The Island County Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen will host its annual Russell Maugans Memorial Raffle Ride and Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Edgewood Farm, located at 2936 Keller Road in Langley. All riders and walkers are invited to participate in the 2- to 3-hour trail ride through beautiful Putney Woods and the chili cook-off, raffle and silent auction afterwards.

Riders and walkers may depart the farm anytime between 9 and 10:30 a.m. The entry fee is $10 and includes 5 free raffle tickets or $20 for the ride plus 20 tickets. Additional raffle tickets are $1. The entry fee for the chili cook-off is $10. The chilies will be judged at 11 a.m. and will be tasted by the ride participants at noon. Cash prizes for chilies will be given for both the judges’ and peoples’ choices. The drawing for raffle prizes begins at 1 p.m. The silent auction is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This event celebrates the life of Russell Maugans, an early developer of trails on Whidbey Island and a lover of horses and good chili. Funds raised will go toward furthering the Back Country Horsemen’s goals of educating riders in low impact methods of using public trails and continuing trail development for riders, bikers and walkers on Whidbey Island. For information, call Mary Casey at 425-315-4622 or Diana Putney at 360-321-5631.