Hundreds of people filled Cherokee Strip Conference Center on Friday to sample more than 40 types of chili at the annual United Way Chili Cook-off.

For $4 per person, people were able to stuff themselves on all the chili they could eat, along with the fixings.

“We have a great crowd,” said Sean Byrne, executive director of United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma. “I really like that it is on fall break and families can bring the kids. We really want this to be a family event.

“We have 41 organizations registered to come, and we have 11 new participants.”

Byrne said the number of businesses and organizations entered showed the involvement Enid has with the United Way.

“This is a great example how the Enid community and businesses come out and support the United Way and its organization. The businesses have really stepped up,” he said.

Each year the cook-off has grown in size.

“I think the United Way Chili Cook-off grows every year because the businesses that get involved have so much fun,” said April Danahay, United Way board of director president. “Lots of good chili and happy people, having fun and helping people, you can’t beat that.”

Winners of the chili contest were The Oasis, Community Development Support Associ-ation, Youth & Family Services, Northern Oklahoma Volunteer Association and Parrish Enterprises.

Booth decoration designs were judged on the theme “Past, Present and Future.” Winners of the booth decorating contest were Ward Petroleum, Integris Bass Baptist Health Center, Surety Abstract and Title, Northern Oklahoma Volunteer Associ-ation and Continental Re-sources.

Winners of top dollar chili were Groendyke Transport, Central National Bank and Continental Resources.

The cook of the winning chili, David Seltenreich, pastor of The Oasis, was willing to share his chili secrets.

“I use sausage meat instead of hamburger,” he said.

Seltenreich said he got involved in the cook-off through his mother.

“My mom is on the committee for United Way, and she asked us to get involved so we did,” he said.

Seltenreich said he was surprised to win.

“It is pretty exciting. This is our first year to be in it,” he said. “I’ve always liked my chili; now I know others do too.”

The winning booth design by Ward Petroleum was a group effort.

“On the old side we have the ‘DINE’ sign upside down. In the middle we have ‘Enid Elegance’ because we like to think of Enid as an elegant place to live,” said Kevin Smith, president of the Ward Quality of Life Committee. “Then we have our 150 story Ward building. I couldn’t have done it without the other nine people on the committee.”

The upside down ‘DINE’ sign refers to a legend about how Enid got its name. According to the legend, after the Cherokee Strip Land Run, someone set up a place to eat and the wind blew his “DINE” sign upside down, spelling “ENID.”

United Way’s overall goal is $730,000, which is the same as last year. The cook-off raised $14,311.67.

“It is a great tradition the community supports so well. It has been a great hit,” said Cheryl Evans, United Way drive chairwoman.