I judged a pie contest once. Going into it was the happiest day of my life. After the 10th or so pie, I changed my mind.

I judged a chili soup contest Saturday at the library. Going into it was the happiest day of my life. Then, I caught on fire. Wow! But it was worth it. I love chili soup as much as I love pies.

Click for a video.

Three other guys - judges - burned with me: Phil Zimmerly, Dr. Matthew Jordan and Luke Young. They like chili just as I do. We could have sat there all day.

And, it was for a good cause - library fundraiser. Just, the same, I'm having turkey for supper tonight.

Here are the results and every one of those soups were winners. Watch for a video later tonight.

Overall Best Chili - Rod Badertscher
Runner-up Best Chili - Zach and Ellen Bradford
People's Choice Award - Travis Unterbrink (this is his second consecutive People's Choice win)

Other cooks:

Dave and Cindi Houghtaling
Chuck Jordan
Nichol Hohenbrink
Alli Sommers
Randy Woods and Dave Moritz

Live music performed by: Ed Zickafoose & Jim Boedicker and Matt Keeler and his band, Blues Reveler