Weekly Report🎖

TVLC | Robert A. Wise Chili Cook Off

Dec 12, 2025

An event entry form for the 14th Annual Robert A. Wise Chili Cook-Off ($20.00). The top features the U.S. flag and Florida state flag flanking an arched title, with a photo of a uniformed service member and unit insignia. Large text reads “Chili Cook-Off Entry Form.” Blank fields request: Team Name; Sponsor Organization; # of Team Members; POC Name; Address; City, State, ZIP; Phone 1 and Phone 2; Best Time to Call; Email. Check options ask “Need power hook-up? Y/N” and “Friday night check in? Y/N,” plus lines for Additional Needs. Bold deadline: “Entry form & fee must be received no later than 19 February 2026.” Mailing/payment instructions: send the form and a check/money order payable to Command Post (FWD), 1225 Easterwood Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32311; email commandpostforward@gmail.com. A note directs readers to @RobertWiseChiliCookoff on Facebook for rules. The bottom right shows a map of Florida and round emblems of U.S. military branches with the motto “Brothers in Arms, Brothers for Life.”

14th Annual Robert A. Wise Chili Cook-off (21Feb26)

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

1. This Chili Cook-off bears the name of SGT Robert A. Wise, a Soldier who gave all for this great nation. The Chili Cook-off serves as an opportunity to remember Robert, his actions, his family, his Alpha Company brothers, & their sacrifices, as well as others who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America.

2. Entry Fee is $20.00. Complete the registration form, especially ALL contact info. With the entry fee, we will provide you:

A. A cooking / serving area of approximately 10’ X 10’ (See Official Rules for more info re. cooking areas); We do NOT provide any cover, please bring your own canopy / tent / cover for your ‘booth’; Many other booths will have a theme, so decorate as you would like (but tastefully – there will be children attending); Feel free to advertise your business as much as you’d like or make that your theme, but please do not sell any products! There is a prize for the best booth voted on by the people in attendance.

B. One 3’ x 8’ Table & up to four chairs

C. Cups (the cups are 8 ounces, no need to fill them up & run out too quick; only provide a ‘taste’ of your chili, about 1/4 of a cup; if folks want more they’ll ask!)

D. Spoons & napkins

E. Voting receptacle (can/box/etc.)

F. Two beverage tickets per team member

3. One chili entry per team. Only one chili per entry fee may be submitted to the judges. You may serve as many chilis as you wish to the public, but to be judged they must be registered. A team may consist of up to 4 people.

4. Pre-event registration is strongly encouraged, & can best be coordinated by:

A. Visiting the Tallahassee Armory and asking for Sergeant First Class (SFC) PJ Close, or Staff Sergeant (SSG) Andrew Wilson.

B. Calling 850-245-0103 (SSG Wilson), 850-245-0331 (SFC PJ Close) or 850-544-7211 (SGM John Condo, please leave a message)

C. Visiting our Facebook page; search for ‘@RobertWiseChiliCookOff’

D. Emailing Commandpostforward@gmail.com (please be patient, we will try to answer as quickly as possible!)

5. On-site early registration & setup will begin at 1700 on Friday, 20Feb26 & close at 2000. Final registration will be from 0700-0900 on Saturday, 21Feb26. During registration, you will receive your cooking area assignment location, a table & up to four chairs. Items listed above in 1C – F will be issued during the head cooks’ meeting (ref. next paragraph).

6. A brief but MANDATORY head cook meeting will be held at 1100 on Saturday. All head cooks (or a representative) must attend for final coordination & receipt of Items 1C-F.

7. Judging will begin at (approximately) 1230. No new chilis will be accepted after judging commences.

8. Three prizes for the best chili will be awarded by the judges:

A. First place will receive $150.00 & a trophy.

B. Second place will receive $100.00 & a ribbon.

C. Third place will receive $50.00 & a ribbon.

9. Three prizes will be awarded for the best chili by the “people’s choice:”

A. First place will receive a trophy.

B. Second & third place will receive a ribbon.

10. A trophy will be awarded by “people’s choice” for the best booth.

11. A trophy will be awarded by “people’s choice” for the best Military Branch chili.

12. Participants must furnish their own cooking apparatus (propane stove / grill, Coleman fuel stove, etc.), cookware, utensils, masks & gloves. No campfires are allowed w/out prior coordination.

13. This competition involves sampling by judges & event attendees, so please be aware that each team’s liability is based on ingredients cooked in your chili. Please provide warnings to samplers if your chili has the possibility of spontaneously combusting (or contain known allergens such as peanuts).

14. Judging Criteria and Scoring – Chili is scored based on all or a combination of the following criteria:

Aroma - Chili should smell appetizing

Consistency - Chili should be a smooth combination of meat/veggies & gravy

Taste - Chili should taste good

Aftertaste - Chili should leave a quality taste after swallowing

Visually - Chili should look appetizing (‘white’ chilis will not be negatively judged)

Heat - Chili should have some form of ‘kick’

Miscellaneous - Whatever the judges decide!

15. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD! All proceeds will benefit Veterans. Like all of our previous cook offs, we’re donating to Honor Flight Tallahassee & a to be determined veteran’s charity in SGT Robert A. Wise’s name. See flyer for more info on these great organizations. The more paying customers you can bring in, the more votes you’ll get!!! If you’re interested in purchasing tickets, or helping us sell them, let us know by contacting the folks in paragraph #4.

If you’re interested in pre-purchasing tickets, please call SFC Sean Turkington at 850-980-7547. We are a collection of old(ish), knuckle-dragging Soldiers who are making small steps into the modern age of electronic funding, so again, be patient w/ us!

Another email will be sent out soon regarding the Robert A. Wise Chili Cook-off coming up in February.

Hi, Team,

The Legal Clinic yesterday at American Legion Sauls Bridges Post 13 included our volunteer Team of 20 this week! including 6 attorneys, & this week worked with 15 Veterans and family walking in; Veterans volunteered with set up, intakes, etc. even though their court-ordered community service requirements have already been completed.).

Leon County Veterans Treatment Court held another successful session this past Monday and several participants volunteered with TVLC both yesterday and today. Yesterday’s truck and trailer load of food was delivered to various sites around the county and was worked by Veterans Khalid Shafi, John Boyd, Chris Bodiford, Charles Robinson, Gregory Howard and Eddie McMillian. (See photo)

A group of adults work together outdoors in a sunny residential parking lot, transferring cardboard boxes and a large clear bag of food from a pickup truck to a black Club Car utility cart. Parked cars, trees, and houses with red roofs are in the background.

Don’t miss the next LEON VETERANS COURT session: January 12, 3 PM in the downtown Courthouse, Courtroom 2E. Please consider coming to observe/ maybe becoming a Veteran Mentor for the Vets working their way through the program and recovery.

Sincere thanks to the Tallahassee Civic Chorale for partnering with TVLC this year, including the October Poker Run and Tuesday’s (Dec 9) Holiday Concert “Our Favorite Things” where we presented TVLC Commemorative Challenge Coins to Chorale leaders Todd Hinkle and Lisa Hetrick (photos). Thank you Susie and Khalid for setting up our table and to the singers of the Civic Chorale and supporters who donated funds from the Poker Run and boxes of Holiday gifts for Vets, including canned goods, pet food, gift cards, portable heaters, etc.

Two men stand on a stage under blue lighting. On the left, an older man in a gray blazer, tie, glasses, and a Santa hat gestures with a pointed finger. On the right, a bearded man in a bright blue shirt holds a folder with printed pages and looks at his hand as if responding. A microphone on a stand is beside them, and a music stand is in the foreground, suggesting a performance or reading. Also, A festive scene in a building lobby: four adults stand behind and around a holiday‑decorated information table. In front, a man in a Santa hat and a woman in a red blouse shake hands and smile. Behind them, two others (one wearing a Santa hat, another with a long white beard and dog tags) stand by the table, which is covered with a blue, star‑spangled cloth, gold runner, ornaments, and brochures. A sandwich‑board sign on the left reads “Tallahassee Veterans Legal Clinic” with details for Thursdays at American Legion Post 13, 229 Lake Ella Drive, Tallahassee, Florida. The background shows a wooden door marked “Stairs,” glass‑block windows, and a wall‑mounted TV. — TVLC HONORING TALLAHASSEE CIVIC CHORALE LEADERSHIP

And to Christ Presbyterian Church for selecting TVLC to be among the area nonprofit groups to be featured at Saturday’s Christmas Market, where we tabled. Thank you, Susie! Three different families thanked us at our table for some help from TVLC clinics for a Veteran family member.

Donations to TVLC from the events above and ongoing supporters are helping Veterans successfully reinstate their Driver’s Licenses, sometimes after years of being unable to lawfully drive. The donations also provide gas for the weekly Food Delivery trips to Quincy for the various Veteran housing facilities around the region.

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?