City of Irving employee Takes Top Honors at Texas Ladies State Chili Championship

City of Irving employee and Dallas photographer TJ Friedel cooked up a top
spot at the 54th Annual Texas Ladies State Chili Championship, held April 12 in
Sequin. 

The newly crowned chili champion faced 134 cooks in this year’s contest, with
competitors hailing from all over Texas as well as surrounding states.

“I was thrilled when my number was announced in the top spot because the competition
was really tough this year. And I’m honored to join the ranks of other talented chili
champions who also competed again this year,” Friedel said. 

The win automatically qualifies Friedel to compete in the 2025 Terlingua International Chili Championship.

The first-place award joins Friedel’s other achievements as a CASI Chili Cook over the
past 19 years. “This Ladies State Championship win is right up there with my 10th place
win at the Terlingua International Chili Championship in 2019.” Friedel’s next big
competition will be the US National Open taking place in Galveston in June 2025 and
she said she “has her sights set on the big win there.”

As for the Texas Ladies Chili Championship, which she has also entered previously,
Friedel said, “Fifth time’s a charm!”

SOURCE: CASI