Iowa Chili Pod

08/15/2025

WooHoo!! Just 1 more week to prepare for the 40th annual Iowa Chili Championship held at the El Kahir Shrine in Hiawatha on August 23rd. CASI chili tun in at 2:00, $25 fee. Also Junior chili and homemade salsa. You are encouraged to stay a little longer as there is a crowd expected at 3:00. If you arte able, please bring some extra chili!
As always, let me know if you plan on cooking or attending. Gary

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08/15/2025

The BIG one is almost here!! The 40th annual Iowa State Championship Chili Cook Off! Bring everything you need to cook a championship chili, get you spices ordered, AND bring a friend or family member to cook or help out. Junior chili is also on the venue! The El Kahir will be open for use and a bartender available. Also: homemade salsa contest. Judges will also be needed. Let me know if you plan on attending....
See you on the 23rd! Gary

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07/07/2025

A friendly reminder to come to the 3-I Open Chili Championship in less than 2 weeks!! Let me know if you plan on coming to Davenport 🌶️

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06/26/2025

The 39th annual Ottumwa Pro Balloon Races Chili Cookoff is in the books and 21 cooks from 6 states battled the heat and a strong breeze to make a nice event! 12 judges sorted out the top 10 chili's for the day and Sandy Thomas of Seguin, Texas was our chili champion! Gary Christensen of Clear Lake was the Showmanship winner! Congratulations to all of the winners!
Chili winners: 1st Sandy Thomas Seguin, Texas
2nd Ceci Rivera Lenexa, Kansas
3rd Lanny Thomas Seguin, Texas
4th Ted Hoover Dalhart, Texas
5th Timothy Hoffman Adams, Wisconsin
6th Debra Hunt Dolton, Illinois
7th Mike Famartino Mokena, Illinois
8th Tracy Hoffman Adams, Wisconsin
9th Marshall Brown Smithville, Missouri
10th Rick Geiger Midlothian, Illinois
Kiss your sister 11th Dennis Bertling Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Showmanship
1st Chiliman Gary Christensen Clear Lake, Iowa
2nd Chili Doctor Tracy Hoffman Adams Wisconsin

The cookoff raised around $500 for the Elks Lodge #347. Great job to all of the helpers including Rick and Tim for running the judging, Tim Hoffman for the trophies, and to all that helped to clean up!
See you all next year for the 40th!!!!!!😉🌶🌶

Next up: The 20th 3-I Open Regional in Davenport, Iowa on July 19th....... Hope all of you make it

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06/26/2025

The 40th Iowa State Championship Chili Cookoff will be at a new venue this year. August 23rd at the El Kahir Shrine, 905 Tower Terrace RD Hiawatha, IA 52233. Just north of Cedar Rapids, east of I-380.
CASI fee is $25, turn in at 2:00 PM. Also: Junior chili, $5 fee, turn in at 2:30. Homemade salsa $10 fee, turn in at 1:30. Showmanship begins at 12:30. We can cook on grass or cement. Hope to see you there! let us know if you plan on cooking. thanks

Contact: Gary Christensen 319-721-1580 [email protected]
Or Brian Spencer 409-658-3440 [email protected]

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06/26/2025

WooHoo... the 3-I Regional Open Chili Championship is coming your way SOON!
Saturday July 19th at the Izaak Walton League, 8440 N Harrison Street, Davenport, IA 52806. Automatic qualifier for the top 3 chili's and the top showmanship team! You are encouraged to bring extra chili for an expected large public crowd. And help make this a fantastic event by bringing a friend, relative, or coworker to cook by your side and help with showmanship!
Turn in time is 1:00 pm with a $30 fee. Meat requirement is open. Charity is the Izaak Walton League. The Izaak Walton League is an organization devoted to conversation efforts to restore and maintain out door traditions of hunting, fishing, canoeing, and camping.
For more cook of information contact: Brian Spencer, [email protected] 409-659-3440 Or Gary Christensen, [email protected] 319-721-1580
SEE YOU THERE!!🥹🌶🌶🛶

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06/13/2025

It was mentioned that I would have news about upcoming cook offs....but LouAnn's brother Cody has been in hospice for a few days and he passed away yesterday afternoon. RIP Cody Wade😞🌶️. Thanks for all of your prayers 🙏

Chili news will wait until tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for your understanding.

Gary

06/10/2025

Our friend and chili cook Cody Wade went to Hospice today. He is the 1999 Iowa Chili Champion, and long time cook. Cooked at TICC in 1988. Chili cooks LouAnn Christensen (My wife) is his sister and Dale Wade is a brother. Prayers for all of his family and friends 🙏🙏

06/10/2025

News about the Iowa Chili Championship, the 3-I and the winterset cook off tomorrow night. 🌶️😀