POLSON - A cool, overcast Saturday proved perfect for enjoying plenty of chili during the Rotary Club's Festival for Youth at Riverside Park.

Thirteen teams entered the fourth annual chili cook-off competition to win bragging rights for the tastiest chili in northwestern Montana. From meatless to tri-tip, spicy to mild, any variety of chili you could think of was available at the event. Once all the votes were tallied, the official judges, of which there were nine who blind-tasted the entries, picked the Mission Valley Mariners "B" Team for first place, St. Joseph Medical Center for second and First Interstate Bank third.

"It's all pretty darn hard to judge," Paul Laisy, a judge himself, said. "It all tastes really good. And I didn't have to take any Pepto-Bismol this year."

While teams competed against all of the other contestants, hoping to knock off two-time defending champion First Interstate Bank, others tried to best neighboring booths in head-to-head competition. St. Joseph Medical Center took on the St. Joe's Retirement Center while the Mission Valley Mariners' B-Team went against the A-Team. Chef Joe Garza and his medical center team took out the retirement center while the B-Team and chef Bob Gauthier upstaged the A-Team.

The competition was all in good fun as the main cause, all agreed, was to help raise money for the community. Proceeds from the event go to a different organization each year. This year, more than $15,000 was raised through raffle sales, with the cash going to improvements at O'Malley Field, the Polson baseball field used by the Mariners' and other teams.

"[The event] compliments the service organizations we have here," Rotary member and Polson schools superintendent David Whitesell said. "It compliments the folks who are trying to make a difference, so that's why it's our signature event."

Even more money was raised through the sale of "taster kits" so community members could walk Riverside Park and enjoy all the chili offerings. Members of the public had their own vote for their favorite chili, picking the Polson Volunteer Fire Department first, Polson Community Telephone second and St. Joseph Medical Center third overall. Best decorated booth and costumes went to Fidelity Title Agency of Lake County, whose "Montana or Bust" theme, complete with a covered wagon, proved a fan-favorite.

Music by Mega Karma (Megan Gran and Karla Gallatin) accompanied the family-friendly, festive and charitable day.

Results:

Official Judging:

Best Chili, 1st Place: Mission Valley Mariners, "B" Team; Chief Cook: Bob Gauthier

Best Chili, 2nd Place: St. Joseph Medical Center; Chief Cook: Joe Garza

Best Chili, 3rd Place: First Interstate Bank; Chief Cook: Drew Shealey

People's Choice Judging:

Best Chili, 1st Place: Polson Volunteer Fire Department; Chief Cook: Jane Clapp

Best Chili, 2nd Place: Polson Community Telephone; Chief Cook: Wade Culp

Best Chili, 3rd Place: St. Joseph Medical Center; Chief Cook: Joe Garza

People's Choice for Best Decorated Booth and

Costumes:

Fidelity Title Agency of Lake County: Booth Theme, "Montana or Bust."

Rotary Raffle Winners:

$1,000 Cash (Donated by First Interstate Bank); Winner: Rosie Strope

$1,000 Groceries (Donated by Super 1); Winner: Jim Corning

300 pounds of Kobe beef (Donated by Marchi Ranch); Winner: Gary Collinge

120 bottles of wine (Donated by Polson Rotarians); Winner: Roger Grimes

Two season golf passes (Donated by the City of Polson); Winner: Marty Corse