RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- An event in Racine poses the age-old question: who makes the best pot of chili? For the fourth year, the Racine Fire Department has set up a chili cookoff. 

The friendly competition pits local students in cooking classes against area firefighters. 

While the competitors get to flex their culinary muscles, leaders say the program is a great outreach tool for younger kids to consider a career as a firefighter. 

"We started to introduce fire service as a career opportunity within the high school, so they come to our gym classes," said Alex Debaker, executive director for Academies of Racine. "They do different competitions in gym classes, they come and have lunch with some of our kids to learn about the fire academy, that gateway, and we also figured why not have a chili cook off?" 

The cookoff brought together more than just fire crews -- Racine police officials served as judges. 

This year's champion was one of the teams of students from Horlick High School in Racine. 

CBS 58