Two hours before the opening of Sunday’s Public Safety Chili Cook-Off at the rodeo grounds, nearly two dozen teams were busy preparing their entries in the annual competition for top honors. The smell of simmering spices filled the air while participants put the final touches on their booths.
Over in the northeast section of the Yew Wood Corral, a competitive rivalry between three law enforcement agencies added to the atmosphere. The Philomath Police Department reintroduced its traditional Texas no-bean chili. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office team went heavy on the bacon as a key ingredient. And the Corvallis Police threw in all kinds of meat while trying to balance sweet and spicy.
Said Don Rogers, BCSO undersheriff while motioning toward the three teams, “There’s a lot of smack talk between the canopies.”…