By Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

The Arkansas State Championship Hillbilly Chili Cook-off set for Sept. 17 in Lakeview gives contestants a last chance to win a spot in the World's Championship Chili Cook-off in Omaha, Neb. and attendees a chance to eat the best chili in Arkansas.

About 1,500 people are expected to attend the event, which will be held at the upper Bull Shoals-White River State Park at Lakeview. Admission is $1 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Parking is free.

Events

In addition to tasting the chili of professionals and amateurs involved in the cook-off, event goers can participate in or witness the Tour de Chili. "We are going to have the first ever stationary bicycle race," Connie Coleman, event chairman, explained. "The winner will wear the yellow shirt and receive a trophy at the Gaston's Winner Circle." The bike race is expected to begin around 11:30 a.m. with a two-hour time limit. "It's going to be a timed event, or whoever lasts the longest," Coleman added. "They will also be judged on technique and costume."

Live music will be performed throughout the day. The Twin Lakes Jam, a group of local musicians that play weekly in the area, will be featured from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The band Carnes McCormack and The Heaters will entertain from 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Other activities associated with the cook-off include about 30 artisans and crafters selling their wares and kids activities with prizes.

This year, the 178 Club restaurant in Bull Shoals and Gaston's restaurant at Lakeview will cook chili for the Bull Shoals-Lakeview Rotary Club to sell. The Rotary club hosts the event in conjunction with corporate sponsors and donates proceeds to several local charities, including Children's Opportunity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Camp Quality, Marion County Literacy Program, scholarships, and a new bike trail planned for the state park. Other food vendors will sell items such as funnel cakes and kettle corn.

Chili

In the 10th annual cook-off, amateurs can compete in the Chili Challenge to raise money for a charity of their choice, while professional cooks compete for the Arkansas State Championship, an International Chili Society (ICS) sanctioned event. About 15 professional cooks, many from across the country, are expected to compete this year with about 25 cooks overall.

Individuals, businesses or organizations can compete in the Chili Challenge. Event-goers will buy tickets to taste chili. The Rotary club will reimburse the cooks for each ticket they collect from tasters. Cooks bring four gallons of chili to the event, and do not cook on site. There is no entry fee.

The actual ICS chili competition heats up at 11 a.m. Cooks compete in one category: traditional red chili. Traditional red chili is defined by the ICS "as any kind of meat or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients, with the exception of beans and pasta, which are strictly forbidden."

In the cook-off, no ingredient may be pre-cooked in any way prior to the commencement of the official cook-off. The only exceptions are canned or bottled tomatoes, tomato sauce, peppers, pepper sauce, beverages, broth and grinding or mixing of spices. Meat may be treated, pre-cut or ground, but may not be pre-cooked. All other ingredients must be chopped or prepared during the preparation period.

"They get to cook for three hours," explained Coleman. Turning their chili in at 2 p.m., judging then takes about one hour. Prize monies are $500 for the state champion, $300 for second place, $200 for third place. Event-goers can also buy tasting cups to sample the professionals' batches of chili.

"The champion will represent Arkansas at the World Championship," Coleman said. All winners of ICS sanctioned cook-offs qualify to compete for cash prizes and awards at the World's Championship Chili Cook-off held each year on the first weekend of October, and this year in Omaha, Neb. The ICS is the largest food contest, festival organization in the world.

Bull Shoals' annual cook-off is one of the last competitions "chiliheads" can enter to qualify for the world championship cook-off.

The ICS is a non-profit organization that sanctions chili cook-offs with judging and cooking rules and regulations. These events are worldwide and benefit charities or non-profit organizations. The National Kidney Foundation, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Make a Wish Foundation, Wild Ducks Unlimited, Meals on Wheels and St. Jude's charities represent a small fraction of the hundreds of national and local charities helped by ICS.

The cost to enter the ICS competition is $25 and forms are available by contacting Connie Coleman at (870) 445-4505. The cut-off for entering the cook-off is the morning of the competition. Participants must be active ICS members and be at least 18 years old. For more information on the ICS, visit www.chilicookoff.com.

If You Go

For more information on attractions and lodging in and around Bull Shoals, visit www.ozarkmountainregion.com. Bull Shoals is a resort town in the Ozark Mountain region in north-central Arkansas. Major draws to this region are the natural beauty of the Ozarks for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, biking, birding, fishing, horseback riding, diving, boating and caving. Photography, antiquing, viewing the elk herds and visiting historic sites of the area are also popular.

Bull Shoals is home to the White River and Bull Shoals Lake. The White is internationally famous for its beauty and great trout fishing below U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-built dams. A rainbow trout estimated at 24.7 pounds was caught and released on North Fork River, a major tributary of the White, in the fall of 2002. Bull Shoals Lake, with more than 45,000 surface acres of water and a 1,000-mile shoreline, is also a popular destination for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. Largemouth bass and big stripers (in the 50-pound class) are on the fishing menu.