Chili Cook-Off a Huge Success!!
On January 17, 2026 the Chili Cook-Off was held at Middle Paxton Elementary School in Dauphin. It was a joint effort by Girl Scout Troop 10970 and the Dauphin-Middle Paxton Historical Society. There were 24 "Celebrity" Chili Cookers invited who each made their own unique versions. They were all so different! They were then judged by the tasters who paid $5 for a tasting kit, tasted the chili, then voted the best one for six different prizes. The categories were: Hottest/Spiciest, Best Costume, Best Overall, Most Unique, Best Name of Chili, and Best Presentation. There were over 300 tasters at the event. The proceeds from the Chili Cook-off went to the Historical Society. Thank you to everyone behind the scenes for helping to make this day a huge success and to the community for coming out to support us!! Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all the contestants for their participation to make this fundraiser a success!! Special thanks to Dauphin Locksmith for supplying the water!
The winners!!
Best Name- Riverside Pet Club and Resort with “Bow Chili Wow Wow” Jen Beard & Jess Beard
Best Costume- James Batug as Elvis with “Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Chili”
Spiciest- Emily Fagan “Death by a Thousand Chilis” - 2nd year in a row
Best Table Presentation- The Wicked Sisters’ Final Ladle- Candy Eslinger & Cathy Eslinger
Best Tasting- “Old Iron Bridge Chili”- Greg Bowden and Daniel Bowden
On January 17, 2026 the Chili Cook-Off was held at Middle Paxton Elementary School in Dauphin. It was a joint effort by Girl Scout Troop 10970 and the Dauphin-Middle Paxton Historical Society. There were 24 "Celebrity" Chili Cookers invited who each made their own unique versions. They were all so different! They were then judged by the tasters who paid $5 for a tasting kit, tasted the chili, then voted the best one for six different prizes. The categories were: Hottest/Spiciest, Best Costume, Best Overall, Most Unique, Best Name of Chili, and Best Presentation. There were over 300 tasters at the event. The proceeds from the Chili Cook-off went to the Historical Society. Thank you to everyone behind the scenes for helping to make this day a huge success and to the community for coming out to support us!! Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all the contestants for their participation to make this fundraiser a success!! Special thanks to Dauphin Locksmith for supplying the water!
The winners!!
Best Name- Riverside Pet Club and Resort with “Bow Chili Wow Wow” Jen Beard & Jess Beard
Best Costume- James Batug as Elvis with “Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Chili”
Spiciest- Emily Fagan “Death by a Thousand Chilis” - 2nd year in a row
Best Table Presentation- The Wicked Sisters’ Final Ladle- Candy Eslinger & Cathy Eslinger
Best Tasting- “Old Iron Bridge Chili”- Greg Bowden and Daniel Bowden
