The Galveston County Daily News

HITCHCOCK — The sausage sizzled on the grill, while the brisket marinated. Steam from hot baked potatoes and warm rolls escaped through foil.

The smells emanating from the little hut on the east end of Bulldog Stadium attracted dozens of hungry patrons Friday night. The fans came for traditional barbecue to fill them up and keep them company during the game.

After all, what’s a football game without food?

“I got to fill up before the game,” one customer said. “Can’t get hungry during it.”

Mack Chapman took orders. He unsealed quarters for change, jumped over coolers filled with Gatorade and soda and called out orders to Jacob Gustafson and Randy Jordan. Meisha Williams also took orders, while Shawn Chavers manned the grill.

None got paid. All worked the concession stand in their free time to help raise money for the local 4-H club.

“We don’t mind missing the game or coming out and doing this,” Chapman said. “It’s just such a great organization.”

4-H stands for head, heart, hands and health, or the fourfold development of youth. It helps children in grades five through 12 learn leadership and responsibility through doing.

Most of the activity involves working with animals and raising livestock. Kids get their hands dirty taking care of turkeys, steers, pigs and goats, among others.

Every year, the Hitchcock group takes their animals to the Galveston County rodeo. The participants enter the contests and get judged.

“I loved it during high school; I did it all four years,” Gustafson, a Hitchcock grad, said. “That’s why I come out here and cook. To help the group raise money and help other kids get to experience what I did.”

The concession stand work actually starts days before the game. The group needs to get the food and the drinks.

Chapman said he generally gets a lot of the supplies at Sam’s Club or via donations from parents and the Hitchcock Fire Department. But he’ll go to restaurants to get the high-end meat, like the sausage or brisket.

Sometimes, he’ll buy the brisket precooked. If he’s feeling good, he’ll cook the meat the night before the game. He just doesn’t get much sleep that night.

“I like to cook it, it just depends if I have enough energy,” Chapman said. “The good part is that it gives me an excuse to have some beer.”

Chapman and Gustafson work with the Hitchcock Fire Department. The group is a big supporter of 4-H.

The others in the group have family members who have participated in 4-H.

“I’m out here because my godfather has a daughter in it,” Chavers said. “She really likes it, and it’s important to her. I figure I can help out.”

As Chavers turned over the sausage to get them juicy and tender, a customer walked up to Chapman and got a whiff of the fare. He had just been over to the other concession stand and regretted his decision.

“Darn, I should have come here first,” the customer said.

Without missing a beat, Chapman replied, “Well go return what you just got. We’ll take your money, and it’ll taste much better.”

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Behind The Scenes

Each Sunday during the high school football season, The Daily News will go behind the scenes of Friday night football. We’ll look beyond the field, players and coaches and explore those people who make the Texas ritual and its pageantry so enjoyable.