Chili Cook-off

Doug Sievers 30d ago

What are the rules

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Lee Proia 29d ago ✔ Organiser

Rules & Regulations
Coopersville Farm Museum 22nd Annual CHILI Competition
February 28 2026 12-3pm

Official signed registration form must be received by February 26th at 2pm.
A Chili entrant team will consist of two people: one to dispense chili into tasting cups and one to serve the public.
One table, tasting cups, spoons, and napkins will be provided. Teams must provide their own table covering. (feel free to decorate!)
Set up of your assigned area must be complete and chili ready to serve to the public by 12pm. Entrants may begin setting up at 10:00am.
Chili must be cooked off site and brought on site the day of the competition. Each team should prepare at least 1 gallon of chili to be judged by the public. If you run out, people probably won’t vote for your chili, so 2-3 gallons is recommended!
All meat and poultry must be obtained from USDA approved sources. Please note: home canned and home prepared meats are not allowed.
A list of ingredients used to make the chili must be displayed to the public. Quantities do not need to be included.
The chili container must be a crock-pot or electric roaster to maintain the chili at a temperature of 140° or higher. Each team should bring an extension cord at least 6’ long.
Contestants will provide a food thermometer to check internal temperatures of chili to assure proper temperature for serving. The Coopersville Farm Museum will have a thermometer on site for use, if necessary, and will be monitoring food temperature periodically throughout the event.
Contestants will provide multiple sets of utensils to be changed out in the event of contamination. Utensils should be kept in the chili or exchanged out for clean every 15 to 20 minutes.
All food, equipment and utensils must be stored at least six inches off the floor protected from contamination.
No bare hand contact with food is allowed. REMINDER: Contestants MUST wash their hands after using toilet facilities, coughing/sneezing, and before entering work station. (Do not attend if you are sick)
All food-handling personnel shall maintain a high degree of personal cleanliness by wearing clean outer garments and hair restraints (cap, hat, or hair net). Plastic gloves will be provided.
At the discretion of a representative from the Ottawa County Health Department or a Coopersville Farm Museum, participants may be required to taste their own chili prior to serving or at anytime during the event.
All food must be covered when not in use to protect it from customer handling, coughing, sneezing, or other contamination.
No smoking, eating, or drinking will be allowed by people handling food while in the work area.
No non-working, unauthorized person will be allowed behind the tables or in the work areas.
All personal belongings must be stored in a designated area away from food, equipment, utensils, etc.
No deliberate sabotage to another contestant or their entry will be tolerated and such an act will lead to disqualification.
Firearms, explosives, or other pyrotechnics will not be allowed on the premises.
Contestants must remain at their workstations until 3:00 pm (or if chili is gone) and must remove all food from workstation when leaving.
Voting ends at 2:30pm (may be extended to 2:45 pm).
The following Awards/Trophies will be presented at approximately 3:00 pm inside the Coopersville Farm Museum. Must be present to receive award.

1st place People’s Choice Award (trophy & $100 cash)
2nd place People’s Choice Award (trophy & $50 cash)
3rd place People’s Choice Award (trophy & $25 cash)

By registering for this competition, you agree that you have read the above rules and regulations for the February 28th, 2026 event that you will be competing in at Coopersville Farm Museum and agree to abide by them. (Please sign the registration form as acknowledgement of reading these rules. Keep this page for your own reference).


Coopersville Farm Museum is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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