By Sarah Stephens

Elmore Autauga News

Top Photo: The Alabama Wagon Train as it rolled into Santuck in Elmore County Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Forney Trailblazers Saddle Club)

The Alabama Wagon Train will be rolling around 9 a.m. today from Milam Road off Hwy. 9 near Santuck in Elmore County. The participants spent the night at a farm owned by Marcia and Billy Wilson on Milam Road. The property was once home to the Billy Wilson Racetrack in years gone by.

For the past five years, it has been a overnight stopping point for the Alabama Wagon Train, Marcia said. “We love to see them coming!”

The EAN caught up with the group Wednesday evening and met up with some of the participants. Wagons dotted the property casting shadows on the ground from the setting sun. Mules and horses were munching on hay next to the rigs. There were RVs, horse trailers and a lot of pick-up trucks. The smell of a campfire, and food on the grill permeated the air, with laughter and music ringing from different campsites on the property.

John Coley is the President of the Forney Trailblazers Saddle Club, which has organized this event for the past 52 years. He said the event has been a part of his entire life.

Todd Hill is the Vice President for the club and has also been a part of the event for most of his life. Hill walked us around introducing us to some of the group, hailing from as far away as South Dakota, Missouri and Louisiana.

We met Chase Walker, 33, who is a grandson of Don Walker, one of the original organizers of the Alabama Wagon Train. There is so much history behind this event, and entire families take part year after year.

If you want to get a glimpse of the wagon train, it will stop for lunch at Mulder Church on Firetower Road at noon today. From there they will stop near the intersection of Redland Road and Firetower Road for a group photo and then begin the last leg of the journey taking them to the SLE Rodeo happening this weekend at Garrett Coliseum. Once the wagon train enters US Hwy. 231, a police escort will ride along with them for safety concerns until they reach the coliseum.

This marks the 52^nd anniversary of this annual event. There were 31 wagons that met 11 days ago in Centre, Alabama, according to Hill.

“During the course of the ride, some wagons come and go, so the numbers change,” he said Wednesday evening. “We have about 13 camping here tonight.” It is not unusual for people from our area to join in on the final leg of the ride. If anyone locally is taking part, please email photos or videos to [email protected].

Dennis Watson is from Missouri, and this is his second time to participate. Other than some engine trouble with his vehicle used to pull his trailer, he said he was enjoying his time with the group.

Bob Gardner has been involved with wagon train events for 35 years, and hails from Slaughter, Louisiana. Tom Birdsong has been involved for the last eight years, and is from Minden, Louisiana. The three sat in comfortable chairs in front of their rigs Wednesday evening, taking a well-deserved break from their travels.

To take part in this event is just a way of life, celebrating a simpler time with a slower pace. All agreed that sometimes this world can get a little crazy, with everyone rushing to get from one place to another. Riding on back roads through woods, camping overnight by a fire, and communing with nature and like-minded individuals is a soothing experience, they all agreed.

“It’s fun!” Gardner said laughing. Yes, there are challenges along the way. But he said he has met so many wonderful people over the years, and they have truly become a community of friends. Everyone will step up to help if someone has an issue with their animals or their gear. It is reminiscent of days gone by, as neighbors would join together traveling across the country to find new lands and properties. It took the entire community to survive with resilient attitudes and a common goal.

Hill said the Forney Saddle Club is committed to keeping the Wagon Train rolling year after year, and is hoping to spread awareness about the event, to invite more participants. Sponsors are also important, as the travel and food expenses can be challenging.

“We are going to do it as long as there are still people around interested to take part,” Hill said.

He had to excuse himself, as he and his family were headed out to find dinner. So, we just mingled with other participants, checked out the mules and horses, and the craftsmanship of the wagons. Many of them are Amish made, Hill had told us.

Dennis and Cheryl Klein are from South Dakota, but have met up in Centre, Alabama for the past four years to take part. We asked them if they would head back home after this event. Dennis smiled, and said, “Maybe. Or, we may find another wagon train somewhere.” It is all about freedom.

Today, the wagons, riders, horses and mules will slowly move through Elmore County, into Montgomery to rest up again in preparation for the weekend rodeo. We hope to see them back in our area this time of year for generations to come.

To learn more about this event, you can contact the Forney Trailblazers Saddle Club’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ftbsaddleclub

Check out this video of the group from March 9 – https://www.facebook.com/ftbsaddleclub/videos/541603605620517