Where do I start? Back in January, on the day after Berserker Day, I received a PM from @Mike_Stoneking telling me I’m coming to Burwell Nebraska for a Morgan Ranch Deck Party.
Fast forward to August and here we all are, back home after a crazy weekend of alcohol, Wagyu, enthusiasm fueled good times and camaraderie. Some of the crew arrived early in order to attend the Loup County World’s Fair with 650 others so they could revel in the culinary experience of the Michelin starred Big-O Tires starred Walking Tacos made in a bag of Doritos.
Watch the Turtle Races
Check in on Bacon Futures
And just be plain annoying to those of us who were arriving the next day.
While drinking our wine
Little did they know, the party doesn’t start until the Toddfather arrives.
So we land in metropolitan Kearney Nebraska and their spacious airport, rent a car and hit the road to Burwell.
The thriving metropolis! I don’t think I could handle the traffic here in a daily basis though.
Then the party started! Pizza, wine, beer and we were joined by @Carrie_Morgan, her husband Cam, her brother Roger, the hotel owner Tenise and her daughter whose name we all drew a blank on when it came time to remember that kind of data.
Cam wearing his very own West County Tool truckers cap!
Bottom from L to R: Andrea Freed, Nola Palomar, Carrie Morgan, Scott Watkins, Me, Andrea Watkins, Cam Ourada.
Top L to R: Brian Bohr, Mike Stoneking, Jennifer Hyer, Todd, Ron Freed, Vincent Fritche, Tenise, Roger Morgan
We had some wine too!
And beer …
Roger was drinking Busch Light until he found the Hanabi, he took a liking to them.
This is what was left in the morning, other bottles went upstairs to the Honeymoon Suite.
Saturday we made the 1/2hr trek to Morgan Ranch where we were greeted by patriarch Dan Morgan, Carrie, Cam and Roger. Gorgeous property of rolling hills covered with wildflowers.
We all gathered, popped champagne and got acquainted while enjoying wagyu sliders grilled by Roger on the logo’d grill.
Then we piled into trucks and or the Humvee and went for a tour.
To the windmill that was erected in 1956 and is still pumping water 69yrs later.
Then we saw cows but no bulls. Herefords (surrogates). The black babies are Wagyu.
Then Nolita fell out of the Humvee. Didn’t spill a drop!
Then it was off to a plateau with a great view where dan told us the story of the property while we enjoyed Nola’s Gazpacho and Argentinian Rosé.
Then back to the house for a fantastic meal of Grilled Flank, Coulotte, Flatiron, Ribeye, Ceasar Salad, Garden Fresh Bruschetta, Green Beans and Chocolate Mousse w/Raspberry Sauce.
The Monopole Cru Sandler Pinot made an appearance.
And of course more wine which we took into town with us because Carrie entered us into a parade! Yeah, you read that right. A Wineberserker float in the Burwell Parade. They may need to rename the town “Burserkerwell” next time we come. They loved us!
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The mayor (Cam’s Brother) stopped by for a photo op
What fun!
Then it was off to entertain the masses. All 600 or so along the parade route which made two loops. We were too busy tossing beaded necklaces and candy to take any in-flight photos. We ended up winning 1st place in the “Miscellaneous” category. We were so happy!
Then we were given the option to either
1: Go the Taylor, the next town, for a country western dance or…
2: Go back to the ranch (where all the rest of the wine was)
Being Wineberserkers we of course chose to return to the ranch where we liquored Todd up and branded his ass!
Eventually the wine ran out and we had to say our good-byes, give Carrie and the crew hugs and retire to town.
Not before leaving her a massive recycle pile and many memories that we all will cherish.
Departure day wasn’t without drama. 10 minutes out of Denver the pilot comes over the PA and says the airport is shut down due to weather and they don’t have enough fuel to circle so they diverted us 45 minutes North to a regional airport in a flyover Nebraska town named Scottsbluff where the co-pilot got out and refueled the plane 
and we sat, and sat, and sat, and sat for close to an hour. Then we fired up the engines, the plane in front of us took off and as we were taxiing to the runway we came to a stop and…
Needless to say we were 2-1/2hrs late to Denver. Everyone caught their connector except for yours truly who had to stay in Denver for another 24hrs before catching a standby flight back to SFO. But, you know, if I had to do it all over again I wouldn’t change a thing. It was a fucking blast. The Morgans are incredibly kind and hospitable and we left feeling like a part of the family. Can’t wait to return.
Others can chime in and fill in the holes in my story. I’m still not all there and I’ve been home for 2 days now. Hope you were able to hang in for the entire post.
visiting relatives.
