Markstay-Warren Hoedown & Fun Day

Chili Cook-Off

Cooking Rules

1. Teams must file an application with the Chili Team Coordinator, and pay the specified entry fee.

2. Teams must arrive at the Chili grounds in sufficient time to be prepared to start cooking. Team registration starts at 8:00 AM.

3. Teams may wish to decorate their booth and/or team members according to a theme. Teams are encouraged to do so, but must supply all necessary materials and equipment.

4. Teams must supply their own chili ingredients, cooking equipment and fuel. Electricity is NOT available.

5. All preparation of chili must be done on site and from scratch. “Scratch” means starting with raw meat and using regular spices. All meat must come from an Approved source.

6. No team will start preparation or cooking prior to the official signal to start.

7. Chili must be prepared out in the open in as sanitary manner as possible.

8. Hand-in time will be announced to registered cooks prior to Cook-off day.

9. Chili’s may be entered in one (or both) of the three (3) Chili Divisions

Texas Division

1. Texas chili may NOT include beans, rice or fillers of any kind.
2. Meat should be coarsely ground or finely chopped. Hamburger grind is discouraged.
3. Chilis must be cooked down to a uniform consistency. 'Floaters' (easily identified items) will result in disqualification.

Open Division

1. The Open Division is intended for those who wish to cook chili, but NOT competition Texas chili.
2. These chilis will be more like what some would call 'normal', everyday chili, and may include beans, vegetables or whatever.
3. All other preparation rules apply.

Wild Game Division

The Wild Game Division may include beans. All other preparation rules apply. “Wild Game” is defined as any “non-domesticated” meat or poultry. Example: Deer, Moose, Bear, Rabbit, Goose, Wild Duck etc

Judging

Judging will be conducted by the public (spectators). Each person will be given a token for each division, they will then vote for their favorite entry in each division by placing the token in a sealed voting box with the team’s number on it. Event organizers will provide sample cups and spoons for judging samples. Each team should make 3-5 gallons of chili for sampling. Please remember that it is the spectators that will be doing the judging so you don’t want to run out of samples!

Showmanship Rules

The Five Categories are:

· Theme (originality, etc…)

· Costume

· Booth set-up

· Action

· Audience Appeal

1. Judging for the Showmanship shall be on a continuous basis for two hours during the cook-off, ending at least thirty (30) minutes prior to chili turn-in time. Showmanship can be shortened by Cook-off promoter, with agreement of all competing show teams, due to severe weather, etc.

2. There should be no entertainment or other activities planned by the Cook-off that would interfere with showmanship during the hours of showmanship judging.

3. Showmanship judging will be on a one to ten point system (10 is high), using the 5 categories to determine a total of 1 to 10. The judges’ tally sheets will be tabulated together to determine the winners. If necessary, ties can be broken by additional judges.

4. Showmanship judges must remain anonymous and conceal their judging sheets.

5. Show teams will be judged by an assigned number. This number is to be prominently displayed on the show booth or worn by the participant if traveling away from the booth.

6. Show teams must have a cook entered in the Cook-off in order to qualify for showmanship points.

7. Showmanship must be limited so as not to interfere with other show teams, or to cause hazardous or unsafe condition to exist.

8. Sound amplification may be used, with limited volume, so as not to interfere with surrounding cooks or show teams.

9. Show teams must not offer or dispense any alcoholic beverages to spectators during their show.

10. Nudity and lewdness are banned from showmanship.

NOTE: Chili cooks must indicate on their entry forms which division they want their chili’s to be judged in and if they wish to be judged for showmanship. It IS possible to enter a Texas chili in the Open division also (but obviously not the other way around). An entry fee of $10 must be paid for each chili division entered, but there is no charge for showmanship judging

Entry Form - Chili Cook-Off