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 This year’s cook-off had 10 teams including many veteran teams
and a couple first-timers. A lot of bantering occurs between these
teams who have very friendly rivalries. As with other fair events,
the cook-off has become a tradition for many of the teams as well as
many Lincoln residents.
Last year's champion Dave Eyrse of Sugar Chili said he came back
this year to defend his title. He states that his chili is a little
spicy, made with a variety of meats--deer, pork, and ground beef.
Eyrse declares that chili is fun to cook because you can do what you
want with it.
Long time participant Geri Mollohan uses dry beans and soaks them
overnight. She also adds in red, orange, yellow, and green peppers
in addition to Jalapeno peppers, onions, ground beef, and hot
sauces. In the 10 years she has participated, she has placed, but
has not won first place. Mollohan considers the cook off a fun
family tradition at the fair.
Team Bushwhacker's Merlin and Lacey Horath, who have participated
for three years and won best presentation last year, use a blend of
beef and venison plus sweet banana, red, and bell peppers along with
tomatoes, homemade chili sauce, and lots of spices. They noted that
almost everything, aside from the beans, is homegrown and even the
beef, which won carcass class last year, is from the nearby Schwantz
farm.
Last year's second place winners Jim and Sandy Bobell of Team Miller
Lite have returned for a second year. They use a special blend of
seasonings and spices in their chili. Since their children are grown
and no longer showing pigs, the Bobells really enjoy participating
in the cook off. (photo 4054)
Retired mailmen Terry Haseley and Mark Humbert of team First Class
have returned for the second year. They use a special blend of deer
meat, sausage, and hamburger in addition to hot sauces, peppers,
onions, spices, and seasonings.
Bradney Luckhart of Nuthatch Hill BBQ along with his assistants Jim
Parrott and Chad Fitzpatrick, has been competing since the cook-off
began several years ago. Luckhart uses his own Nuthatch spices along
with some secret ingredients, a blend of meats, and peppers, onions,
and garlic all from his own garden.
Rick and Shari Boward of team "Chili Dawgs" were competing for the
second year since they had so much fun last year. Boward says his
chili has just a little bit of spice and explained that it is from
his mom's recipe from many years ago. He learned to make it when he
was young, though his recipe varies bit from his mother's
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Returning team "Chili today Hot Tamale's" Josh Slightom and Frank
Adubato use mainly fresh ingredients - tomatoes, peppers, and
garlic. They state that their chili is a bit spicy and set out
habanero and habanero vinegar for people who sample the chili to
blend into the chili.
Competing for the first time is Landon Rodenhofer of LT Tex Mex
chili. He states that his chili has a bit of a kick to it and green
peppers, red peppers, and red onions add a bit of sweetness to it.
Rodenhofer explained that adding a special blend of seasoned oyster
crackers makes a good chili topping.
Brad Aper, another first time participant, has won three other chili
cook-offs, one in his hometown of Hartsburg. He says his chili is
simple but effective and the recipe has been in the family for three
generations. Aper has modified to his taste and considers it to have
medium spiciness with a bite but not too hot.
Fairgoers who attend the cook-off have an opportunity to sample each
chili and choose their favorite for the people's choice award.
Meanwhile, the 10 judges choose table presentation and the top four
places.
 Once the judges made their decisions, Doug Demay announced the
winners.
This year's People's choice award went to Jim and Sandy Bobell.
The best presentation award went to Josh Slightom and Frank Adubato.
First place winners Jim and Sandy Bobell moved up from their second
place spot last year.
First time participant Brad Aper received second place.
Long time participant Bradney Luckhart of Nuthatch Hill BBQ was
awarded third place.
Last year's champion Dave Eyrse received fourth place.
Though there were only a few winners, there was a lot of the fun and
frivolity that brings back the contestants and hungry samplers year
after year.
[Angela Reiners] |
