Photo by Deb Gau Columns of steam rises from chili pots as competitors prepare for judging at the Johnny Tillemans Chili Cookoff during Boxelder Bug Days in Minneota.

MINNEOTA — There was always something cooking Saturday morning during Minneota’s Boxelder Bug Days.

Steam rose from pots and slow cookers of chili set up on tables near the main festival grounds. Just up the street, a trio of teams were getting their smokers ready for a barbecue competition.

Brothers Nathan and Neal Freeman said it wasn’t yet time to start cooking their racks of ribs for the competition — but they did have a batch of spicy jerky in the smoker.

“It’s just to snack on,” Nathan Freeman said.

Making barbecue ribs was a process that would take most of the day.

“Around 4:30, that’ll be go time,” said barbecue cook Kent Borstad.

It had been a while since Boxelder Bug Days had two culinary contests going during the festival. On Saturday, the barbecue competition returned to Bug Days after a few years’ hiatus. A total of 10 competitors also took part in the 26th annual Johnny Tillemans Chili Cookoff.

“It’s a great event,” said Cory Brockman with Prairie Home Hospice and Community Care. Each year, the chili cookoff raises money for Prairie Home Hospice and Community Care.

The cookoff started bright and early Saturday morning. As the 11 a.m. judging time drew nearer, competitors stirred pots and tasted chili to make sure it was ready to go. Josh Friedrichs said he was letting his entry cook down to get it to the right consistency.

The chili cookoff drew a lot of returning participants. In between checking on a steaming pot of chili, Cheyanne Lettau said it was her third year competing.

“We also do the (cookoff) in Montevideo,” she said.

In the end, chili cookoff participant Jeremy Friedrichs was awarded first place by the judges, as well as the People’s Choice award by members of the public. Carey Doyscher won second place, and Denaca Moorse and Deanna Lessman won third. Carey and Pete Doyscher won the award for best-decorated booth.

Brockman said the cookoff raised a total of $1,500. The total included a matching donation from Alexandria Homes, Inc.

For the barbecue contest, competitors were tasked with cooking five racks of ribs in hopes of having the samples that got the best response from judges, and the public.

“It’s all up to that one bite for the judge,” Borstad said.

Competitors had plenty of grilling experience, as well as some competitive experience.

“I do a few (contests) a year,” said Balaton area resident Jon Joehnck.

Earlier this summer, he took part in the barbecue competition at Balaton’s Fun Fest. Joehnck said he got interested in competing, partly because he enjoyed making barbecue.

“I thought, it’s something I’d probably be doing in the backyard anyway, so I might as well,” he said. Joehnck said he was “still in the learning stages,” figuring out what worked best for his BBQ entries.

Nathan Freeman said he had competed in a few past BBQ contests at Bug Days. He and Neal said taking part in the competition was a fun way to meet people and try good food.

“I just like smoking stuff and having fun,” Neal Freeman said.

The Freemans said they had seasoned their ribs the night before and vacuum-sealed them. Nathan said it seemed to help pull the flavors into the meat.

Nathan Freeman said he hoped the Bug Days barbecue competition would grow over time.

While the barbecue competition may have started out small, there was still lots of interest from people at Boxelder Bug Days, said festival committee member Randy Prellwitz A total of 160 ribs sold out in about 18 minutes, he said.