The competition was “fierce but friendly” at the Mattapoisett Firefighters Association's second annual Chowder Competition, said Ken Ackerman of the Oxford Creamery.

Oxford was one of 22 teams that participated in the event, held at the Knights of Columbus, and organizers said it was much bigger than last year.

“Last year was our test run,” said Mattapoisett firefighter Tim Murray.

This year the Firefighters Association upgrade from pop-up tents to a big tent that could hold all the competitors. There were also games on the lawn and plenty of fire trucks, old and new, for kids to climb on.

The community response has made the event worthwhile, said Murray and Lt. Justin Dubois, who, with Ross Macedo, made the event happen.

“We had a lot bigger turnout than last year,” said Dubois. “We're committed now. We have to have it every year.”

Teams made a variety of chowders, and visitors bought tickets so they could vote for their favorite recipes.

In one corner, Rochester Facilities Manager Andrew Daniel and the Rochester Fire Department tables tried to lure voters.

“It's got everything,” Daniel said of his seafood chowder. “It's the ocean in a small cup.”

Like his neighbors' chowder, Daniel topped off each cup with a piece of fried clam, something the Rochester FD table had to admit was an idea Daniel gave them last year.

Even with that special touch, Daniel had some pretty stiff competition. Last year,  Rochester Fire took home the first place prize with Deputy Chief Albert Weigel's chowder, and this year, they didn't see a reason to try to improve on a good thing.

“Why fix it if it's not broken?” said Tracy Eldridge.

Marion Fire Department was also on hand with a time-tested recipe made by Asst. Chief Allen Denham.

Denham has 28 years of experience making the chowder, this time with quahogs caught by firefighters on the team.

Capt. Joshua Denham, the assistant chief's son and a fellow firefighter, gave the stew his stamp of approval.

“It's the only chowder I eat,” he said.

The event is one all teams seemed happy to be part of, with proceeds going to the Mattapoisett Firefighters Association for community and firefighter related expenses.

“It pulls us all together,” said Ron Auld, Marion Firefighters Association president and a captain in his department.

Ken Dawicki of Salty Dog Ranch said he participated for the second year because he knows many of the firefighters. He also sold containers of his chowder with all proceeds going directly to the association.

“We did it to support our firefighters in town,” he said.

With all the goodwill and good chowder the taste testers had a tough choice to make.

“It's all good,” said Danny White. But he did have a favorite. “I voted for On The Go because I got a piece of scallop in my cup.”

White's friend Jerry O'Brien, a New Englander who now lives in Denver, Colorado, said it's tough to find good chowder in the Mile High City. He was overjoyed to find so much chowder in one place.

“There's not a bad chowder here,” he said. “This is a mecca. A mecca!”

The winners are:

Peoples Choice Public Safety: Rochester Fire Department
Peoples Choice Business: Lebanese Kitchen

Judges Choice Public Safety:

1st place: Rochester Facilities Department
2nd place: Rochester Fire Department
3rd place: Fairhaven Harbormaster Department

Judges Choice Local Businesses:

1st place: Lebanese Kitchen
2nd place: The Inn on Shipyard Park
3rd place: Shipyard Galley