'Finest chefs' title at stake in United Way Chili Cookoff

Nevada's annual United Way Oktoberfest showdown among chili cooks and their secret recipes, when aficionados can walk around sampling entry after entry, has been set for Saturday, Oct. 8, on the vacant lot north of the Great Southern Bank building at Walnut and Washington streets.

Sponsored by the Missouri Eagle Anheuser-Busch distributing center, the aromatic get-together drew 12 teams last fall with Scoutmaster Kendall Vickers' Boy Scout Troop 42 taking the first place prizes of $100 and a trophy.

In a second place tie, the Eric and Angie Landoll Family and the Nevada Regional Medical Center team led by Jeff and Judy Feuquay divided $50 and $25 in prize money. "It's basically for recognizing the 19 United Way agencies so people know who they're donating to throughout the year," said Co-chairman Angie Nichols.

"Each agency will have a booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., selling food or having games like ring tosses or pick-up-the-ducks. The chili cookoff starts at 7:30 a.m. and judging at 11 a.m.

"At 11:30, you can buy a 12-ounce bowl for $2 and eat at one entrant's booth or get a taster's bowl for $3 and sample them all."

Take home bowls will be $3. "After expenses, we usually raise about $1,500," Nichols said.

"It's a good competition to cook up some fine chili and determine the finest chefs."

Co-chairing the event with Patty Bennett, Nichols said entry forms will be distributed around town.

She said free entries will be taken through Oct. 7 by phone at (417) 667-8444, by e-mail at nicholsam@tia-don.com or mail at 18803 S. 1497 Road, Nevada 64772.

Nichols said the traditional rules, observed at least since the late 1990s, are for each group to cook without electricity and provide its own grills, tables, chairs, utensils and ingredients.

All cooking must be done onsite and the chili, judged for aroma, consistency, color, taste and aftertaste, must reach and maintain 140 degrees. Each team must supply at least five pounds of uncooked meat.

Nichols said the four judges had not been appointed Tuesday.

Benefitting agencies in addition to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are the American Red Cross, Drug Awareness Resistance Education, Neighbors Center, Vernon County Senior Center, Ministerial Alliance, Council on Families in Crisis, People for Pets, Meals on Wheels and Vernon County Child Advocacy Council.

Others are the University of Missouri Extension Council, Nevada Youth Recreational Baseball, Children's Mercy Hospital, Vernon County Adult Recovery Court, Special Olympics, Community Outreach, ACHE Dental and, a new agency, On My Own.