Ross Conlin

He brings to Dutch oven cooking the same sort of joie de vivre that he brings to other aspects of his life.  He and his wife, Angie are a supportive and formidable team.  In the late 1960s when Ross met Angie, a bubbly, cheery farm girl from Weston, Idaho, he knew right away that she was the one.  Her hopeful optimistic attitude "was the way I always felt," said Ross, and not longer afterward they were married. 

Ross is an Idaho native, raised in Preston in the agrarian southeastern part of the state.  His dad who worked at a meat packing plant first introduced Ross to Dutch oven cooking on a camping trip to Cub River Canyon east of Preston.  Even before that first cast iron experience, Ross had taken a liking to cooking.  At a very early age, his mother had instructed him in cooking basics.  Baking particularly fascinated the youngster.  "It was my first love," said Ross, and to this day, his favorite dishes in a Dutch all revolve around baking. 

In his advanced Dutch oven class, he encourages students to make their own pies.  Normally making pies in a Dutch oven is considered no small task, but not when Ross is the instructor.  "I'm surprised at the number of people in my classes who have never baked a pie,"  Ross says.  "People are always flabbergasted when they learn how easy it is." 

For a number of years Ross did police work, having two long stints as a policeman in Pocatello and American Falls.  He has also dabbled in the restaurant business.  Presently, he works as a customer service representative for Starwest Technologies in Rockland. 

Dutch oven cooking, however, remains his life's passion.  He continues to do Dutch oven catering on the side (if interested, Ross can be reached at (208) 226-5310).  He often attends the beginning Dutch oven classes on his own time just for the fun of it.  He loves to talk shop, loves people and loves sharing his knowledge and skills with others.  He and Angie reside in American Falls and have three grown children.