Well, I don't know if I was having a Senior moment, if I have finally gone the rest of the way nuts or if it was heat stroke Saturday but I was holding my and Vern Gilpin's numbers at the US Nationals in Buda and when 3rd place was called I thought it was mine. I went up and accepted the ribbon and it wasn't until I finally sat back down and by then checked to see if Vern had won, as first had been called, that I realized I still had my ticket in my hand and I had on Vern's award. I went up and fixed my goof up with the officials but by then Brent had won (Congrats to our VERY worthy new National Champion) and it was too late to announce my mistake. Please excuse my error and help me in congratulating Vern Gilpin of Katy, Texas as your third place winner at the US Nationals. As for me, I am going with heat stroke; that's my story and I am sticking with it.
Mark Pigeon Massachusetts chili cook Q'ed and coming to TICC this November. Winners of the Mass CCO.
2006 TICC Champ, current CASI Director and Editor/Publisher of the Terlingua Trails and my very good friend, Dana Plocheck joined us in the beautiful Berkshires of Western Mass for what would turn out to be a record breaking day for our charity. The sleepy little town of Middlefield Mass was the site of the 2nd Annual CASI Massachusetts State Championship and 1st Annual Salsa Competition sponsored by CASI's very own Renfro Foods.
Cool morning dew gave way to warm afternoon temps as everyone was gunning for the title of Massachusetts State Champ. We made new friends, talked of the Great Cookoff in Terlingua that happens the first Saturday of November and by the time the cookoff came to a close on Saturday, there were lots of happy competitors and a feeling that we had really accomplished something for our charity. The total being somewhere close to $3,000.
I want to personally thank the Maryland crew that made the trip with Jack and myself to help these wonderful folks put on another successful event, without your help and support we couldnt have done it. A big THANK YOU also goes out to Jim Basile for all of his efforts as promoter and CASI enthusiast to get this cookoff going for a second straight year. Next year we have been talking about a two day chili event due to the all the local interest and CASI just might have their first POD in Massachusetts!
Stay tuned and think about joining in the fun for 2011!
People's Choice:
Mark Pigeon, MA
Salsa:
1st Jenny Windsor
2nd Jack Windsor
3rd Jim Basile
Show:
1st Big Jim's Chili, MA Q
2nd Use Caution Chili, MA
3rd Doehre's Doggon Chili, MA
CASI Red:
1st Jack Windsor, MD
2nd Dana Plocheck, TX
3rd Jenny Windsor, MD Q
4th Lori Pinson-Lawler, MD
5th James McCusker, MA Q
6th Tom Jenkins, MD
7th Tim Lawler, MD
8th Richard La France, MA Q
9th Mark Pigeon, MA Q (Coming to TICC this year!)
10th Henry Kennedy, MA (4th cousin to the Jack Kennedy)
From Pat Krenek:
ATTENTION ALL CHILI COOKERS AND EATERS--
Chili Cook-off reminder-----Saturday October 16,2008,(Livingston)
Indian Springs,benefiting the IndianSpringsVolunteerFireDepartment.
CASI-Chili Grind only-$20 entry fee turn-in 2 o'clock
JackpotBeans--$10 entry 50/50 1ST place only turnin 1 oclock
Gumbo( Chicken/Sausage) $10 entry 50/50 1ST place only turnin 12 NOON. Gumbo only may be precooked and brought in crockpot
Showmanship------12:30
Friday October 15 there will be a live AUCTION at 7pm---the kitchen will be open at 6pm selling Indian Tacos & Snacks---Saturday Breakfast will be from 8am to 10:30am & lunch will start at noon
Indian Springs is a community one block off Hwy 190 between Livingston and Woodville
For more information contact Jay Lee @ 936-329-4196 or 936-563-2323
