By Cass Rains, Staff Writer
October 13, 2007 12:43 am
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The 20th annual United Way Chili Cook-off Friday was a record-setting event.
The aroma of chili prepared by Enid companies or organizations drew more than 1,000 people to Cherokee Strip Confer-ence Center and raised more than $16,500, said United Way Exec-utive Director Allen McCobb.
This year’s theme for the annual cook-off, “Oklahoma Proud — First 100 Years,” had cooks bringing history along with their special recipes.
First through fifth places were awarded in three categories: judge’s choice, top-dollar and best-decorated booth.
Autry Technology Center was first in the judge’s choice category, and Groendyke Transport raised $3,903 in the top-dollar category, in which tasters gave money to the entrant with the best chili. The city of Enid took first in the best-decorated booth category.
McCobb said he was “very pleased” with this year’s cook-off, which he called an “Enid staple.”
“We hit just over $16,500, which is a $1,000 more than last year. We had about 1,000 people come through this year,” McCobb said. “The quality of the booths was just fabulous.”
Including the chili contestants and United Way members, McCobb estimated more than 100 volunteers worked at this year’s cook-off.
McCobb said United Way has two annual fund-raisers, the cook-off and a golf tournament, with the cook-off gaining more popularity each year.
“This has gotten a little bit bigger,” McCobb said. “This is the most that has been raised by any of the fundraisers.”
Cindy Bailey, campaign coordinator for Messer-Bowers Insurance, said her group was excited and pleased to place second in judge’s choice and fourth in top-dollar categories.
“This is one of our causes we do every year,” she said. “We’re excited when we get into that top-dollar category because that’s what it’s all about.”
Jade Powell, an accountant for the city of Enid and this year’s chili cook-off coordinator, said her group was excited to win best-decorated booth.
“I’m very excited,” Powell said. “This is our first year as best booth.”
Powell credited the win to Kathy Cossin, who designed the booth for Friday’s cook-off.
Powell said she had served more chili at her booth than she ever had at the cook-off.
“It was very pleasing to see so many people,” she said. “We definitely enjoyed it there being able to visit with people at the other booths.”
The top-five winners in each category were:
Judge’s choice
1. Autry Technology Center
2. Messer-Bowers Insurance
3. Garfield County Child Advocacy Center
4. Booker T. Washington Center
5. Security National Bank
Top dollar
1. Groendyke Transport, $3,903
2. City of Enid, $3,461
3. Continental Resources, $2,312
4. Messer-Bowers Insurance, $835
5. St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, $730
Best-decorated
1. City of Enid
2. Ward Petroleum
3. Enid News & Eagle
4. St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center
5. Mid-America Wholesale
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