Mike’s 3RD & 4TH Annual Cowboy Chili Challenge

Story and photoS By aLan dockery

he first sAturdAy of

spring blessed us with Carolina Blue skies at Sons of the South Saloon, Longview, NC, for Mike’s 3rd and 4th Annual Cowboy Chili Challenge. It was a great day to ride over to the bar, hang out and talk with old friends, fuss about the past year, and sample chili.

That Bitch Rona shut us down in 2020 just a few days before the 3rd Annual Chili Challenge. It took me a month to eat all the beans I had stocked up. But Mike Dyson makes things happen and he was ready for cooks and eaters this year to get back to the fire pits.

Mike owns The Wizard Saloon, the oldest real biker bar in Hickory and told me he wanted to do something like this at SOS for years. He throws cool outside parties at The Wizard during the Summer. But the Cowboy Chili Challenge was a little different. Entrants had to cook outside over a wood fire. Mike had some old big truck rims welded up that made great cookers.

This was my first time cooking in the Cowboy Chili Challenge. And it IS a challenge getting the fire right and cooking outside. Making a batch of chili ready in just a couple hours. But my Florida Swamp Chili turned out just fine. Dark and mysterious. Next year I think I’ll make some Pink Pig Chili.

I heard someone say, “It’s more about the comradery than the competition.” That was true, all day I was greeted by biker buddies that I hadn’t seen in months.

Carl McIntosh, Longview, won the Peoples’ Choice. Greg Sides, Lenoir, won Overall Best Chili.

Mike said, “The weather was a beautiful spring day. Thanks to the folks who came to cook and all those who came for chili and a good time with friends. We raised money for the Conover School. Glad to see folks are getting out and back to having a good time in 2021.”

Next year Mike is going to make the Cowboy Chili Challenge even bigger and better. There will be vendors in the parking lot with things bikers need for riding season. He is going to have awards for Cornbread and a Chili Cornbread Combo. More award categories may be added. Shucks, this summer I’m learning how to cook desserts in one of my cast iron pots.

Looked to me like the folks enjoyed the Cowboy Chili Challenge. Y’all oughta come on down and serve up your best next time Mike hauls out the cookers and fire wood.