WEDNESDAY - May 19, 2010

Wild Wild West Festival
and
Southern Colorado Regionals
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Two great cookoffs were held in downtown Pueblo, Colorado, part of the Wild Wild West Festival's activities. Lots of bull riding was going on, the streets were lined with tons of vendors, and cowboys from all over the country came in for this event. The Professional Bull Riders (PBR), based in Pueblo, and the Chamber of Commerce, look forward to us coming back again next year.
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The weather cooperated both days during the cookoffs, and the crowds were very large, sampling lots of People's Choice chili, which the cooks did an excellent job supplying. Over $1000 was raised for the charity, BAND, Inc. (Bessemer Association for Neighborhood Development).
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Between all the sponsors and George Lott of Pueblo, two successful cookoffs were organized and details were worked out to create both cookoffs. Saturday night's Cooks Party at one of George Lott's sisters (Stephanie) bar, was a lot of fun for those attending. Saturday's 1st Place bronze Bull Rider statue trophies, and Sunday's 1st Place leather Bull Rider wall hangings were the envy of all the cooks.
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A big thanks goes out to all the volunteers that helped out selling tasting kits, kept People's Choice ballots coming in, helped out in the judging area, and especially the help Kathy Plager received in the scorekeeping area. The judges we had, listened intently to the judges meetings, and did a very good job on writing comments on the chilis and salsas turned in. Many said they would return next year, because it was such a challenge to pick the "best" and the choices were all so different.
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Now for the winners:
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Wild Wild West Festival Regional - Saturday
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People's Choice - Edward Huffman
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Best Booth - Priscilla Licon
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Salsa
3rd Place - Paul Cordova
2nd Place - Nolan Cordova
1st Place - George Lott
.
Chili Verde
3rd Place - Nolan Cordova
2nd Place - George Lott
1st Place - Priscilla Licon
.
Red Chili
HM - Nolan Cordova
HM - Steve Tomasek
3rd Place - Dianne Gatschet
2nd Place - Priscilla Licon
1st Place - Bonnie Tomasek (Completes her Hat Trick)
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Southern Colorado Regional - Sunday
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People's Choice - Priscilla Licon
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Best Booth - George Lott
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Salsa
3rd Place - Paul Cordova
2nd Place - Edward Huffman
1st Place - Nolan Cordova
.
Chili Verde
5th Place - Nolan Cordova
4th Place - Mike Gatschet
3rd Place - George Lott
2nd Place - Edward Huffman
1st Place - Steve Tomasek
.
Red Chili
5th Place - Dianne Gatschet
4th Place - George Lott
3rd Place - Al Henry
2nd Place - Mick Joplin
1st Place - Steve Tomasek
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Bob Plager - Chief Judge
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