About 1,000 chili tasting fans and supporters of local children’s charities were on hand Oct. 8 for the 25th annual State Bank Financial Chili Cook Off at Riverside Park in La Crosse.
Nearly 30 teams of cooks made at least 15 gallons of chili each to serve to hungry fans on a crisp and beautiful fall day, with all of the proceeds from the event going to support the La Crosse Public Education Foundation and the La Crosse D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program.
Final results of the fundraising event are not yet known, but should be announced before the end of the year. State Bank Financial provides staff to support the event and solicits a variety of community sponsors to raise money. In addition, all of the teams of cooks invest in the ingredients (and time) to make chili — a cost that runs in the range of $200 to $400 depending on the style of chili and final quantity.
Students from Longfellow Middle School, with teacher Sarah Schams (back left), performed hula dances and served up an Hawaiian-themed chili.
Among the teams cooking this year were students from Longfellow Middle School, as well as the School District of La Crosse Nutrition staff of: Pam Veglahn (assistant nutrition manager at State Road Elementary); Heather Skiles (assistant nutrition manager at Hamilton/SOTA I); and Shannon Daily (assistant nutrition manager at Longfellow Middle).
In the People’s Choice category, in which people vote for their favorite chili by contributing money to a box at each table, the winner again this year was a team of Boy Scouts from Pack 28, Troop 11.
Central High band members performed prior to chili tasting.
Second place went to the team from WIZM 1410 Radio, and third place to the La Crosse Tribune.
The Chef’s Choice winner was again Dublin Square.
This year’s President’s Award winner, chosen by State Bank Financial CEO and President Tim Kotnour, was the Aramark A Team.
Kicking off the event for the second consecutive year was the Central High School band, under the direction of Robert “Bix” Swerman and Nick Hansberry. About 60 band members played a variety of upbeat and fun music, and had plenty of fun themselves before the gates opened for chili tasting.
Special thanks this year to two Chili Cook Off sponsors — Viterbo University and Brickl Bros — for providing additional support to the La Crosse Public Education Foundation.
Other event sponsors included:
- Cleary Management
- La Crosse Tribune
- Midwest Family Broadcasting
- Wettstein’s
- Pepsi
- Schilling Supply
- Hale, Skemp, Hanson, Skemp and Sleik
- Allergy Associates
- Capital Data
- Express Printing
- Jumpstart Sales
- Laser Products Technologies
- Rod’s Ride On Powersports
See photos below from this year’s Chili Cook Off.
See this report and photos from the 2015 Chili Cook Off.
See this report and photos from the 2014 Chili Cook Off.
-
- Central High band.
-
- Central High band.
-
- Director Nick Hansberry leads the Central band
-
- Director Robert ‘Bix’ Swerman leads the Central band.
-
- Central High band.
-
- Central High band.
-
- Students from Longfellow Middle School, with teacher Sarah Schams (back left), performed hula dances and served up an Hawaiian-themed chili.
-
- State Bank Financial CEO and President Tim Kotnour gets help with his judging.
-
- The District-LPEF team of servers included Pam Veglahn, LPEF Board Member Bethany Nugent, Heather Skiles and Shannon Daily.
-
- Cheese and Fritos chips were fan favorites.
-
- Chili lovers lined up to sample the white chicken chili
-
- LPEF Board Members Bethany Nugent and Margaret Dihlmann-Malzer serve Superintendent of Schools Randy Nelson and his wife Lynn.
-
- Randy Nelson at the District-LPEF table.
-
- School District Nutrition staff members Shannon Daily, Heather Skiles and Pam Veglahn with LPEF Executive Director David Stoeffler.
-
- DARE Officer Kurt Weaver serves up chili.
-
- The chili pepper eating contest drew three contestants – with the co-winners (left and middle) eating six peppers each.
-
- Final results from the People’s Choice voting.
