08.25.2010
BOPS WILL RETURN TO THE 2010 COOKOFF...YEEE HAAAWW!
BOPS was close to a return in 2009, but it just didn't happen. The passion just wasn't there, but one year later it is. The boys and girls of the BOPS of Hazzard and their Hazzardous Chili are building a Reunion for 2010. The cookoff crew has made some changes for this year and BOPS really likes the new direction that the organization has taken. Planning for the big day is in progress and the passion is definitely back. More news coming soon. Stay tuned!

EVENT: 15TH Annual Hanover Chili Cookoff (ICS PA State Championship)
DATE: September 5, 2010
TIME: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
PRICE: $4.00 In Advance / $5.00 at the gate

Event Info: www.hanoverchilicookoff.com

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2009 COOKOFF

08.25.2009
BOPS WILL PASS ON THE COOKOFF...AGAIN.
BOPS seriously considering joining the 2009 Hanover Chili Cookoff after a year off, but the team has decided to sit another year out. The interest was there, but the motivation was not. There has been some talk and interest about a BOPS Hazzardous Chili Reunion for 2010, but we'll all have to wait and see if it takes place. Stay tuned!

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2008 COOKOFF

08.28.2008
BOPS SUPPORT OF HANOVER CHILI COOKOFF COMES TO AN END...AT LEAST FOR NOW
Every Labor Day weekend for the last four years, BOPS grabbed items from gardens all over Hanover and surrounding areas to create their 3-time award winning Hazzardous Chili for the largest chili contest on the East Coast. By far the greatest event held all year long, it took a lot of work and creative thought to prepare for, but once the day arrived it was always worth while. Friends and family would come from miles away to support the team and to support the cause which was to raise money for many local charities. By the 4th year, so many people were coming that it started to resemble a reunion ... no invitation needed. Everyone just knew where to be and when. BOPS goal every year was to make a lot of delicious chili, to raise money and to have a good time with friends. By days end, if all went well, a trophy was simply icing on the cake. An icing BOPS has gotten pretty familiar wit,h bringing home 9 trophies in 4 years with 3 of them being 1ST PLACE FOR PEOPLES CHOICE (2005, 2006, 2007). This year our BOPS OF HAZZARD goals were no different, but a few major issues got in the way. After the 2007 event, the Hanover Chili Cook Off had undergone extensive PA LCB scrutiny. A complaint was filed about some alleged activities and after a three-month investigation, the only problem to be found was with the beer license and how it was secured. For the previous 11 years, this was not an issue. (Read Evening Sun stories below to explain more) In the end, many people are now going to suffer due to one persons displeasure with this event. New rules were applied to this years event to make sure that there are no troubles with the LCB or any other government bodies. One of the biggest hits for the BOPS chili team is that all items previously used to raise money for the charitable organizations are no longer allowed – chili dogs, corn bread, sweet tea, and kids jell-o cups and stickers. If teams are no longer allowed to give items away for donations then what is the point of the event? Granted it’s a chili cook off, but you can’t raise substantial funds for the charities on chili alone. BOPS would rather write out a check for the amount of money that we would spend to make 25 gallons of chili and donate it directly to one of the charities, then to walk home with a 4" trophy and no money to offer those in need. So, due to these fustrations, BOPS will skip this years’ cook off. We will instead gather privately, make chili for our own crowd and a wait to see the success of this years’ Hanover Chili Cook off. Hopefully, if the powers that be see fit, changes will again be considered and we’ll see you all back in 2009.

(EVENING SUN STORY)