MONDAY - July 24, 2006

Litchfield "Party In the Park" District

Saturday was the 26th annual LItchfield "Party In the Park" District chili cookoff.
Joe Defrates started this cookoff in 1981 with the help of the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce and Charlene Pigg.
"Party in the Park" is Litchfield's annual local celebration of chili, crafts, food, rides and local entertainment catered to youths, sports boosters, and local families. It is held on the grounds of the beautiful Court House lawn and downtown area. The building on the grounds is an original Carnage Library built in 1904 and then later dedicated to the city of Litchfield.
The group in charge of this park keeps it perfectly manicured.
This is a very nice, relaxing, leisurely, fun filled cookoff. In the 26 years we have been doing this cookoff it has never become a Regional as it usually attracts about a dozen or so contestants.
Thanks to the Co-Chairmen Steve Bryant and Mike Terneus everything just falls into place and they have all the bases covered. Steve Bryant has made a commitment that he wants to work to get this cookoff up to a Regional statues. And, I believe he will do it. Please join us next year.
Many of the judges come back each year and they really enjoy the cookoff and are very serious about their selections.
With very nice temperatures (78%) and clear skies with a slight NW breeze it made for a perfect "Deere" chili day.
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SALSA 8 contestants
3rd = Jim Deere 13 pts (Pana, IL.)
2nd = Nancy Goodman 16 pts (Pewuakee, WI.)
1st = Joni Deere 21 pts (Pana, IL.)
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CHILI 15 contestants
5th = Dearl Thomas 12 pts (Clinton, IL.)
4th = Jim Schmedeke 12 pts (Clinton, IL.)
3rd = Tom Calvert 12 pts (Taylorville, IL.) won tie break
2nd = Linda Carroll 13 pts (Taylorville, IL.)
1st = Jim Deere 15 pts (Pana, IL.)
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Congratulations to all the contestants. They are all winners
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Alberta Provincial and Western Canadian Regional Results

It was very hot and sunny in Calgary this past weekend for our two cookoffs. Thanks so much to Matt and the Crossroads Market for all their help and sponsorship of these two events. You rock!
Thanks to the cooks that travelled from far and near to compete - Wes Carlson from Illinois, Maryann and Rod Smith from North Dakota, Darol and Bob Wetzel from Montana and Carol Porteous from Vancouver, BC as well as our local cooks Ron Michel, Ralph Wilkinson, Jim Best, Bill Torvi and a lady that hasn't cooked for a few years Kathy Chan. We would also like to thank all our other sponsors and helpers - we couldn't have done it without you.
It was nice to see Sherill Makin out and cooking on Saturday doing both red and verde. She is busy planning the Doug Makin Canadian Memorial Regional for September 9th in Calgary.

Alberta Provincial Regional - Saturday July 22

Chili Verde
1st - Bob Wetzel - Manhatten, Montana
2nd - Sherill Makin - Calgary, Alberta
3rd - Bill Torvi - Pincher Creek, Alberta

Traditional Red
1st - Rod Smith - Minot, North Dakota
2nd - Carol Porteous - Vancouver,BC
3rd - Ron Michel - Calgary, Alberta

Western Canadian Regional - Sunday July 23

Chili Verde
1st - Ron Michel - Calgary, Alberta
2nd - Bill Torvi - Pincher Creek, Alberta
3rd - Rod Smith - Minot, North Dakota

Traditional Red
1st - Bob Wetzel - (what a weekend for Bob!)
2nd - Maryann Smith - Minot, North Dakota
3rd - Carol Porteous - Vancouver, BC

All the cooks made awesome pots and gave the judges a difficult time in picking the winners. We hope that more of our chili friends will be able to join us next year for an even bigger event.

Joy and Randy Bilozir
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Pacific Northwest & Washington State

Pacific Northwest Regional July 22
.Salsa:
3rd Bob Grayson
2nd Migel Diaz
1st Jose Diaz
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Chili Verdi:
3rd Joe Barrett
2nd Arne Domas
1st Teri Reynolds
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Red Chili
3rd Joy Dahlberg
2nd Joe Barret
1st Janice Davidson
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Washington State July 23.
Salsa:
3rd Marilee Barrett
2nd Teri Reynolds
1st Steve Reynolds
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Chili Verdi:
3rd Joy Dahlberg
2nd Joe Barrett
1st Janis Davidson Completes Hat Trick
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Red Chili:
3rd Joe Barrett
2nd Joy Dahlberg
1st Bob Grayson
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yours truly, Dog Breath (Doug W.)
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Wyoming State
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The Third Annual State of Wyoming Chili Cookoff at Torrington Wyo. 7/22/2006
Wow what a fun day. We were crossing our fingers that we would have enough entrants but it turned out that we had more than expected and a very competitive field it was. Chairman Clayton Kilgore had things very well organized, even though he wasn't the big winner at Texas Hold-Em at the Elks Club Social the night before. Scheduled entertainment for the Social included the Two Old Geezers - direct from Littleton Co, but Denver traffic held them up and they arrived late - yet still in good voice and played and sang for the remaining diehards. (Rumor has it they'll be offered a huge recording contract and national tour from this single gig!) and as George the Bartender said "You guys ROCK"
Saturday was one of those special July days that only people in Wyoming can truly appreciate - hot hot hot but no wind! and the Chili and Salsa offered up by the competitors was hot, delicious and (well I can't really attest to the wind factor here.) 1000 miles was no deterrent to some entrants as cooks were looking for an entry to the Worlds Championship.
(I did observe one team surrounding their pot of Red just prior to sending it to the Judges and chanting - Omaha -Omaha- Omaha!)
The results of the State of Wyoming Chili Cookoff are
SALSA
3rd Nick Knutson CO
2nd Kerri Kilgore WY (1st time cook in a tie break)
1st Mick Joplin TX
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.CHILI VERDE
3rd Steve Tomasek IV CO
2nd Lynn Pruett CO
1st Mick Joplin TX
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ICS RED
3rd Hank Wedemeyer CO
2nd Nick Knutson CO
1st Al Henry CO (This completes Al’s Hat Trick and if Al could dance a jig he woulda!)
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needless to say all had a goodtime and Mick almost did a Hat Trick in a single day. See ya'll next year - Mark Pickering/Chief Judge & Correspondent & One of the Geezers
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Future chili cook
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Kathy and I are pleased to announce that our daughter, Jennifer, has delivered a healthy, 7 lb. 2oz, 19 ½ inch daughter, Evelyn Rose, yesterday July 23. Kat and I have now joined the ranks of proud grand-parents.
Mike and Kathy Stewart
Baja_Chili@hotmail.com
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