Leland Olds Station turns up the heat with employee chili cookoff

At Leland Olds Station, the Safety & Wellness Committee sponsored a 2023 chili cookoff.

There were five entries from across the plant: administrative, electrical shop, instrumentation and control shop, laboratory, and mechanic shop.

“Everyone at Leland Olds was invited to taste all of the entries and vote on their favorite,” says Wanda Leier, administrative assistant II and Safety & Wellness Committee member. “We had five very different chilis to try. They ranged from having a little zip to, ‘wow, that was hot!’”

There were one chicken-based and four beef-based entries, all with different ingredients and their own unique flavor. The chilis featured mushrooms, corn, bacon, a wide variety of peppers, and of course beans. Breadsticks, cornbread, corn chips, shredded cheese, and sour cream were provided as complements to the chilis.

This year’s winner, the instrumentation and control shop, took home the traveling trophy and will have it on display until next year’s cookoff.

“We had chili feeds and chili cookoffs prior to COVID-19, and the committee felt like it was time to revive the tradition,” Leier says. “The chili cookoff was a success, and we are already excited for 2024.”