The annual Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cook-Off in downtown Wichita this Saturday, Sept. 26, will feature a spirited competition among elected officials from Wichita, Derby, Rose Hill and other areas.

The Kansas Chili Bowl is a new category limited to elected officials and their respective teams across the state. Competitors may come from cities or counties. Judges are selected from across the state to ensure an unbiased competition. The winning team will receive the prestigious Kansas Mayors Chili Bowl trophy, a $500 donation to a charity of choice and state boasting rights for a year. Applicants may sign up at www.wagonmasterschili.com or www.wichita.gov (click on Mayor’s Chili Cookoff Challenge.). Proceeds benefit the Wagonmasters Scholarship Fund.

The competition isn’t only for mayors. Wichita’s annual chili Cook-off attracts dozens of teams that chop, stir and season their way to titles, prizes and cash winnings. It includes teams that compete in five categories including two International Chili Society (ICS) sanctioned categories: Traditional (red chili) or Chili Verde (green chili). The other two non-sanctioned categories are No Beans and Anything Goes, which is open to ICS and non-ICS cooks alike. The fifth category is the People’s Choice Award. Entry fee is $35 per category ($50 after September 16th). There is also a fierce competition for the best salsa, which requires a $10 entry fee and is also a qualifier for the International Chili Society Cook-Off in October.

Judging gets underway at noon along with the public sampling. The public votes for their favorite team to win the People’s Choice. Judges will also hand out the coveted Grand Champion trophy and $1,000 in prize money to the team with the best-combined score of chili, booth display and team spirit.

For more information, call Ann Keefer of the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation at 316-264-6005.