Meet Our Winners!
Judge's Choice - A panel of 20+ judges 'blind judge' each chili to determine the best in each category. That means the judges don't know who submitted or cooked the chili.
Peoples Choice - Event attendees select their favorites in each category and then cast their votes in voting tubes, labeled with chili cook booth numbers and chili type. Ballot votes are then counted in each tube to determine each category winner.
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2023
Firefighter Challenge:
Women’s Division – Damara Mathews – Elk Creek Fire Department – (time 3 min, 59 sec)
Men’s Division – Clint Sayler – Platte Canyon Fire (time 1 min 43 sec)
JUDGES CHOICE
Red
1st Pam Podiak – “Pam's Wild Wild West”
2nd Laura Brockman – “Panama Red”
3rd Dastardly Deeds – “Dastardly Red”
Green
1st Rachel Larson - “Wapigiti Chili”
2nd Brian Himmelman (Himmelman State Farm) – “Hallowgreen”
3rd Grant Automotive – “Chris' Mean Green”
Vegetarian
1st Derek Hinshaw – “Veggie So Edgy It'll Give You a Wedgie”
2nd Pam Podiak – “Larry's Veggie Bonanza”
3rd Coldwell Banker - “Very Veggie”
Restaurant
Red – Brookdales - “Brutus Red”
Green – Brookdale - “Boss Hogg Green”
Veggie – Clear Creek Cidery – “Mean Bean”
Best Flat Lander Chili – Foothills Fire Department – “Initial Attack”
Best Fire Department Chili – Kim Markland - Evergreen Fire Rescue – “Ever-Green Chili”
PEOPLES CHOICE
Red – Andrea Gonzales – “5280's Chillin' Chili”
Green – Robert Brown – “Go Green Go”
Veggie – Coldwell Banker - “Very Veggie”
Showmanship – Dogma Pet Supply
2022
Firefighter Challenge:
Women’s Division – Melia Carvalho – North Fork Fire Department – (time 5 min, 29 sec)
Men’s Division – Ben Copithorn – Indian Hills Fire Rescue (time 1 min 54 sec)
JUDGES CHOICE
Red
1st Coldwell Banker – “Maverick’s Danger Zone Red”
2nd Bergen Park Church – “Burning Bush”
3rd EXIT Ascent Realty – “Extra Meatyyy”
Green
1st Barry Himmelman (Himmelman Construction) - “Himmelman’s Morning After Blues Green”
2nd Brian Himmelman (Himmelman State Farm) – “Jake’s Fiesta Green”
3rd Steve Farland & Ava & Jaden – “Chairman’s First Place Green”
Vegetarian
1st Larry Edwards – “Larry’s Veggie Bonanza”
2nd Coldwell Banker – “Viper’s Vegetarian Chili”
3rd Elk Creek Fire Department - “Conifer Mountain Veggie”
Restaurant
Red – Big B’s Soup & Grilled Cheese - “Righteous Red”
Green – Tuscany Tavern - “Roast Your Rump”
Veggie – Clear Creek Cidery – “Vegan Mean Bean”
Best Flat Lander Chili – Denver Fire House #3 – “Mugenator”
Best Fire Department Chili – Charles Elliott - Elk Creek Fire Department – “Charlie’s Cowboy Red”
PEOPLES CHOICE
Red – Coldwell Banker – “Maverick’s Danger Zone Red Chili”
Green – Tuscany Tavern – “Roast Your Rump”
Veggie – Larry Edwards - “Larry’s Veggie Bonanza”
Showmanship – Coldwell Banker
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2021
Firefighter Challenge:
1st Place - Clint Sayler – Platte Canyon Fire Department - 5 time winner! (2 min 0 seconds)
2nd Place – Chris Volek – Evergreen Fire/Rescue (2 min 8 seconds)
JUDGE'S CHOICE
Red
1st Pam Podiak – “Pam’s Wild Wild West”
2nd James Anderson (Evergreen Fire/Rescue) – “Rockin Red”
3rd Charles Elliott (Elk Creek Fire Department) – “Charlie’s Cowboy Red”
Green
1st Brian Himmelman (Himmelman State Farm) - “Change Your Khakis Green”
2nd John Sherry (LeaderOne Financial Mortgage) – “Back Draft Green”
3rd Steve Farland (The Chairman) – “Chairman of the Board”
Vegetarian
1st Larry Edwards – “Larry’s Veggie Bonanza”
2nd Tiffany Lockwood (Coldwell Banker) – “Veggiepalooza”
3rd Charles Elliott (Elk Creek Fire Department) – “Conifer Mountain Veggie”
Restaurant
Red – Taylor Jansen (Lariat Lodge Brewing Co) - “Lodge Podge Red”
Green – Evan Lambardi (Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery) - “OH-MY-GAWD Green”
Veggie – Shirley Giovarelli (Brookdale Arvada) – “Mama Gio’s Verde Vegetali”
Best Fire Department Chili – John Porter – Evergreen Fire/Rescue – “Evergreen Fire Red 2”
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PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Red - Dustin Kruse (Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center) – “Mmmmmmeaty Red Chili”
Green – Barry Himmelman (Himmelman Construction) – “Himmelman's Morning After Blues Green Pork Chili”
Veggie – Larry Edwards - "Larry's Veggie Bonanza"
Showmanship - Coldwell Banker
2020
Big Chili cancelled due to COVID-19.
2019
Firefighter Challenge:
Women’s Division - Riley Wilson - Elk Creek Fire Department (3 min 21 seconds)
Men’s Division - Clint Sayler – Platte Canyon Fire Department -4 time winner! (1 min 43 seconds)
JUDGE'S CHOICE
Red
1st Daniel Hagan (Platte Canyon Fire Department) - “Rosso ChiliQ”
2nd Laura Brockman - "Panama Red Chili"
3rd Pam Podiak - "Pam's Wild Wild West"
Green
1st Brian Himmelman (Himmelman State Farm) - “No Fire Mitigation Green”
2nd David Taylor (Evergreen Auto Brokers) - "The Buck Stops Here"
3rd Jason Hartshorn – “Fight Fire with Fire”
Vegetarian
1st David Taylor (Evergreen Auto Brokers) – “Winter is Coming Veggie Chili”
2nd Charles Elliott (Elk Creek Fire Department) – “Conifer Mountain Veggie”
3rd Dale Tolan - "Vital Veggie"
Restaurant
Veggie - Shirley Giovarelli – "Mama Gio's Verde Vegetali"
Red - John Porter (Evergreen Bread Lounge) - "Bread Lounge Red"
Green - The Wild Game – “Wild Game Green”
Best Fire Department Chili- Mike Bartlett – North Fork Fire Department – “Prescribed Burn”
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PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Veggie – Charles Elliott (Elk Creek Fire Department) – “Conifer Mountain Veggie”
Red - Daniel Hagan (Platte Canyon Fire Department) – “Rosso ChiliQ”
Green – Barry Himmelman – “Himmelman's Morning After Blues Green Pork Chili”
Showmanship - Coldwell Banker
2018
Firefighter Challenge:
Women’s Division - Sascha Ozzello - Elk Creek Fire Department
Men’s Division - Clint Sayler – Platte Canyon Fire Department
JUDGE'S CHOICE
Red
1st Dr. Dustin Kruse (Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center) – “2 Feet 5 Meat Chili”
2nd John Anderson (Evergreen Fire/Rescue) – “Ancho Gonna Get More?”
3rd James Ewing – (InterCanyon Fire Department) – “Fire Sauce”
Green
1st Barry Himmelman (Himmelman Construction) - “Himmelman’s Morning After Blues Pork Green Chili”
2nd Mike Bartlett (North Fork Fire Department) – “Prescribed Burn”
3rd Jason Hartshorn – “Fight Fire with Fire”
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Vegetarian
1st David Taylor (Evergreen Auto Brokers) – “Winter is Coming Veggie Chili”
2nd Tim Kram (Indian Hills Fire Department) – “Insane Vegi Attack Chili”
3rd Shirley Giovarelli – “Mama Gio’s Verde Vegetali”
Restaurant
Veggie - Bob Wentworth (Cast Iron Tavern) – “Cast Iron Veggie”
Red - Bob Wentworth (Cast Iron Tavern) – “Cast Iron Red”
Green - Gary & Megan Mitchell (Cactus Jacks) – “Cactus Jacks Green”
Best Fire Department Chili- Josh Olivas – Elk Creek Fire Department – “OMG Green”
Best “Down The Hill” Fire Department Chili- John Aylward – Littleton Fire Rescue – “Don’t Fear The Reaper”
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PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Veggie – Charles Elliott (Elk Creek Fire Department) – “Conifer Mountain Veggie”
Red - Mark Villa - (Genesee Fire Department) – “Genesee Fire’s Big Red”
Green – Jason Hartshorn – “Fight Fire With Fire”
Showmanship - David Taylor (Evergreen Auto Brokers)
2017
Firefighter Challenge:
Women’s Division - Emily Cypher - Elk Creek Fire Department
Men’s Division - Tyler Cypher - Elk Creek Fire Department
JUDGE'S CHOICE
Red
1st Grant Dupart- "Grant’s Boom Boom Boom"
2nd Pam Podiak- "Pam’s Wild Wild West"
3rd Michael Torres- "Sailor’s Dad’s Chili"
Green
1st Barry Himmelman (Himmelman Construction) - "Himmelman's Morning After Blues Pork Green Chili"
2nd Jason Hartshorn- "Fight Fire With Fire"
3rd John Raber (Inter Canyon Fire Department)- "Smokey Green"
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Vegetarian
1st Charles Elliot (Elk Creek Fire Department) - "Conifer Mountain Veggie"
2nd Craig Jones (Indian Hills Fire Department) - "Indian Hills Veggie Chili"
3rd Tiffany Lock (Coldwell Banker) - "Vegetarian With A Vengeance"
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Restaurant
Veggie- Shirley Giovarelli (Elk Run Assisted Living) - "Mama Gio’s Verdi Vegatali"
Red- Shirley Giovarelli (Elk Run Assisted Living) - "Brutus Red"
Green- Gary and Megan Mitchell (Cactus Jacks) - "Cactus Jacks Green"
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Best Firefighter Chili- Charles Elliot- Elk Creek Fire Department - "Charlie’s Texas Red"
Down The Hill Firefighter- Mark Villa- Genesee Fire Department - "Genesee Fire’s Big Red"
PEOPLES CHOICE
Veggie- Shirley Giovarelli (Elk Run Assisted Living) - "Mama Gio’s Verdi Vegatali"
Red- Mark Villa (Genesee Fire Department) - "Genesee Fire’s Big Red"
Green- Barry Himmelman (Himmelman Construction)- "Himmelman’s Morning After Blues Pork Green Chili"
Showmanship- David Taylor (Evergreen Auto Brokers)
