Try mutton, it's not baaa-d

Calwood prepares for annual mutton barbecue on Saturday

September 29, 2016 at 2:25 a.m. | Updated September 29, 2016 at 11:45 a.m.

by Helen Wilbers

CALWOOD, Mo. - If you are into mutton, you will like Saturday's festival in Calwood.
The annual Mutton Barbecue runs 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Calwood Community Center. All funds raised go to maintain and improve the community center.
"A couple years ago, we redid the kitchen completely," said Tony Wright, who is helping plan the event. "We had the building repainted this year just do a little bit of everything."
If you're an average American, you eat less than a pound of lamb and mutton per year, according to the USDA. That's a sharp decrease from the 5-pound-per-capita consumption rate in the 1960s. Lamb, as a traditional Easter dish, is eaten far more often than mutton. And most modern sheep consumption happens in metropolitan areas in the Northeast or the West Coast.
In other words, opportunities for a small-town Missourian to enjoy mutton should be vanishingly rare if not for the annual mutton barbecue in Calwood. It's a chance to try an uncommon meat, expertly prepared.
"I want to say it started in the late '70s, early '80s," said Wright. "Some old boys who lived out here forever came up with their own concoction on sauce."
The first few years were a little rough.
"I think one of the first years they had it they had just a couple sheep, and they ran out at noon," Wright said.
But in the years since, organizers have had time to perfect their process. Aside from an occasional year off, the event has been an annual Calwood staple since its inception.
"We use the old-timers' recipe to a 'T,'" Wright said. "We pick it so it's shredded, mix the sauce in with it. We got a little pre-sauce too, to kind of kill the twang a little bit."
Twang? Mutton is known for having a slightly game-y flavor.
"Sheep's got a little bit of a twang to it," Wright admitted.
It's just different enough from the more-familiar beef, pork and chicken to be off-putting for some. However, Wright reassures the secret sauces leave only deliciousness.
"It comes out real good," Wright said. "It's hard to compare to beef, though."
The hungry and curious can buy all-you-can-eat barbecued mutton, sides and desserts for $10. There will be pork steak and hot dogs, as well, for the less-bold. Mutton can also be bought for $15 per pound.