33 years and still cookin’ … Thank you for supporting the work of UCP of Northwest Missouri as we serve local children and adults with disabilities. The 33rd Annual UCP Chili Challenge on March 3rd, 2019, Raised $120,000 to Support UCP’s Programs! Every year the Chili Challenge brings spectators, supporters, team members and auction-goers to the Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph, Mo.
A single admission price lets visitors sample dozens of chilis, while enjoying live music from the Licious Brothers, browsing unique vendors, bidding on silent auction items, and chatting with old and new friends. In 2019, 64 teams competed for the Chili titles and local businesses donated items for the silent and online auctions. $120,000 was generated to help provide support to UCP’s programs.
33rd Annual UCP Chili Challenge Awards
Missouri State Champion:
1st Redleg Ranch-Blake Roth
2nd Hi-Ho Bar & Grill I-John Garvey
3rd Susie’s Place-Emilie Kress
Amateur:
1st Redleg Ranch-Blake Roth
2nd Susie’s Place-Emilie Kress
3rd Knights of Columbus 5067 I-Steve Culver
4th The Boys Are Back-Blaine Higgins
5th Claudia’s Kitchen-Brigid Read
Professional:
1st Hi-Ho Bar & Grill I-John Garvey
2nd Knights of Columbus 5067 II-Steve Culver
3rd Nestle Purina II-Steve Miller
4th Biggin’s Sports Bar & Grill-Tracy Arthur
5th Hi-Ho Bar & Grill II-John Garvey
Commercial Sponsor:
1st Redleg Ranch-Blake Roth
2nd Hi-Ho Bar & Grill I-John Garvey
3rd Susie’s Place-Emilie Kress
4th Knights of Columbus 5067 I-Steve Culver
5th Nestle Purina II-Steve Miller
All Beef – Sponsored by American Angus:
Knights of Columbus 5067 I-Steve Culver
Best Decorated Booth:
1st Auto Pride Car Wash, Ty Clark
2nd Downey-Bennett Chili Connection, Stacy Downey
3rd Murphy’s Smokin’ Meats, Annette Murphy
Heart of America People’s Choice Awards:
1st Nestle Purina, $53,428.34
2nd Long Branch Crop Tours, LLC, $8,584.00
3rd Sisters Three, $8,406.50
4th The Boys Are Back, $1,941.00
5th Johnson Controls, $1,336.30
6th Sealed Air, $1,114.50
7th American Family Insurance, $770.46
8th Knights of Columbus 5067, $757.00
9th CBIZ Insurance Services, Inc., $639.00
10th Gray Manufacturing, $616.00
11th Choices of St. Joseph, Inc., $482.00
12th The Pepsi Crew, $476.00
13th Heather’s Hikers, $337.00
14th Susie’s Place, $238.75
15th St. Joseph Disc Golf Club, $150.00
The competition really heats up — not just for best chili in several categories, but for the coveted People’s Choice Award. Each year, teams recruit local donations before the Chili Challenge to earn the title of People’s Choice. The 2019 People’s Choice award winner, St. Joseph’s Nestle-Purina, brought in more than $50,000 for UCP’s programs! In an equally remarkable effort, Long Branch Crop tours, LLC raised over $8,500 and Sisters Three raised over $8,000, as well as The Boys Are Back with $2,000 donated to UCP. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Chili Challenge a tremendous success! On behalf of the families served by UCP, the board, staff and volunteers, we are so grateful.