Chili, Pumpkins, and Family Fun: Potawatomi Wildlife Park Fall Event

On October 5, Potawatomi Wildlife Park invited the community to an autumn celebration packed with fun and festivities.

The day kicked off with the Marshall County Reading Council’s “Race for Reading” 5K and Fun Run, which took participants through the park’s beautiful trails. After the race, Potawatomi Wildlife Park hosted a soup and chili cook-off, live music by Chris Burch, and gave free pumpkins to all children under 16.

Activities during the autumn celebration included a prairie maze, pumpkin putt-putt, candy corn toss, apple-picking toss, and a nature-themed obstacle course.

A big thanks to event sponsors: Marshall County Visitors Center, Lemler Oil, Bates Corporation, R.E. 4 Riley, LLC, Anna Gilsinger at RE/MAX Results, and Bourbon Lions Club. Special thanks to Plymouth’s Wendy for providing chili for everyone to enjoy!

A highlight of the day was the Soup and Chili Cook-Off. Congratulations to Thomas Laskowski, who took home first prize! Lorraine Devros and Spurgeon Reichert placed second and third, respectively. Due to popular demand, the winning recipe is included below:

Potawatomi Champion Chili Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb breakfast sausage (e.g., Jimmy Dean regular)
• 1 lb ground turkey (80/20 blend)
• 15 oz can tomato sauce (e.g., Hunt’s, no salt added)
• 15 oz can of water
• 2 cans (15.5 oz) kidney beans (light or dark)
• 2 cans (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with chili peppers (e.g., Ro-Tel or Red Gold)
• 2 packets (1.25 oz) Brooks "Secret" Chili Seasoning (mild)
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 small onion, finely chopped

Instructions

• Brown the sausage and turkey, crumbling as finely as possible. Do not drain.
• Add onion; cook for another 10 minutes.
• Add beans, tomato sauce, water, diced tomatoes, chili seasoning, and cumin.
• Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.

Potawatomi Wildlife Park is delighted to bring people together through events like this, reflecting our mission to connect visitors with nature, local history, and community through recreation and education. Open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset, Potawatomi Wildlife Park offers 5 miles of trails, kayak and canoe rentals, Indiana’s first dark sky, an interactive visitor center, and more.