I moved to Redding when I was 5, so I’m familiar with the whole Rodeo Week thing. But I always wonder what goes through the minds of Redding newcomers and visitors who experience Rodeo Week and all its activities for the first time.
What do they think of the Asphalt Cowboys, those north state businessmen who wear yellow shirts and green neckerchiefs, many of whom don’t even ride horses (the guys, not the neck scarves)?
What do they think of the pancake breakfast, served to more than 10,000 people who invade downtown Redding and turn former streets into pedestrian-only zones known as Roaring Gulch just once a year?
What do they think of absurdly disguised Lone Stranger bandits who rob banks where nobody dials 911 because everyone’s laughing and pointing?
What do they think when they walk inside the Mt. Shasta Mall and see it’s been taken over by a mob of costumed little kids, accompanied by every kind of animal – from the smallest worm to the biggest pony – and it’s not even Halloween?
These thoughts occurred to me Wednesday evening at the Redding Rodeo Grounds where I helped judge the chili cook-off with my esteemed fellow judges: Bob Van Horn, president of the Redding Rodeo Association; Dan Flynn, Shasta County assistant district attorney; Chita Johnson, of KRCR-TV’s weather team; and Kathy Pfrimmer of Kent’s Meats & Groceries/Kathy’s Deli (by the way, Kathy and her husband Kent were this year’s Chamber of Commerce Business Persons of the Year).
This was my second year to judge the Asphalt Cowboy’s chili contest. In previous years I’ve judged the Kiddie Pet Parade.
Let me tell you, sitting down and judging a dozen or so chili samples is far easier than trolling the mall with clipboards, judging hundreds of adorable, dressed-up children under the watchful eyes of about 1,000 protective, emotionally charged parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and just as many animals. On deadline. Bring your scoopers, Tylenol and Kleenex.
Asphalt Cowboy Robert Zitek, who chaired the chili cook-off, gets an A+ for organization. He sent multiple e-mails before the event. And on Wednesday, the day of the cook-off, he had all our place cards, cups, spoons and scoring paper ready. He and his Asphalt Cowboy helpers quickly served up the 13 chili contenders to us judges and made sure we knew which number was which.
Yes, 13 different chili recipes. Yup. Lucky 13.
All were different. Some had multiple bean varieties. Others had no beans at all(technically, real chili is sans beans). Some were super spicy. Others were mighty mild. One was a green chili version, which at least one judge thought was an automatic disqualifier. (This is the second year I’ve observed the green chili controversy. My advice for future chili-contest hopefuls: Skip the chili verde and stick with the classics.)
In the end, No. 1 – the first chili we sampled – won. It was complex and had just the right amount of a kick to remind you it was chili, but it wasn’t so hot that it burned out all the other flavors.
Apparently, its creator, Rod Judson of Red Bluff, is a frequent chili cook-off winner.
After the chili cook-off, I wandered around and took in the sights.
Stacks of cowboy hats.
A boatload of people trying to win money for their favorite cause via a Q-97 FM’s “Live In It To Win It” event.
Lots and lots of cute kids.
Maybe they’ll grow up with fond memories of Rodeo Week.
Maybe one day they’ll find themselves wondering what newcomers and visitors make of it.
