MARK WAITE / PVT Judges try a spoonful of chili and mark their scores during the judging for the Silver State Regional Chili Championship at Petrack Park Saturday. Advertisement

Charlie and Barbara Ward said they traveled 628 miles from Mountain Home, Idaho to take part in last weekend's Silver State Regional Chili Championship at Petrack Park.

"We've been doing them for 24 years. When we were in our heyday we'd do 42 a year," Barbara Ward said. "We've cooked or judged in every state but Alaska."

Their persistence paid off. Charlie Ward took second place in the Saturday competition and first place Sunday for his red chili.

Contestants began cooking on site, usually using tri-tip beef for the meat. The Wards' entry was called Hodge Podge Chili. Other entries had names like Moose Tracks Chili. The winner of the chili cook-off last weekend qualified to enter the International Chili Society cook-off in Omaha this summer.

J.R. and Margot Knudson had to sit out this year's championship after winning the International Chili Society cook-off last year, worth $30,000. The Knudsons, of Granite Bay, Calif., have been entered in world chili championships since 1981.

"There's not very many secrets in the chili society because so many cook some real good chili," said J.R. Knudson, 91. "The proper amount of salt is important, and of course the proper amount of any spice is important to make it taste right."

Margot Knudson, 86, said, "We met so many nice people. It's just like a big family in a way."

"We may not win all the time, you don't win all the time but it's always fun," J.R. Knudson said.

Ormly Gumfudgin, 84, of LaCrescenta, Calif., wore a top hat with a plethora of badges as a world chili ambassador and one of the founders of the International Chili Society.

Gumfudgin, the ICS historian, has attended every world chili championship since the first one in Terlingua, Texas, in 1974.

"Our first trip down there was basically a four-day drunk," Gumfudgin said. "There's nothing in Terlingua. It's a ghost town. So we all stayed at Shelby's Ranch."

He said when he attended that first event, he was told to bring only the clothes on his back, a sleeping bag and his toothbrush.

The chili cook-off this past weekend, sponsored by the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce, wasn't quite as wild and carefree as the original one. But it included a Mr. Hot Sauce and Miss Chili Pepper Contest and a hollering contest after contestants drank a shot of tequila.

Some of the business representatives at the booths dressed up for the occasion, like Renee Ratliff, from Nevada State Bank, done up in a saloon girl outfit.

The top three finishers for the red chili on Saturday were Jim Beatty, Charlie Ward and Patti Summers in that order. Al Henry won it for salsa and Larry Weltikol had the winning chili verde.

Wells Fargo won the people's choice, The Patio Cafe won the judge's choice and Frazier Furniture had the best booth.

On Sunday, Charlie Ward, Eileen Beatty and Bill Woodring finished first, second and third respectively for the best chili, Barbara Ward won for best salsa and Don Burraughs won for chili verde.