It’s not a bad way to end a week at the Logan County Fair — watching judges first choose the county’s best chili before moving on to ice cream. And, of course, the chance for those in attendance to taste test the entries.
The tradition of holding a chili cookoff and ice cream freeze-off at the fair every year was the idea of Nick McGuire about 20 years ago. McGuire, who passed away in 2021, was a lifelong dairy farmer who showed cattle and served on the county fair board. His passion for the Logan County Fair led to Saturday’s annual competition.
Things got started at 11 a.m. with the annual chili cookoff. This year saw 12 submissions in three categories — mild, unique and spicy. Judges Jeff Keckler, Bill Meddings and Kevin Cordell had a tough decision. And they took it seriously.
After much deliberation, they gave the blue ribbons for the mild and spicy divisions to Sam Johnson and Karla Johnson won the unique category with her white chicken chili. Sam then snagged the Grand Champion honor for the mild chili, and Reserve Best of Show for the spicy one.
Regarding the mild version, which included steak and sour cream, Keckler said, “This was the most chili of the chili.”
Meddings, who took home the Grand Champion award both times he competed in the Logan County Fair cookoff in 2023 and 2024, was impressed with Johnson’s spicy chili.
“It really delivered the heat, but I could eat the whole pot,” he said. “It was executed perfectly.”
For Sam, it came down to not getting much sleep and trusting himself. “I stayed up half the night,” he admitted. “There’s so much doubt but, eventually, what it is, is what it’s gonna have to be.”
Fortunately, what it was ended up being a winning pot of chili.
Overall, the judges were impressed with all 12 submissions, stating, “There are definitely some good chili cooks in Logan County.”
Once the chili was put away, the home goods team set up the room for the ice cream freeze-off. This competition had five categories: chocolate chip cookie and vanilla ice cream sandwich, gelato, ice cream with fruit, ice cream with candy and ice cream with nuts.
Keckler was a judge for the freeze-off as well along with Laura Cordell. The blue ribbon winners were Terri Mees for the ice cream sandwich and for gelato, Lindsey Meddings for ice cream with fruit and for ice cream with nuts, and Karla Johnson for ice cream with candy.
Meddings’ blueberry cheesecake crumble was named Grand Champion while the Reese’s peanut butter cup ice cream Johnson made took the Reserve Best of Show prize.
This was Lindsey’s second year to compete and win. She enjoys making ice cream because “you can put whatever you want in there and make it unique.”
For many, ending the week with hot chili and cold ice cream makes Saturday their favorite day of the Logan County Fair and, once again, it didn’t disappoint!
