The roasted Pueblo chiles were a huge draw at the 6th Annual Protectors of Elizabeth and Elizabeth Fire Community Foundation’s (EFCF) Chili Cook-Off and Roasting Event.

Rusty Booth, a lieutenant at the Elizabeth Fire Department, didn’t seem to mind the heat as he manned the roasters at the Sept. 9 event in Elizabeth’s Running Creek Park. Booth also serves as president of the Elizabeth Fire Community Foundation. The chiles are fresh-roasted and sold on site with all the proceeds benefiting the foundation.

Josh Herbeck, an Elbert resident, said he came specifically to buy chiles and that “they roast these perfectly.” Another local, Maureen Beighey, had already planned what to do with some of her bushel. “I’m so psyched to make green chile,” she said, “I love ‘em, I freeze ‘em.”

This is the first year the Annual Protectors of Elizabeth Event has been combined with the Chili Cook-Off. For decades, the Elizabeth Fire Department hosted a huge chili dinner at the firehouse. Post-COVID, the dinner became too large to manage well so they looked for community agencies to partner with to reimagine the event.

Last year, EFCF switched it up with a Chili Cook-Off and moved the event to Running Creek Park. It was also in partnership with the Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce’s Pints in the Pines. Over 500 people attended this combo event and roughly 600 people attended the 5th Annual Protectors of Elizabeth event.

Megan Vasquez is very passionate about the Protectors of Elizabeth benefit. Farmers Insurance, where Vasquez works, the Means Agency, and Javier Larios from Catalina’s Restaurant started the event as a thank you to first responders. Don Means, owner of the Means Agency, has been a huge support in making this event a reality.

“It was truly started to show thanks and support for our first responders,” said Vasquez, the former mayor of Elizabeth. “We feel that relationships are everything and having the community come out and meet those that protect and serve was important for the town.”

The Annual Protectors of Elizabeth event has grown considerably since that first year. The event used to be solely for the Elizabeth Police Department and about 100 people attended initially. The event now benefits four area first responder agencies: Colorado State Patrol, Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, Elizabeth Fire Department and Elizabeth Police Department.

The hope is that the new partnership will draw more people and raise even more for first responders. The Protectors of Elizabeth Event combined with the chili cook-off and chile roasting proved to be a natural fit.

The Chili Cook-off tables were packed with chili connoisseurs lining up for a bite. The competition for best chili was fierce, with 19 different chilis to choose from. Samples were $1 each and tasters could vote once for every five sample tickets purchased.

One chili taster, Jeff Malwitz, took things to another level. He used a muffin tin to organize and label his chili samples but said he can’t take credit for the idea. He saw an older, wiser gentleman using a muffin tin for taste testing at a family camper and RVer event.

The winner for best chili was entry #8, made by the Colorado National Guard. The first-place prize was a Louisiana Pellet Smoker that they gave right back to the Elizabeth Fire Department. Second- and third-place prizes were gift certificates to the Elizabeth Meat Locker.

Keeping the event free is only possible through the community sponsorships and businesses that support the event. Vasquez said the sponsors “believe in what we’re doing.”

The Elizabeth Brewing Company, Catalinas, El Pinto and Small-Town Mini Donuts all donated concessions. Additional sponsors include Advanced Quality Auto, Greenlees, CORE, HEI Civil, Advent Health Parker, Craft Companies/Independence and Lumin General Contractors. The nonprofits Healing Hounds, Eagles Nest Ranch and the Dads of Elbert County also attended the event.

Because of such generosity, Vasquez hopes to be able to donate $3,000 or more to each agency to help fund what they actively need.

The EFC Foundation gives back to local businesses, provides community assistance, and provides assistance to citizens who have suffered loss due to fire. To support the Elizabeth Firefighter’s Community Foundation, visit elizabethfirefoundation.com.