Chili Cookoff in Chugwater, WY by Bob Kisken

CHUGWATER,WY-Chugwater, WY, is a town of about 212 people and also the scene of the 30th Annual Chugwater Chili Cookoff, June 20.

 1-Heavenly Fire Chili Cookers 2-Hillbilly Island Cookers 3-One of the many vendors 4-A Vietnam Vet and friend

1-Rocky Mountain Roadrunner Cookers 2-Grant Street Grocery Cookers 3-Colorado Chili 4-Some more cookers

Chugwater is also the home of Chugwater Chili, a chili mix sold internationally. It was started by five ranching families with help from the Wyoming Economic Commission. They started selling a mix which was an award winning chili made by a Cheyenne resident.

The Chugwater Chili Office and sign 3-One of the cookers 4-Duelin’ Peppers Cookers  

1-Cajun Cookers 2-Mean Green Cookers 3-4 A couple of colorful chili cookers

What a great day I had. I am sorry I took so many years to go to it. If you like chili, go to the 31st cookoff in 2016. You are guaranteed a good time.

1-Cookers anxiously waiting for the winners 2-Keep your dog and politicians on a leash 3-Grain Elevator 4-The Soda Fountain
About 34 teams mainly from Colorado and Wyoming participated. They were judged on green and red chili. After the judges had their chili, the crowd could get a free taste until the chili ran out.

1-Chili Cooker 2-MC Jim Jones warming up the crowd 3-4 Some more of t he cookers
Other events, such as tractor show, art and quilt show, remote control plane expo and a jalapeno eating contest were held.
Jim Jones emceed the music on stage. Jim is an author, musician and composer. Two bands participated, the Chugwater Band and Southern Fried.

1-That’s Ole Bob hisself 2-Vudu Chili Cookers 3-An antique John Deere tractor 4-Veteran statues at the park
I like small towns that are still alive and vibrant. They have a great museum and a soda shop that sells excellent old fountain malts. Stop in at Chugwater next time you’re in the area.

1-Band performing for the crowd 2-Don’t them chilis look good? 3-Lining up for some free chili 4-Listening to the bands

Oh yes, you can buy the Chugwater Chili Mix at their headquarters.

                                                                                Ship Wrecked Chili Cookers

The winners this year were: Red Chili-Mike Davis, Cheyenne; Green Chili-Karen Hendricks, Bloomfield, CO; People’s Choice; Red-James Shirmer, Laramie; Green-Jeff Allen-Laramie; Salsa-Grant Street Grocery, Casper, WY and Showmanship-Vudu Chili, Conifer, CO.