Original Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff Logo

🏆 2025 Terlingua Chili Cook-Off Winners & Highlights

By OTICCC and Friends •
Final Judges' Table

58th Annual Original Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert – Wick Fowler Memorial Championship
November 1, 2025 • Terlingua, Texas

We wrapped up another incredible year in the Big Bend with a celebration of competition, community, and chili. With thousands in attendance and over $130,000 raised for ALS, Terlingua 2025 was one for the books.

2025 Community Impact

Thanks to your incredible support — including, among others, all sponsors, donors, and volunteers — OTICCC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was able to donate:

  • $114,000 to ALS organizations
    • $17,500 donated earlier in the year
    • $96,500 donated after the Cook-Off
  • $14,000 to Terlingua School
  • $6,000 to the Terlingua Fire Department/EMS
    Total: $134,000 given back to a great cause and a great community.

Special shout-out to Andrea Fuschetti of The Groovers, who won the 50/50 raffle and donated her entire winnings — over $2,000 — back to OTICCC.

Music Highlights

This year’s event  was also an unforgettable music festival that lit up the desert nights with an incredible lineup of talent. From honky-tonk to rock, the stage behind the store was alive every evening with unforgettable performances, including:

  • Gary P. Nunn (who celebrated his 80th birthday with a crowd pleasing set!)
  • The Moonshiners 
  • West Texas Exiles
  • Los Pinche Gringos
  • Thomas Michael Riley
  • Billy King and the Bad, Bad, Bad
  • Nathan Colt Young
  • Presley Haile
  • Django Walker 
  • Kensie Coppin
  • Quaker City Night Hawks

Competition Highlights

  • Todd Furse, the 2025 Chili Champion, also won the Texas Men's State this year — an outstanding achievement!
  • Jacki Dale took home the Margarita Mix-Off title for the fifth time!
  • Judges were busy with an incredible turnout across categories, from beans and brisket to salsa and showmanship.
  • Diane Lewis wowed with her legendary painted stove, a true fan favorite.

Here are the official results from this year’s cook-off and competitions:

Championship Chili Winners – 79 Entries

  1. Todd Furse – Waco, TX
  2. Andy Dalton – Del Valle, TX
  3. David Lazarus – Killeen, TX
  4. Sean Griffith – San Antonio, TX
  5. Tom Stephens – Lockhart, TX
  6. Pat Anderton – Royce City, TX
  7. Gary Brignon – Corsicana, TX
  8. Dwaine Williams – Livingston, TX
  9. Peggy Hoening – Gainesville, TX
  10. Doug Clark – San Angelo, TX
  11. Bobbi Furse – Waco, TX
  12. Janita Hines – Del Rio, TX
  13. Brad Cook – Shady Lake, TX
  14. Mike Cody – Mabank, TX
  15. Gene Moffett – Temple, TX
  16. Jimmy Rodgers – Denton, TX
  17. Zach Powell – Denton, TX
  18. Michelle Gardner – Odessa, TX
  19. Linda Odom – Manchaca, TX
  20. Brenda K. Johnson – Hewitt, TX

Showmanship Winners

Unlimited Show

  1. Tennessee Hill Billies – Dicky Thorpe, Shelbyville, TN
  2. Cowgirls Kick Butt – Debbie Ross, Red Rock, TX
  3. One Eyed Bandit – Ronda Haberer, Terlingua, TX

Limited Show

  1. Wimberley Chili – Patty Wimberly, Austin, TX
  2. Bear Whiz Cookers – Robin Crain, Crane, TX
  3. Texas Red Ozone – Steve Strattman, Pottsboro, TX

People’s Choice

Hilltop Amigos – Entry #3

Mild Bill’s International Verde Cook-Off (Oct 30, 2025 – 61 Entries)

  1. Kelly Walker – Marshall, TX
  2. Kevin Foley – Galveston, TX
  3. David Trice – Hallsville, TX
  4. Michael Watkins – Richmond, VA
  5. Julie Haas – Plano, TX
  6. Jeff Henderson – Mansfield, TX
  7. Christii Watkins – Richmond, VA
  8. Chuck McCrory – Crowley, TX
  9. Dianne Lewis – Boerne, TX
  10. Brandon Marshall – Lewisville, TX

Margarita Mix-Off (Oct 30, 2025 – 24 Entries)

  1. Jacki Dale – Cypress, TX
  2. Doug Clark – San Angelo, TX
  3. Linda Odom – Manchaca, TX

Very Last Chance Chili (Oct 31, 2025 – 69 Entries)

  1. Lenny Buzzone – Dallas, TX
  2. Sean Griffith – San Antonio, TX
  3. Stephanie Smith – Cedar Park, TX
  4. Gary Post – Grand Prairie, TX
  5. David Irby – Wimberley, TX
  6. Mark Klemm – College Station, TX
  7. Michelle Gardner – Odessa, TX
  8. Polli Rayburn – Terlingua, TX
  9. Brad Cook – Shady Shores, TX
  10. Rachel McGallian – Graford, TX

Friday Side Competitions (Oct 31, 2025)

Salsa (45 entries)

  1. David Lazarus – Killeen, TX
  2. Unclaimed (#4276)
  3. Herman Everett – Terlingua, TX
  4. Wes Parlier – Alvord, TX
  5. Polli Rayburn – Terlingua, TX
  6. Eddie Ramirez – Spring, TX
  7. Blanc Edwards – Alpine, TX
  8. Jennifer Hanson – Terlingua, TX
  9. Tom Stephens – Lockhart, TX
  10. Nathan Maples – Tow, TX

Peas (28 entries)

  1. Jennifer Hanson – Terlingua, TX
  2. Rory Randolph – Christoval, TX
  3. Robert Winterbottom – Cedar Park, TX
  4. Haylee Loudenslager – Austin, TX
  5. Sherril Lazarus – San Angelo, TX
  6. Unclaimed (#2130)
  7. Andrew Hamilton – Dallas, TX
  8. Heather Hellums – Paige, TX
  9. Debbie Hicks – Poolville, TX
  10. Ronnie Voyles – Spring, TX

Beans (55 entries)

  1. Linda Polasek – Rosenberg, TX
  2. Unclaimed (#2197)
  3. Todd Furse – Waco, TX
  4. Polli Rayburn – Terlingua, TX
  5. Jennifer Hanson – Terlingua, TX
  6. Herman Everett – Terlingua, TX
  7. Robert Winterbottom – Cedar Park, TX
  8. Tom Kreutzer – Canyon Lake, TX
  9. Gene Moffett – Temple, TX
  10. Rob Cardenas – New Braunfels, TX

Ribs (29 entries)

  1. Debbie Ross – Red Rock, TX
  2. Gene Everett – Odessa, TX
  3. Kevin Walker – San Angelo, TX
  4. Pamela Randolph – San Angelo, TX
  5. Jeff Jones – New Braunfels, TX
  6. Richard Newsom – Marathon, TX
  7. Dicky Thorpe – Shelbyville, TN
  8. Paul Ryan – Grapevine, TX
  9. James Wilde – Del Rio, TX
  10. Fred Lazarus – San Angelo, TX

Chicken (29 entries)

  1. David Lefler – Bardwell, TX
  2. Dustin Land – Monahans, TX
  3. Kevin Walker – San Angelo, TX
  4. Todd Furse – Waco, TX
  5. Nathan Maples – Tow, TX
  6. Gene Everett – Odessa, TX
  7. Robert Winterbottom – Cedar Park, TX
  8. Zachary Everett – Odessa, TX
  9. Fred Lazarus – San Angelo, TX
  10. Crystal Baugh – Brownwood, TX

Brisket (26 entries)

  1. Rob Cardenas – New Braunfels, TX
  2. David Lefler – Bardwell, TX
  3. Kevin Walker – San Angelo, TX
  4. Gene Everett – Odessa, TX
  5. Crystal Baugh – Brownwood, TX
  6. Dustin Land – Monahans, TX
  7. Danny Minton – Arlington, TX
  8. Jason Polasek – San Marcos, TX
  9. Jeff Jones – New Braunfels, TX
  10. Debbie Ross – Red Rock, TX

🥇 BBQ Grand Champions

🏆 Grand Champion: Kevin Walker
🥈 Reserve Champion: Gene Everett

Looking Ahead — Help Us Grow

 
As we look to the future, we’re calling on our community for support and involvement:

Donate to ALS

Your donation fuels vital ALS research, patient care, and advocacy — helping us continue our 501(c)(3) nonprofit mission.

Donate Here

We Need More Cooks!
Love to compete? We need more chili cooks, margarita mixers, verde chili champs, BBQ pitmasters, and salsa, bean, and pea pros — let’s keep the tradition alive!

Volunteer in 2026

Want to be part of the magic next year? We need passionate volunteers — especially for the Margarita Contest team and other event support.

📩 Email us at cookoff@abowlofred.com if you’re interested.

Host a Tolbert Cook-Off

Grow the OTICCC family by hosting your own sanctioned cook-off in 2026.

📩 Reach out to learn how to get started.

👉 Check out our Resources Page for full event documents, sponsor info, and more.

Thank You

From the stage lights to the cooking tents, the judging tables, the generous donations to the dance floor — you made this year unforgettable. 
Thank you to everyone who attended, our incredible sponsors, donors, participants, and volunteers for being part of the OTICCC family. We'll see you in 2026 with more chili, more music, and even more heart.

Warm regards,
The OTICCC Team

2025 Winner Todd Furse
Jacki Dale,