Tickets are sold in the Ox Box for the sandwiches and condiments are found in the garage near the serving area stocked with pickles, BBQ sauce, horseradish, and mustard.
Volunteers are always needed as the tradition of the Ox Roast carries on for another year. You can view a print version below!
Presidents of the West Jefferson Community Association
1950-1951: Ben Edwards
1954: Joe Lewis 1955: Russell Stratton 1956: 1957: 1958: 1959: Ralph Parsons Sr. 1960: Guy Baluser 1961: Robert Bradfield 1962: Carl Thomas 1963: Don Bidwell 1964: Joe Sheller 1965: Ed Sidner 1966: Gerald Roulson 1967: Jack Pfeil 1968: Charles Dozer 1969: Wayne Daniels/Lew Overturf 1970: Lew Overturf 1971: Ray Carter |
1972: Robert Feddern
1973: Fred Cullman 1974: Dale Kramer 1975: Robert Auckerman 1976: Rude Denes 1977: Dough Reeves 1978: Phyllis Varian 1979: Jerry Volz 1980: Lou Holben 1981: Tom Phillips 1982: Ron Brown 1983: Al Orizondo 1984-1985: Ralph Rohner 1986-1987: Carl Rush 1988: Rob Hiss 1989-1990: Don Gardner 1991: Joe Chaffin 1992: Linda Bockey 1993: Robert Godden |
1994: Mark Garwood
1995-1996: Mike Monroe 1997-1998: Bill Martin 1999: Greg Miller 2000: Sue Brown 2001: Ralph Rohner 2002-2003: Linda Bockey 2004-2005: Rudy Denes 2006: Jack Pfeil 2007-Present: Jeff Pfeil |
Grand Marshals
1971-1972: Ben Edwards
1973: Ralph Parsons 1974: Sam Baber and Earl Gregg 1975: Russell Blauser 1976: 1977: Leon Garrette 1978: 1979: Tom Lowe 1980: Dr. J. W. Hurt 1981: Lew Overturf 1982: Mary McElroy 1983: Don Elliot 1984: Dale Kramer 1985: Martha Garver 1986: Jerry Volts 1987: Mabel O'Harra/Merle Paul 1988: Mary and Tom Buscemi |
1989: John Kile
1990: Allen Patterson 1991: Joe Scheller 1992: Myrtle Waugh 1993: Jack Pfeil 1994: Bob Feddern 1995: Glenn Webb 1996: W.C. "Red" Godden 1997: Ben Forrest 1998: Ester Mae Baker 1999: Richard Hockenbery 2000: All Past Grand Marshal's 2001: Bill and Paula Martin 2002: Don Schiff 2003: Wayne Ulrey 2004: Paul Phillipi 2005: Herman and Kimmie Stanley |
2006: Frank Cox
2007: Pete Kitchen 2008: Ed Estep 2009: Cindy Miller (In memory of Gregg Miller) 2010: Rudy and Joan Denes 2011: Carol Beachy 2012: Dennis Gates 2013: John Brenneman 2014: Susan Maggard 2015: Helen Haenszel 2016: Judy and Tom Buscemi 2017: Bob Harper 2018: Charlie Miller 2019: Dave Harper 2020: No Ox Roast (Covid-19 Pandemic) 2021: Madison County Health Department 2022: Dr. Ralph Rohner 2023: TBA |
Ox Roast Queens
1953: Patricia McDaniels
1954: Charlene Steinmetz 1955: Ruth Jaxheimer 1956: Rosemary Rice 1957: Carmen Walton 1958: Bonnie Strauss 1959: Linda Rae 1960: Kay Cuningham 1961: Lynda King 1962: Charlene Stevens 1963: Connie Ryan 1964: Paula Cullman 1965: Judy Schneider 1966: Linda Frasure 1967: Joyce Graves 1968: Debbie Bowman 1969: Becky Schalip 1970: Teresa Neighborgall |
1971: Kelly Stage
1972: Patty Martin 1973: Lori Schneider 1974: Linda Webber 1975: Drena Elfrink 1976: Lisa Smith 1977: Sharon Keibler 1978: Johanda Beekman 1999: Erika Samples 2000: Sarah Beth Schall 2001: Abbey Miller 2002: Kriston Buehler 2003: Holly Smith 2004: Jordan Brimmett 2005: Catherine Balderson 2006: Elizabeth Lynch 2007: Courtney Hockenbery 2008: Coren Bratihwaite |
2009: Taylor Sibbalds
2010: Dana Ellinger 2011: Jenna Kellet 2012: Mollie Hiss 2013: Lindsey Lightner 2014: Emily Barnett 2015: Kailee Hiss 2016: Alexis Dunigan 2017: Mardi Bartholomew 2018: Whitney Stires 2019: Madison Myers 2020: No Ox Roast (Covid-19 Pandemic) 2021: Morgan Myers 2022: Carlee Blackburn 2023: TBA |