Friday’s chili cook off to benefit Red Oak high school band

The Red Oak Express will be hosting the 12th annual Barb Gray Memorial Chili Cook-Off Friday night before the final Red Oak Tiger home football game of the season. 

From 5-7 p.m. at the Red Oak fire station, 10 local businesses and organizations will be competing for first place honors at the chili cook-off, which will benefit the Red Oak high school marching band. 

Dovel Refigeration, in its first year competing, won the event last year, with Hy-Vee finishing second and 2013 champion Roger Vial, representing Heartland Insurance, finishing third. 

Dovel and Hy-Vee are back competing this year, along with Fareway, which was unable to compete last year after winning first place in 2011 and 2012. 

While judges will choose the top three award winners, the general public will have a chance to vote for their favorite entry as well. There is no charge to sample the different chilis, but everyone is encouraged to donate money to their favorite. The entry with the most donated money receives the People’s Choice award. 

In addition to the chili, members of the Red Oak Music Booster Club will be selling drinks and baked goods. 

The band is also scheduled to make an appearance at the fire station, where they will warm up before their pregame performance. 

All money raised will be donated to the band. Director Dan Black said the money will be used to purchase additional uniforms, which are expected to be needed next year. 

Other recent recipients from the cook-off include Project Porchlight the Montgomery County Fair Board, Nishna Productions and the Red Oak Rotary Club.