Chili With Beans Wins Pleasant Hill Cook State Fair Honors

DES MOINES, IA (08/15/2018) (readMedia)-- Patrick Conlan of Pleasant Hill won first place and a $150 cash award in the Mrs. Grimes Chili Cook Off competition, judged Tuesday at the 2018 Iowa State Fair.

David Anderson of West Des Moines claimed second place and $75. Anita Van Gundy of Des Moines earned third place and $50.

Participants were tasked to create an award winning chili that includes at least two cans of Mrs. Grimes beans.

Entries were judged on taste, appearance and recipe originality.

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There are 171 divisions, 727 classes and over 9,574 entries at this year's Fair. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center sponsored by Blue Bunny Ice Cream.

###

Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. Nothing Compares to State Fair Moments, August 9-19, 2018. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.