SUNDAY - June 22, 2008

Sangamon County Fair

June 17, 2008

Regional Chili Cookoff

New Berlin, IL.

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The 7th Annual Sangamon County Fair Regional was again another perfect day for chili cooking.

Lloyd Weir (Cookoff Chairman) and his wife Brenda (Chief Scorekeeper) did an excellent job of organizing and running this Regional cookoff. While Lloyd is a very good chili cook himself, he and Brenda are getting into chairing cookoffs. Hats off to them for stepping up to the plate. This is exactly what the ICS needs in new young people offering up there time and service. Thanks to both of you....Great Job!

We had perfect weather of 82 degrees with a very nice breeze blowing through the open air pavilion for the cookoff. This is an especially easy cookoff to do with being able to enter the fairgrounds and backing right up to your cooking spot along side of the huge, very nice open are pavilion. Hats off to the Sangamon County Fair Board Members for all they do for the cookoff and setting up the tables and chairs etc.

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The Sangamon County Fair is one of 102 county fairs in Illinois and this fair is one of the best. Credit goes to this outstanding Board that work hard all year long to keep this as the best in the State.

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Along with the Chili Cookoff and the usual rides, foods, and activities of the County fair, on Friday evening we were entertained with "Kelly Pickler" along with "Blake Shelton" in the Grandstand. Saturday evening was headlined with Hall of Fame inductee "Randy Owen."

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Please mark your calendars and join us again next year. This is one you would not want to miss.

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As stated, the cookoff was very fun and relaxing with some excellent cooks and some very good winners;

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SALSA 13 contestants (10 judges)

4th = (HM) Joni Deere 7 pts. (Pana, IL.)

3rd = Paul Wessing 7 pts. (Farmersville, IL.) won tie break

2nd = Jim Deere 11 pts. (Pana, IL.)

1st = Kelly Wessing 11 pts. (Farmersville, IL.) won tie break

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VERDE 10 contestants (13 judges)

3rd = Tom Calvert 14 pts. (Taylorville, IL.)

2nd = Linda Carroll 15 pts. (Taylorville, IL.)

1st = Chris Toney 15 pts. (St. Louis, MO.) won tie break

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RED 30 contestants (27 judges)

4th = (HM) Paul Wessing 5 pts. (Farmersville, IL.)

3rd = Jim Weller 5 pts. (Rockton, IL.) won tie break

2nd = Mike Goodman 8 pts. (Pewaukee, WI.)

1st = Jerry Simmons 14 pts. (Florissant, MO.)

The judges were impressed on how good all the Salsa and Chili were, and on how hard this was to judge. Apparently this was shown by all the ties we had. There were some excellent Chili and Salsa !

In the Salsa and Verde it seems the women were in charge with Kelly and Chris winning in their respective contest.

And then, the men took over in the Red competition with our "2 time Verde World Champion," Jerry Simmons, winning for his 22nd time to qualify for the WCCC in the Red division.

Congratulations to all the contestants........they are all winners!

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