BIRCHDALE – If you were looking for the usual German Oktober fare at this celebration of October, you would have been disappointed. But few ever are here.
Yes, October in Birchdale’s Oktober Fest, like most others, is spelled with a “k” – as in the German rendition. But the “c” – as in chili – hasn’t been forgotten.
For the sixth consecutive year, the Chilly Chili Cook-Off was the centerpiece of the annual Oktober Fest celebration in Birchdale. This year’s competition got off to a slow start, with only about 11 entries as of the start of judging at 5 p.m. Saturday, October 20. But by the time the judges got into it, there were 17 entries – about as many as there’s ever been, according to some locals.
But that’s not why it took the handful of judges about a half-hour to come to a decision. No, this was no easy choice. But when all was said and done, Stephanie Schiro of rural Baudette was declared the winner with her recipe that included, among the usual chili ingredients, kernels of corn and a hint of sweetness. Second was Christine Hultman, the defending champion and the “Lefse Queen” of Birchdale and its Pioneer Days, and Joy Nelson was third.
After the contest, the chili entries were the main dish at a community potluck dinner, along with an impressive array of desserts, also at the Birchdale Community Building. Upwards of 100 people were there for the dinner, which also served as a sort of primer for an evening that included the usual Oktober fun.
During dinner, kids eyed the pumpkins that lined a far wall in the building for pumpkin carving later in the evening (Brice Hasbargen finished first, Kyle Kramer second and Jacy Kling third). And as the dinner wound down, a tractor waited outside with a trailer piled with hay for the Spooky Hay Ride. The Smokey Camp Fire and, of course, gourd catapulting also were on the schedule.
Some kids and adults wore costumes in the spirit of this time of year and, as you might guess, the children far outnumbered the adults at such a gathering. At the dinner, many of the kids snacked on the sugary treats that lined a good-sized table in the building.
That didn’t seem to be a problem for the parents. More chili for them.
