Laurel Exchange Club takes fifth straight People’s Choice title
Three champions and a dynasty were crowned Saturday at the 15th annual Magnolia State Bank Chili Cook Off.
The event brought hundreds to downtown Laurel, where there was plenty of pot stirring under overcast skies and mild weather.
All attendees were allowed to vote on the People’s Choice award, while a panel of local judges chose the best chili offerings from the nearly 40 teams in both Traditional and Homestyle categories.
For the record fifth consecutive event, the people chose the Laurel Exchange Club for the People’s Choice award. The team, led by Nick Roll, proclaimed this team “The Last Dance” as members look to ride off into the seasoning sunset as a dynasty.
“Everyone is born a champion,” Roll said. “But not everyone can be a chili cook off champion.”
The Down South Simmerin Crew from Bay Springs took the grand prize and $1,000 for the Traditional category. Led by team captain Matt McNeil, the group plans to donate the winnings to a scholarship in memory of friend Johnny Anderson, who passed away in November.
Big Nick Country Boy took second place in Traditional and a prize of $300 along with handcrafted pottery from Bull Frog Pottery.
The Grumpy Man and his entourage traveled from Purvis to claim the grand prize in the Homestyle category. Team member Phillip Bedwell let one secret out of the recipe bag. “We used real Datil peppers that are brought in all the way from Jacksonville, Florida for this recipe,” Bedwell said. Team captain Nathan Sanford said that was not the most important ingredient in the recipe, but rather it was the people on the team all working together.
Second place in the category went to Fat Kidd Rockin.
The Spirit Tent award went to Top Chili and its crew, all of whom were decked out in flight suits.
Across the way were the real soldiers, though, as the Mississippi Army National Guard team The Fixer competed for the first time.
“We are happy to be here and we hope that being ast events like this will help us impact recruiting,” 1st Sgt. John Cross said.
Laurel resident Bobby Stubbs took in the event along with his wife Lorna. “I just hope they kept the Laurel Fire Department close by due to the heat of this chili!” Stubbs said.
Andrea Lightsey Ellis-Thomas sampled the goods and cast her vote for People’s Choice. So, who did the Laurel city councilwoman vote for?
“No comment,” Ellis-Thomas said. “But this is really such a nice event for Laurel and it is great to see everyone out here having fun.”
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