Open Fields 2010: Complete information for the event

Announcing the 4th annual, and LAST, Open Fields Hot Sauce Contest!
Saturday, September 25th 2010
As you may already be aware, this will be the last year of Jim Campbell’s annual Open Fields event. You know… the one held in a “secret location” somewhere in Indiana and featured several times on the Food Network.
As a means to raise money for his “Step Up for Charity” (http://stepupforcharity.org/) efforts, you are invited to enter your hot, or not so hot, products in the 4th Annual Open Fields Hot Sauce Contest. Commercial or non-commercial products are welcome.
This year, in an effort to simplify things a bit, there will be 4 categories:
1. Sauces of any heat level
2. Salsas of any heat level
3. Open Category for candy, pickles, unusual concoctions, or any other foodstuff
4. “Fresh from the Fields” which will include anything created while at the Open Fields event, preferably using the peppers available in the field.
There will be a $10 per product entry fee, ALL of which goes to Jim’s “Step Up for Charity” effort.
All products must either be received by Jim on or before September 22nd, or brought to the Open Fields event and turned in at the judges table by 12 Noon.

Judging will begin at 1 pm on Saturday, September 25th, with the Fresh From the Fields entries to be turned in by 3 pm.
Remember, ALL of the money received will go towards the “Step Up for Charity” (http://stepupforcharity.org/) causes.
Who Am I Helping?
Each of the following charitable organizations hold special meaning to Jim and benefit from his ongoing fund raising efforts:
Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Maude was killed in the attack on the Pentagon on the morning of September 11. He was serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, United States Army. He was also Jim’s brother-in-law. With the support of Gen. Maude’s family and the Army Chief of Staff, a memorial scholarship foundation was established in Gen. Maude’s honor to continue his efforts to “take care of soldiers.” The foundation provides resources to assist soldiers enrolled in the Army’s Green to Gold program, which provides outstanding active duty enlisted soldiers the opportunity to attend college and be commissioned through ROTC.
Jason Baker was a Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Killed in the line of duty on September 17, 2001. The fund was established in 2002 by Jason’s parents in memory of his dedication to service, community and country. The fund is managed by the Central Indiana Community Foundation and provides scholarship assistance for high school seniors intending to pursue a career in public safety. The award is renewable each year while the recipient is attending school. Jerry Baker chairs the scholarship selection committee.
Irwin Mortgage has teamed up with Mild to Wild Pepper & Herb to help provide funds to these programs through the sale of Mild to Wild hot sauce at various events throughout the state of Indiana.
The Jim Cleek Scholarship Fund is named in honor of one of Jim’s fellow firefighters who lost a battle with skin cancer. It goes to the children of Pike firefighters (after a competitive application process) to help them in their studies, fields of public service preferred.
For questions regarding the shipping address or any other questions please drop Jeff a note at contest@ulupica.com or call Jeff at 920.698.1684 after 7pm Central Time (or any other time and leave a message).





















![Validate my RSS feed [Valid RSS]](valid-rss.png)
Commented at September 7, 2010- 11:33 pm
Eric and I will be flying in for our first Open Fields. Very excited to see what all the hubbub has been about. Also seeing everyone again is always a great incentive. Will the Levinsons be making an appearance? I think Jon said he was going again. Maybe I can film a little Trinidad Scorpion vs Bhut Jolokia Open Fields test.
Commented at September 8, 2010- 8:29 am
As much as Jim has tried to twist my arm, I unfortunately won’t be able to go.
Commented at September 8, 2010- 11:18 am
Buddah: Glad to see you’re finally going to make it. It will be nice to see you again!
Scott: Maybe Jim should have tried twisting something else to be more persuasive.
Commented at September 8, 2010- 4:06 pm
Jeff, if I met you, I am afraid I forgot when and where. You will have to remind me. Either way, it will be great to see those new and old to my memory which might be all new by then. lol
Commented at September 8, 2010- 6:11 pm
Y’all have always told me “it ain’t about the chiles”. I think this year, we’re going to find out the truth of that matter
The chiles couldn’t get planted until late July- I’m not saying it was the wettest Spring I’d ever seen, but the guy down the street with a beard was building a big boat & gathering up a bunch of animals two by two
We’ve followed that up with not a drop since
I don’t want to scare folks off, but I don’t want them surprised either. The chiles are as ugly as I’ve ever seen them in 45 years of growing
Commented at September 8, 2010- 10:48 pm
peppers be damned! let’s just have a hell of a eat, drink and be merry weekend!
Commented at September 9, 2010- 8:50 am
Chiles be damned (ok, not damned, but maybe ignored in this context), Full speed ahead!
Jim,
I don’t care about the chiles… in fact for the last few years I haven’t taken home more than a token 5 or 10 pods total.
Buddah,
I met you once at the 2009 FFS in Albuquerque, but only briefly.
Commented at September 9, 2010- 1:03 pm
I am coming for my chile brethren, not the chiles. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
Commented at September 9, 2010- 6:04 pm
The Levinsons are a “definite maybe” for making it to Open Fields. Linda’s foot is still not completely healed from her surgery, so it is really iffy that she could do as much standing and walking as would be required for the weekend. That, plus the omnipresent need to find childcare for a whole weekend makes it unlikely that we could BOTH be there. It is possible that I (Joe) might be there, but it will be more of a last-minute sorta decision.
Commented at September 13, 2010- 12:17 am
Grabbed a couple cigars this morning and jumped into the truck for a nice ride/smoke. Headed west across highway 44 to check the road construction zones between me and the secret location. Driving by, the plants do look pretty bad. Hopefully we’ll have a nice dry weekend and loads of fun!
Commented at September 13, 2010- 2:23 pm
I really wanted to make it this year, but I had to many financial surprises to be able to save the money. That coupled with the fact that my car probably won’t make the trip, I’m completely devastated to say that I won’t make it this year
Commented at September 14, 2010- 1:42 am
so, no sampling of Passow’s kilt Ripper or Punkin beer! Guess I’ll just have to find a reason to come to northern Ohio.
Commented at September 15, 2010- 9:58 am
Peppers or no, I’m looking forward to my first (and I guess last
) Open Fields. Has Jim sent out directions to the secret location yet?
Commented at September 15, 2010- 12:39 pm
not sure Ethan. I think buddah said he got an email from Jim about it yesterday. I sent you an email with Jim’s email address. He’s busy, busy so it may take a few days to get back to you.
Commented at September 16, 2010- 1:34 pm
Yes, Jim has sent out the e-mail.
Commented at September 16, 2010- 2:15 pm
Thanks everyone. I now have directions and info in triplicate
Woohoo!
Commented at September 22, 2010- 3:56 pm
12 cases of hot jams/glazes, mustards, and sauces (and counting), plus smoked powders, peppercorns, dried/smoked chile pods, and more ready to go into Monsieur LePew’s bright red chile baskets for the raffle-heat in medium range.
I’ll pick a few ripe Cumaris and some small baccatuums(var prat?), PI441654 & PI439409; the Trin Dougs & Scorps only have flowers at this point.
And, of course, beef short ribs by the light of the silvery moon!
Commented at September 24, 2010- 11:17 am
I’m in, see you all there.