While the big winner in the inaugural Alabama River Chili Cookoff, held last March in downtown Selma, was the Salvation Army, the cooking team representing Henry Brick walked away with the top prize.

By the slimmest of margins, Henry Brick’s team claimed the title of best judged chili in the inaugural event and seeks to repeat as champions when the 2nd annual Alabama River Chili Cookoff gets rolling Thursday.

“Even though I can’t be there, I feel pretty good that we have the team and the recipe to repeat,” Henry Brick’s Davis Henry said Friday. “We were excited to win last year and are going to do everything we can to ensure we have the chili trophy back in our lobby after this year’s event.”

The Alabama River Chili Cookoff, which is sponsored this year by Moore-Stewart Ford, is a project of Leadership Selma-Dallas County Class XVIII. Proceeds from the annual event go to support one local charity each year.

This year, the selected charity is the Dallas County Family Resource Center.

“Last year, we cooked up a lot of chili — with almost 16 pounds of ground beef in it — and ran out,” Henry Brick’s John Hanning said. “We were amazed at the response we received and had a great time.

“The Cookoff has really become something that everyone has started looking forward to, even after only one year.”

A total of 30 teams will be competing in this year’s event. Those competing are teams representing: AXA Advisors, LLC – John B. Morris CLU, ChFC, Blue Jean Church, Boyd Financial Group, Computer Data Network Services, Central Alabama Farmers Co-op, Children’s Dentistry of Central Alabama, Dallas County Children’s Policy Council, First Baptist Church Selma, First Cahawba Bank, First Presbyterian Church, Grace Hall, Henry Brick, International Paper (two teams), Dr. Julie Sams, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Marion Bank and Trust, Oxford Manufacturing Company, Pine Belt Wireless, Selma Charity League, Selma City Council/Mayor George Evans, Side Porch Sandwiches, St. James Hotel, the Morris Agency, The Selma Times-Journal, Tri-County Construction, Trustmark, Tucker Family Dentistry, Vaughan Regional Medical Center and Wood Orthodontics.

Teams will be competing for titles in best-judged chili, fan favorite chili and most spirited.

Those winning first place in each category will receive a trophy that contains a ceramic chili pepper that was painted and prepared by the ceramics class at the Cahaba Center for Mental Health.

Those sponsoring the event include gold sponsors International Paper; silver sponsors Children’s Dentistry of Central Alabama, Kentucky Fried Chicken, the City of Selma and Mayor George Evans, The Selma Times-Journal and Trustmark; bronze sponsors Dallas County Children’s Policy Council, First Cahawba Bank, Henry Brick, Dr. Julie Sams, Marion Bank and Trust, Selma Medical Associates and Tri-County Construction.

The event will be held Thursday, March 14 in downtown Selma on Water Avenue. Admission is $5 for those ages 9 and older and gates open at 5 p.m.

The winners will be announced at 7 p.m. and the event is scheduled to end around 8 p.m.

For more details on the event search for Alabama River Chili Cookoff on Facebook.