The 33rd Annual Heart of America Chili Challenge will be held at the St. Joseph Civic Arena on March 3rd, 2019. The entry forms are now available on the Chili Forms & Info Sheets page. We hope to have the support and attendees as we have in previous years!
New updates for the cook-off will be posted periodically throughout the next couple of months, so please check back to catch the latest.
32 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 32nd Annual UCP Chili Challenge on March 4th, 2018, Raised $115,000 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 2018, 64 teams competed for the Chili titles and local businesses donated items for the silent and online auctions. $115,000 was generated to help provide support to UCP’s programs.
32nd Annual UCP Chili Challenge Awards: Missouri State Champion: 1st Nestle Purina IV, Kelly Schenk 2nd Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jeremy Kingsley 3rd Eagle’s Lodge, Chad Pinzino Amateur: 1st Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jeremy Kingsley 2nd Eagle’s Lodge, Chad Pinzino 3rd Claudia’s Kitchen, Brigid Read 4th Sisters 3, Pat Rich 5th Taylormade Chili, Joseph Ueligger Professional: 1st Nestle Purina IV, Kelly Schenk 2nd Waffle House, Amber Cameron 3rd Knights of Columbus, Jim Stephan 4th Uncle D’s Sports Bar & Grill, DeWayne Leer 5th GreatLife KC, Ashley Vidal Commercial Sponsor: 1st Nestle Purina IV, Kelly Schenk 2nd Eagle’s Lodge, Chad Pinzino 3rd Claudia’s Kitchen, Brigid Read 4th Collin’s Country Club, Tim Collins 5th Fletcher Contracting, James Fletcher All Beef- Sponsored by American Angus Claudia’s Kitchen, Brigid Read Best Decorated Booth: 1st Auto Pride Car Wash, Ty Clark 2nd Yannick’s Team, Susanne Eichenmueller 3rd Slick’s Hot Pork Chili, Michael Selecman Heart of America People’s Choice Awards: 1st Nestle Purina, $50,778.00 2nd Sisters 3, $7,690.55 3rd Long Branch Crop Tours, $7,645.50 4th The Boys Are Back, $4,760.50 5th Knights of Columbus, $869.25 6th CBIZ, $792.00 7th Gray Manufacturing, $673.15 8th American Family Insurance, $618.00 9th Heather Ball, $379.93 10th PJ’s and MJ’s, $270.50 11th Progressive Community Services, $262.00 12th Susie’s Place, $239.50 13th Precision Lawn Car, $239.00 14th Red Hot Chili Peppers, $147.00 15th Auto Pride Car Wash, $112.00
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 2018 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, Sisters 3 raised over $7,000 and Long Branch Crop Tours raised over $7,000, as well as The Boys Are Back with over $4,000 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.