BOULDER CREEK RANCH CHILI COOKOFF
The first Southern California cookoff of the 2011 Chili Year was a great success. It was also the first cookoff for the Boulder Creek Ranch. It was a Chamber-of-Commerce day in the high desert community of Hesperia, where the 105-acre event center is located. Boulder Creek Ranch is a work in progress. Already in place are lakes and pavilions and lush grassy areas, such as the one where the chili cookoff was held. Planned are improvements to an already-nice equestrian center, RV parking with hookups and who knows what else?
We arrived on Saturday morning and were directed to the judging area in the 7,000-square-foot pavilion adjoining one of the lakes. It was furnished with a perfect judging table, a scorekeeping area and several round tables for relaxation and comfort. Talk about a classy judging area with white tablecloths, plenty of chairs and whatever else we could ask for! There was also an area set up for the catered lunch that was to be served later to the judges and other VIPs. These folks know how to put on an Event (with a capital “E”)!
We had been a little nervous about the success of a cookoff so close to the World’s Championship, but we should not have worried. The California cooks are real troopers, and they came out in force for this worthy event. Among those gathered to compete were six cooks who had just competed at the World. Four more World competitors were a part of the Judging team, which was led by Steve Wright. The Chairperson, Shelley Hasty, acknowledged from the stage that Steve had been a great source of support and information for her in putting on this first annual contest. She also acknowledged that the ICS judges and scorekeepers in attendance were there “on their own time”. Sometimes we wonder if the Chairpersons really understand that we are volunteers for their cause.
As the day progressed, the public began to arrive. The cookoff was a part of the Ranch’s Harvest Festival, which included good music, food and other vendors, live and silent auctions, a pumpkin patch, children’s activities and more. Admission was free, but tasting kit sales were brisk. The event organizers said at one point that they had sold more than 1,000 tasting kits. Tasters eagerly sampled the chilis provided by the ICS cooks along with six local competitors. The charity for the day was a local woman, Misty Brown, who has suffered from Lyme Disease for seven years. Misty is in need of special treatment, which can only be obtained at a facility in Kansas. Misty was present at the cookoff. Cheerful and personable, she was helping everywhere, and was certainly worthy of the attention bestowed on her.
So the cookoff progressed as cookoffs will. A nearly-perfect day was marred by one small dust devil that tipped over a cook’s canopy, along with their competition pot. However, they were able to salvage enough to turn in a cup for judging. The cups were judged by a panel of local folks, including the Mayor of Hesperia and Victorville, who were joined by ICS judges Claude Covington, Jim LaTendresse, Mike “Ughlee” Austin, Gary Eldred and Bill Storey. Scorekeepers were Bill and Karen Ray, assisted by scorekeeping apprentices Susie Baumberger and Celia “Tootie” Grey. Wranglers were Bob Witt and Aggie Wright. At the end of a very enjoyable day a total of $1,700 in prize money was distributed to the winners, who were:
Salsa (13 entries):
3rd place tie, Pamela O’Sullivan and Armando Sanchez
2nd place, Patricia Sanchez
1st place, Charlie Villalpando
Chili Verde (11 entries):
3rd place, Tish Crawford
2nd place, Skip Cooley
1st place, Patricia Sanchez
People’s Choice Chili (25 entries):
3rd place, Jack Runnels
2nd place, Ted Wilson
1st place, Chuck Harber
Traditional Red Chili (20 entries):
4th place, Pamela O’Sullivan
3rd place, Charlie Blosfield
2nd place, Armando Sanchez
1st place, a very pleased Skip Cooley, who declared that the trip from Reno NV was very much worth the effort! Skip donated back $100 to the charity.
Under the 2011 rules, because this District Cookoff had 20 ICS red cooks, Skip Cooley is now qualified for the 2011 World’s Championship—-less than a week after the 2010 World!
Submitted by Karen Ray
