Combined Federal Campaign Chili Cook-Off raises awareness of program

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- While it’s a fact that heat rises, it can also get a rise out of chili lovers, as evidenced Oct. 20 during the U.S. Transportation Command’s Combined Federal Campaign Chili Cook-off.

“Holy Mackerel, my taste buds are singed,” said cook-off judge, Maj. Gen. Gregory Couch, USTRANSCOM chief of staff, as he sampled an entry labeled “Hot.”

“My sinuses drained,” added judge Navy Capt. Daryl Hancock as Command Sgt. Maj. Tomas Hawkins, just grinned and shoveled sample after sample into his mouth, occasionally pausing to jot comments on his judging form.

According to event coordinator Petty Officer 2^nd Class Margaret Royal, there were nine entries in this year’s contest.  Categories were, mild, medium and hot, with varieties catering to all tastes with beans, no beans, meat and veggie varieties.

When Kurt LaFrance was asked if his concoction called “Viva’s Snake Pit Chili” contained anything special, he replied “Just the normal stuff,” then grinned slyly.

“We have 300 bowls to sell at $3 each and hope to sell them all to support our Combined Federal Campaign effort,” Royal said.

Winners were announced by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Roland Sasaki, command CFC representative. They were:  Honorable mention; Lt. Col. Jeffrey Brown; 3rd Place, Staff Sgt. Anthony Fox; 2nd Place, Chief Petty Officer Jesus Ortega and 1st Place, Lt. Col. Heidi Hastings.

“The CFC Chili Cook-Off was intended to raise the awareness of USTRANSCOM employees that the CFC season is in full swing,” Sasaki said, “and that each directorate has a coordinator and key workers who will be asking for donations over the next few weeks. 

“The money raised from the Chili Cook-Off will be added to the overall USTRANSCOM CFC fund,” Sasaki added.  “The 2011 USTRANSCOM goal is $144,000 and the CFC season runs through 14 November.  The next USTRANSCOM CFC event will be a donut sale on Nov. 4.

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