OTTUMWA —
During the weekend, the only thing hotter than the weather were the chili cookoffs.
Not only did Virgil Johnson of Ottumwa coordinate the 3-I Chili Cookoff Saturday, he won the cooking competition.
Wearing a broad smile Sunday morning, Johnson also kept on cooking chili at North Hy-Vee during the Iowa Chili Pod Chili Cookoff. Late Sunday afternoon, the Courier learned that Johnson also won that event.
Saturday’s Eighth Annual 3-I Chili Cookoff, a regional open championship event, drew teams from Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. The state names are the reason for “3-I” reference.
Johnson, a longtime chili fan and cook, coordinated the competition, which is new to the Ottumwa area. He also noted Saturday’s proceeds will go to the Food Bank of Southern Iowa.
Johnson said he started cooking chili in 1989 because he likes to cook and gets to meet a lot of people from all over.
“And I like doing a good deed for others,” he added.
In the spot next to the Johnsons were Jim and Georgia Weller of Rockton, Ill. They have three world championships between them. Georgia won the International Chili Society competition in 1996 and 2008, and she said she’s the only woman who’s a two-time champion.
Sunday’s event was sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI), with the Iowa Chili Pod helping to host it, according to Johnson.
“The Pod activities work to support the charities,” Johnson said Saturday at Ottumwa Park. “The money we make today helps us to do that. It’s for the Food Bank, a nonprofit group, and the rest will go to other charities.”
Johnson noted the Pro Balloon Races will soon be in Ottumwa, and there will be another Chili Pod Chili Cookoff then. The chili cooks will be working for Hospice during the hot-air balloon races.
The cooks who place first, second or third automatically qualify for the national cookoff later in Terlingua, Texas, which is near Big Bend National Park.
“There are usually more than 300 cooks competing and at least 10,000 people at the event,” Johnson said.
The event was sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) with the Iowa Chili Pod helping to host it.
Local News
Related Photos
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Georgia Weller stirs her chili Sunday morning during the Iowa Chili Pod Chili Cookoff at North Hy-Vee Food Store. Weller is a two-time winner of International Chili Society competitions, one in 1996 and another in 2008. She also noted she’s the only woman who’s a two-time champion at the international level. Cindy Toopes/The Courier
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