It’s Never Chilly in Hamilton When You Have Chili Inside

As those of us who watch “Yellowstone” know, there are many ways to prepare chili, a favorite winter food in Montana…and other states. And what ingredients are “proper” for a good chili dish? Well, every year at Jerry Wessels Les Schwab Tire Center in Hamilton, you can try a variety.

Saturdays in February feature the sixth annual Chili Cook-off competition, which raises money for various Bitterroot Valley schools. Robert Ramsey of the tire shop along US 93 was pleasantly surprised at how well Saturday’s events went. In fact, he estimates that more than $60,000 has been raised in recent years.

It’s a pretty simple contest. Each school may send one or two teams, each with their own chili specialties (often from personal family cookbooks). They sat at tables in the main lobby of the business and handed out sample bowls. Those who partake of the tasty concoctions donate any amount of money to support the team. And the teams are as varied as the recipes, from cheerleaders to Spanish clubs. The team that earns the most money wins. At the end of each day of competition, Wessels matches up to $500 for donations to the winning team. The best team of each week automatically enters the final contest on March 5.

The first cooking contest will be held on February 5 and the other cooking contests will be held on the following Saturdays of the month. KLYQ Radio and other outlets will announce the winners as the contest continues. If you have questions, call the tire shop at 406 363-3884. And who knows? Maybe your favorite chili recipe will be featured.