The Mountain State Art and Craft Fair’s Firecracker Chili Cook-Off is looking for the best chili chefs in the area to compete Saturday, July 5, for prizes in three categories that include red chili, verde and salsa. A competition to determine who can bake West Virginia’s favorite chili accompaniment, cornbread, will be hosted as well .
The contest is presented by the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and sanctioned by the International Chili Society (ICS), and will adhere to ICS rules and regulations, which can be found at www.chilicookoff.com. Setup and registration runs from 8 a.m. to10 a.m.; a cooks meeting will be held at 10 a.m., and stoves will be fired up at 11 a.m.
At noon, the public is invited to take part in the People’s Choice award. Tickets are $1 each, or six for $5. Proceeds benefit the West Virginia FFA Alumni Association.
Although chili must be cooked on-site, cornbread may be made ahead of time. Deadline for cornbread submission to judges is noon and open to anyone who wishes to participate. There is a $6 gate admission fee to the Fair.
In the red chili category, first prize will win $400, second prize will win $200, and third prize will take home $100. The People’s Choice winner will also win $100.
In the verde and salsa category, first prize will win $75, second place will win $50, and third place will win $25.
In the cornbread categories (traditional and non-traditional), first place will take home $50, second place will win $35, and third place will win $15.
Each winner will also receive a ‘cast-iron’ trophy, sponsored by Cracker Barrel of Mineral Wells.
The entry fee for the chili competition is $25 for ICS members and $75 for non-members ($25 plus $50 ICS membership).
In the verde and salsa competition, the entry fee is $20 for ICS members and $70 for non-members.
Entry in the cornbread competition is free with a gate ticket to the fair. There is no entry fee for the People’s Choice contest with a paid chili entry.
A brochure and registration form is available at the WVDA website at www.wvagriculture.org or www.msacf.com or contact Debra Gard at dgard@wvda.us or 304.483.4027.
