By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Pen and paper, salt and pepper, chili and football: things that just go together. The Ellinwood EMS Foundation Chili Cookoff has grown in recent years. Once partnered with the American Legion Post 320's Craft Beer Festival, the two events will stand alone this year. The Chili Cookoff moves to Ellinwood's St. Joseph Parish Center on Sunday, Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - just in time for some Kansas City Chiefs football.
"There's a Chiefs game at 3:30, so you can come, get your chili, get full, take a baby nap, then you're ready for a game," said Ellinwood Paramedic Chelsey Doll.
This is the fifth year for the event, which raises money for the Ellinwood EMS Foundation. Prior to the first cookoff, Ellinwood EMS did not have a fundraising means outside of its normal budget. Now the Chili Cookoff, and the fire department's annual Duck Run, are bringing in proceeds to help pay for a new rescue truck that carries equipment for both Ellinwood Fire and EMS.
"We are starting to gather money to replace this truck," said Ellinwood Fire Chief Spencer Proffitt. "It's getting a little long in the tooth, a little bit of age on it, and we're looking to upgrade."
The departments have sent cookoff invites to many first-responding agencies around the county. Proffitt said this year's competition could see as many as 20-25 different competitors from area police, fire, and EMS departments, as well as the Barton County Sheriff's Office. Even white chili is considered in the contest.
"I don't specifically like traditional chili, so if I'm cooking we have white chili," Doll said. "There's a lot of debate amongst anyone that participates that white chili is not real chili."
Tickets for the event will be $8 in advance and $10 at the door and may be purchased from any Ellinwood EMS member. The ticket buys event goers three ounces of each chili in the competition. Raffle tickets for various prizes will also be on sale, and the foundation will host a 50/50 cash raffle for the cookoff.