Another Fabulous Chili Cook Off!
When the sun is shining and coaxing the daffodils into bloom, you can count on a rainbow mix of forest dwellers, farmers and rural folk to gather around pots of chili and organic home grown merry making!
These are not just any pots of chili, but chili with bear, and rabbits and chocolate- and flavors you can only experience firsthand. These are not just any type of country folk either, but people with big hearts, strong values, unique expressions, creativity, resiliency and resourcefulness who show up with labeled muffin tins, because they take their task at hand judging the People's choice quite seriously. And you only get 3 beans to vote. These are people who know how to mend cuts with plants, weave hats, fix cars, build houses and milk cows, and haul your animals to safety in a fire. People who save and share seeds and bake cookies for fundraisers. And these people know how to make a good chili!
It was quite the task for our 5 judges to score the 22 chili's that were entered at the Cave Junction Farmers Market's Chili Cook Off this year! But slow mindful tasting and savoring of each sample presented to them, the work of passionate home-town Illinois Valley chefs and foodies, was condensed into tally marks and the winners were announced and adorned with beautiful needle felted crowns made by local herbalist and master creativity genius Amy Lusson!
And the winners are.. Drum roll please...
Some like it Hot was awarded to Dannon Guinther for her entry ‘Verde Chile con Pollo’ (#19)
Keeping it Local was awarded to Megan Cummings for her entry 'The Hearty Classic' (#12)
The Veggie Best was awarded to Carrie Catterall for her entry 'Sweet Potato and Corn' (#7)
Best Overall (Judges choice) was awarded to Kyle Thompson for his entry ‘Southwest Style’ (#16)
And the People's choice was awarded to Captain for his entry 'Black Bear' (#13) Captain, winner of People's choice, was presented with the ladle of honor, wood burned by local artist and farmer of the valley's best carrots, Charlotte Gill.
We want to express our deep gratitude to the amazing people behind the scenes who we could not have done this without! In no particular order because we value you all tremendously:
To Phil and KXCJ for running sound and all the radio PR that let people know about the event, and to the Musicians that kept us entertained ~The better than nothing Jam Band: Kent Fisher, Robert Hirning, Jerry Allen, Arthur, Sunrise and Shawn.
To Amy Lusson and Charlotte Gill for making such stellar trophies.
To Alan and Heather, kindly greeting everyone upon arrival, and repeatedly volunteering year after year, ya’ll are gems!
To Alina, Eliana, Annika, Christine, and all the kind souls who jumped in and washed the never ending pile of dirty dishes and to Silas and Annabelle for shuffling tables around and sweeping/mopping the floors!
To Carrie Catterall, master event planner, who organized all the essential and invisible details, and orchestrated the entire kitchen crew, while washing a million dishes herself. To the kitchen crew! To Paul and Dannon, for tirelessly stirring pots of heating chilis and making the process seamless.
To Ariadne and the tribe of Motherline and RiverStars dancers bringing inspiration, joy and stirring our heartspace. To Cami for the thoughtfully curated amazing raffle baskets, and June, Lilith and Oshun for enthusiastically picking the winning tickets! To Cindy for helping emcee the event! To all the people who bought raffle tickets, and came out of their houses to support CJFM and KXCJ!
To Lisa Kelz, Susan, and the Dome school for letting us host events in the gorgeous Takilma Community Building! To Brianna for bringing the best Apple Cider in the world, and everyone who donated a dessert! Thank you Rachel and many others! To Laloni and Heather and Apricity Vineyards, for quality beer and wine and such cheery excellent service. To all the chili makers who fed us- And the dedicated judges Geri, Eric, Keith, Noah, and Charlie, who committed to tasting all 22 entrees! To Lisa Meyer and Murphy for helping set up and all the folk who stayed until the last dish was washed.
Thank you to our beloved Sarah Kuhn in spirit and Steph Moore in flesh, among the original conspirers to inventing this tradition that has carried on for over a decade!
This is what it means to be in community. Ya'll give me hope and joy.
I have tried my best, but words just can't convey. I hope you know how appreciated you are! :)
