For your consideration….

Announcing the official kick off for the 2008 Open Fields Contest, supporting the StepUpforCharity efforts. This contest was the original brain child of Scotch Bonnet Steve, giving credit where credit is due, with many other folks deserving recognition for their efforts. These include Hennifer for running the raffle, Jeff Schickowski for organizing the judging, Nick Lindauer for publicising, and many others who donated to the raffle, bought tickets and helped judge! Every penny raised at this event goes to the several charities supported by StepUp, and more information can be found at StepUpforCharity.org. The contest is only slightly modified for this year, with changes to the entry fee and the addition of a BBQ sauce category.

Listed categories are (separate commercial and amateur divisions):

- Best BBQ Sauce
- Best “Hot” Sauce
- Best “Sweet Hot” Sauce
- Best “Mild” Sauce
- Best Salsa

And everyone, commercial or amateur, competes together in:

- Best “Fresh from the Field”
- Open Category (anything goes [candies, dips, marinades, etc] any heat level)

The Best Fresh from the Field category is unique among any other hot sauce contest as these will be sauces that are made and prepared on site with chiles picked fresh from the ones available in the fields. You are allowed to bring your own extra ingredients (onions, garlic, etc) to the contest, but the sauce must be based on the chiles you find in the fields. Think IronChef minus the high tech kitchen and utensils and adding a rustic setting, weather, lots of fellow chileheads, and a good cause.

Individualized plaques will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each category. Judging will be done on site & winners announced immediately following.

The fee is only $10 per entry- for example a hot sauce & a salsa in one category each would be $20. No forms to fill out or checkboxes to mark- just state which category you wish your entry to be placed. Clearly also print your name as you wish it to appear, a mailing address, and a method of contact (email, phone, etc). Deadline for submission is Sept 20th. You need send only ONE sample per entry! Submissions can be accepted at the fields, but prior notification must be made by the deadline of your intent to bring an entry in person.

Contest entries and fees should be mailed to:

2008 Open Fields Contest
c/o Jim Campbell
81 Martin Pl
Franklin IN 46131

The check for the entry fee must be made out to: The Stair Climb Fund.

You may email me (jim at wildpepper.com) for questions or more information. Please put "2008 Open Fields Contest" as the subject header or I may not receive it. Thanks and good luck!

Website: http://www.StepUpforCharity.org

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI