February 17th was the 26th annual  API Chili cook-off at the Events Center in Casper, Wyoming. Presented by the Central Wyoming Chapter of the American Petroleum Institute. The event is a competition where businesses can show off their cooking skills and go to head to head against other businesses. Thousands of people flock to the event to try out all the various types of chili’s made.

cooking competition

Photo: Brett Osborne

The API Chili Cook-off is a pretty big deal in Casper, not only do you get to sample a huge selection of Chili’s for $10 but 50% of the proceeds go to local charities. The Calcutta event means 50% of the monies gets split between the winners of 1st 2nd and 3rd in each category. Winners of each category get 25%, 2nd place 15% and 3rd 10%.

Brett Osborne, Fleet Manager at Fremont Motors along with Tammy Corkill, Ashton Engstrom and many other family members competed this year in the Green Chili category. Their pork recipe took them all the way to top winning first place in the blind judging contest!

“It’s bittersweet to have won this year with it being my 25th year doing this”, said Brett. We asked, what was your inspiration for choosing a green chili? “Well, I normally make a red chili, but with switching over to Fremont Motors, I decided to switch to green”. This is the 2nd year that Fremont Motors has participated in the event. Brett went to on nostalgically describing how he remembers when the event first started, it was held at the Industrial building (at the Fairgrounds in Casper) and there were only about 8 cooks at that time. “It’s pretty cool to see how it has grown”.

45 teams altogether competed. There were 17 other entries for the green chili category. There is also a Peoples Choice winner, which was won by Homax. Brett looks forward to competing again next year.

chili cooking contest

Brett Osborne and Tammy Corkill with their winning Trophy.

 

Well done Brett and team!

Here are the results:

Red Chili
1 – 1st Interstate Bank
2 – DNOW
3 – SM Energy

Green Chili
1 – Fremont Motors Casper
2 – Western Environmental
3 – Well Control Products

People’s Choice Award
Homax

Showmanship
NOV Wellborne

The proceeds generated from the Chili Cook-Off help support local charitable organizations including:

  • CAP (Children’s Advocacy Project)
  • Central Wyoming Hospice Program
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation
  • Meals on Wheels
  • The ARC of Natrona County
  • Special Olympics Wyoming
  • Jason’s Friends
  • Brain Injury Association
  • Safe Kids of Central Wyoming
  • A.P.I. Scholarship Fund
  • Wyoming Food For Thought
  • Seton House
  • Many of the medical funds established in our community