Veterans of Cloverdale's tastiest annual competition know what it takes to win – it takes a lot of chili.
Representatives of Dave Hudon Stables were prepared and had plenty of their Backstretch Bonanza chill on hand for the hordes of hungry samplers at the 17th annual Cloverdale Chili Cook-off.
The popular Rodeo Week event is held at Clover Square Village, where there were long lines to sample chili, and the crowds enjoyed live entertainment, kid’s activities and a guest appearance by two of the Express Clydesdales.
The heavy horses, which stand 19 hands tall, spend more than 200 days on the road each year. They charmed cook off-goers of all ages and sizes.
First place for best chili went to Fraser Downs for their Smokey Trail Blazer Chili. Rusty's Pub placed second, serving up their What Chu Talkin Bout chili, and hotdogs, too, with Dave Hudon Stables in third. Fourteen teams took part in the 2014 event.