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| August 20, 2008 | |
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| Chili Champions |
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Thanks to ConAgra Foods for another great job! The 40th Annual World's Championship Chili Cookoff™ was held Oct. 6-8, and drew more than 400 award-winning chefs to Omaha to compete for the title of "ICS World Champion” in three categories: Red, Green ("Verde") and Salsa. There were over 150 chili cooks and 35 bowls on the finals table. It was a tough job for the judges, but under the guidance of retiring Chief Judge Fred Wieland and Chief Scorekeeper Leah Wieland the ballots were cast and the scores tallied. In one of the most competitive cookoffs ever, the ICS crowned J.R. Knudson the 2006 World's Champion! J.R. received a check for $25,000 and ConAgra presented him with an additional $5,000 bonus for using ConAgra products in his winning recipe. Jerry Simmons won his second world title in the Chili Verde category and received a check for $3,000 
and newcomer John Ammerman became the Salsa World Champion and received $1,000.
This year's traditional red judges – who ranked each recipe based on taste, texture, consistency, spice blend, aroma and color – praised J.R. Knudson's winning red chili recipe for its distinct flavor and texture.
"The cookoff was a great experience, and to have my chili named World's Best is truly an honor," said Knudson. "I take great pride in my chili recipe and its ingredients, and couldn't be happier that the judges enjoyed it, too."
"What could be more all-American than a chili cookoff?" asked Carol Hancock, CEO of the International Chili Society. "After all, chili is the ultimate all-American dish. America's top chili cooks competed for the winning recipe and the results couldn't have tasted better. We are so pleased with the turnout and extremely proud of our winners. Special thanks to ConAgra Foods, the city of Omaha, and all of our other sponsors."
"ConAgra Foods is thrilled to honor the best of the best at the World's Championship Chili Cookoff," said Michael Hargrave, the company's vice president of Sponsorships. "For chili 
enthusiasts who want to compete with the likes of this year's champion, J.R. Knudson, using quality brands and products -- such as Hunt's tomatoes and Gebhardt chili powder -- is a great start."
Among the judges this year was a celebrity judge and fellow chilihead Jake Busey. Jake has appeared in many movies both on the big screen and for television and is a long-time chili fan. His Dad used to haul him around to chili cookoffs when he was younger. He never thought that he
would one day be cooking his own competition chili. Now Jake is an ICS member and competed in several cookoffs this year. He remembered the old elaborate booths and designed and built his own Rattlesnake Jake’s Cactus Chili booth that he uses at cookoffs. After judging the World’s Championship Finals Table, he has some ideas about adjusting his recipe and hitting more cookoffs. He hopes to be back at the World’s Championship next year, but as a contestant instead of a judge. We wish Jake and all the other cooks good luck on the chili trail this year and we hope to see everybody at the 41st annual World’s Championship Chili Cookoff next year!
Make sure to check out the Photo Gallery. You can see all the winners pictures and photos submitted by fellow ICS Members.
1 - J.R. Knudson $30,000 World Champion
2 - Steve Tomasek III $2, 500
3 - Georgia Weller $1,000
4 - Jim Beaty $700
5 - Jim Weller $500
J.R. Knudson
Steve Tomasek III, Georgia Weller,
Jim Beaty, Jim Weller
Finals Table Participants
| Ray Frederick | Dan Bauer |
| Mike Rook | J.R. Knudson |
| Dave Fenner | Geneva Holman |
| Judy Wedemeyer | Kathy Plager |
| Georgia Weller | Steve Tomasek III |
| Jim Weller | Kim Eckley |
| Hank Wedemeyer | Chuck Hoff |
| John Jepson | Christine Johnson |
| Judy Burke | Nancy Swenberger |
| Darol Wetzel | Janis Davidson |
| Mike Austin | Diane Lentz |
| Jim Beaty | Mike Kropp |
| Maud Swick | Doug Wilkey |
| Jerry Buma | Bob Plager |
| Bob Dyer | Bonnie Tomasek |
| David Staley | Bob Hall |
| Kit Hoff | Bill Donovan |
| Red Brecke |
Last Chance Winners
| Rick Decker | Jim Deere |
| Tom Hoover | Paul LaRouche |
| Christie Lucas | Jeff Netser |
| Bill Petersen | David Staley |
| Barbara Ward | Hank Wedemeyer |
Jerry Simmons
Gary Schmeh, Mike Stewart
Finals Table Participants
| Paul Cordova | George Swick |
| Eileen Beaty | Joe Barrett |
| Ron Judson | Charlie Ward |
| Linda Hurt | Scott Barrett |
| Wendy Chauvin | Lauren Staley |
| Gary Schmeh | Larry Weltikol |
| Judy Wedemeyer | Chuck Hoff |
| Marilyn Fredrick | Mary Alice Kropp |
| Bonnie Tomasek | Greg Virant |
| Gail Donavin | Maud Swick |
| Steve Tomasek III | Mike Stewart |
| Julie Netser | Darol Wetzel |
| Jerry Simmons | Richard Chauvin |
| Mike Austin | Jim Heywood |
| Gail Kyle | Craig Stanton |
1 - John Ammerman $1,000 World Champion
2 - Jim Heywood $500
3 - Sachiko Brecke $300
John Ammerman
Jim Heywood, Sachiko Brecke
Finals Table Participants
| Bob Wisemen | Janis Davidson |
| Maud Swick | Ken Kostal |
| Charlie Ward | Georgia Weller |
| Don Hammes | Armando Sanchez |
| John Ammerman | Mary Thomas |
| Joe Barrett | Sachiko Brecke |
| Cheryl Killcollins | Al Henry |
| Jim Heywood | Hank Wedemeyer |
| Scott Navaroli | Donald Ouellette |
| Skip Cooley | Kevin Christensen |
| Ron Boisserance | Mike Ford |
| Dave Schulman | Kay Rook |
| Tom Hoover |
These cooks have earned the distinction of ICS Grand Master cooks by cooking in their 11th World’s Championship event!
Kathy Plager, Al Henry, Jean Simmons, Kit Hoff
These cooks qualified for the 2006 World’s Championship in all three events – Traditional Red, Chili Verde and Salsa!
Hat Trick Winners
Georgia Weller |
Marilyn Frederick |
Jerry Simmons |
Charlie Ward |
Jim Beaty |
Scott Barrett |
Eileen Beaty |
Dione Cooley |
Maud Swick |
Darol Wetzel |
Bonnie Tomasek |
Steve Tomasek |
Les Eastep |
Lynn Kost Virant |
Bob Dyer |
Bob Hall |
Mike Ford |
Diane Lentz |
Al Henry |
Janis Davidson |
Barry Steinberg |
Christine Toney |
Ron Boisseranc |
Joni Deere |
Ed Pierczynski |
Judy Omerza |
Judy Wedemeyer |
Gail Donovan |
Bill Donovan |
Julie Netser |
Kim Eckley |
Wes Carlson |
Randy Bilozir |
Jim Weller |
Paul Wessing |
Joe Barrett |
Kim Mallory |
Mike Rook |
Tom Clavert |
Larry Lentz |
Ghon Eckley |
Don Hammes |
| Jim Deere | Tom Hoover |
| Jeff Netser | Barbara Ward |
1 - Gary Hunt $500
2 - Mark Johnson $200
3 - Gail Donovan $100
People's Choice - Red
1 - Mark Stovall $500
2 - Mark Johnson $200
3 - Debbie Turner $100
People's Choice Winners - Chile Verde
1 - Jeff Netser $500
2 - Don Hammes $200
3 - Russell Barnes $100
People's Choice Winners - Red (Last Chance)
1 - Texas Roadhouse Chili - Ron Pullen
2 - Farmer's Kitchen - Mark Johnson
3 - Rick's - Harold Bramlet
Restaurant Winners
1 - Gail Donovan $500
2 - Merry Musel $200
3 - Debbie Turner $10
Best Booth Winners
Lori Epp $100 (she donated this to a charity)
Andrew Luis $100
Jack Love $100
Jim Sholar $100
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