The weather was perfect and the chili was steaming. About 150 people came out for the second annual Viking Chili Bowl to taste and vote on 12 different chili’s from area teams.

Sponsored by Yahara River Grocery Cooperative, the Viking Chili Bowl was part of Stoughton’s first Carp Fest September 27 in Mandt Park.

Doing the Viking Chili Bowl victory dance is team SMR Communications who received the People's Choice Award. Runner-up was Stoughton Hospital and Countri Tavern and Grill.

The crazy cowgirls (above) from High Stakes Ranch walked away (in their boots) with Stoughton's Best Chili award. Their spicy chili featured chunks of grass-fed beef and also won best meat chili.

The Yahara River Grocery Cooperative's team won best vegetarian chili.

12 teams dish up steaming chili at Viking Chili Bowl

The "hottest" team award went to Stoughton Hospital. They not only looked good, but they sang "Chili, Chili Bang Bang" as they served samples of their chili.

Competing for top honors at the 2nd Annual Viking Chili Bowl were 12 area teams: Ancora, Badfish Creek Clothing, Barber Bay's Inn, Bicksler Group Realty, Council Cats, Countri Tavern and Grill, Evergreen Bank, Halverson's Supper Club, High Stakes Ranch, SMR Communications, Stoughton Hospital, Victoria's and Yahara River Grocery Co-op.

Defending champion, Halverson's Supper Club (left) was back with an unusual chicken chorizo mole. As a precaution against stomach burners, the team brought a fire extinguisher.

Celebrity judges – Kim Walter of All Through the House, Mary-Carel Verden of Bountiful Cupboard and Eric Nielsen of Stoughton Courier Hub (left) – burned several taste buds sampling the gourmet chilis.

Read Nielsen's account in the Stoughton Courier Hub of what it was like to be a celebrity judge and how he ruled with an iron tongue.

The chili cook-off ladies (above) from Evergreen State Bank had a chili that was good for what ails ya!

Artists Chris Matti and Erik Ellefson, two of the area’s finest potters, spun the handcrafted bowls (above) to fill with chili. If you want to purchase additional pottery bowls, they are available at the Co-op and the Peeling Ceiling.

Several co-op members and volunteers (left) had a beautiful day to set up for the 2nd annual Viking Chili Bowl at Mandt Park.

A warm heartfelt thanks

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, it’s amazing what this community can do when it comes together.

This community event happened because of the generosity of many individuals and businesses. The Yahara River Grocery Cooperative's Board of Directors would like to extend a warm heartfelt thanks to every volunteer (you know who you are and we do too!), all the businesses (Stoughton Lumber, Fosdal’s Home Bakery, Victoria's, Madison Sourdough, All Through The House) the artists (potters Chris Matti from Peeling Ceiling and Erik Ellefson), the judges (Kim Walter of All Through the House, Mary-Carel Verden of Bountiful Cupboard and Eric Nielsen of Stoughton Courier Hub), and all of the teams. We apologize for anyone we may have missed – we are grateful to everyone.

Also, a big thank you to the winners who unexpectedly and generously donated their cash prizes back to the cooperative to help make the event possible.