The skies were blue and the chili stewed.  Thousands of chili lovers gathered Saturday, at the Diamond Guest Ranch, for the 20^th Annual Chugwater Chili Cookoff – a.k.a. the Wyoming State Chili Championship.  Things started swinging the night before with a cooks party BBQ.  It was a good time to catch up with our Pod members from across the border, The Texas border that is.  Alan and Susan Dean were up from sunny Texas to partake in this chili event.  Mel and Diane Fitzhenry were also on hand for the festivities.    Well after a night of fun and merriment, Things got underway the next morning.  Steve Lee made breakfast for the Pod Members, and friends, acquaintances, ex-lovers, aliens, Robert.  Seriously, though, he did make breakfast with Green Chili Omelet’s, Sausage, Tortillas, and Coffee.  After the cooks meeting was held and the goody bags handed out, things started to heat up. There was no shortage of cooks, crowd or chili on this fantastic June day.  When the crowd was not tasting chili, they were having fun at a plethora of other events that were being conducted all over the Ranch.  From roping to Jalapeño eating contests, all to the tunes of Partners in Rhyme and Danny Rogers & the Chugwater Band.     

    When all was said and done, The Colorado Chili Pod came away the big winners.  To start things off Steve Lee and his Warriors of the Crimson Pepper took 1^st in Showmanship!

   Then it came to Green Chili, Don Sanders took 8^th while Robert Batie placed 6^th.  Steve Lee was awarded 1^st place and Wyoming State Champion in the Green category. 

And finally it was time for the awards for Red Chili.  Julia Lampo came away with 10^th Place.  Lyman Wilkinson took 7^th.  Kyle Haberman pulled down 5^th place while Steve Lee took 3^rd.  Robert Batie was the big winner in the red category grabbing 2^nd Place.  Way to Go Robert.   Julia Lampo was also awarded the “Greenhorn” award for best placement by a first time cook at Chugwater.   

The event wrapped up by a concert by Hwy 101 that went on into the night.  All in all a great weekend of Friends, Fun and Chili!