34 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 34th Annual UCP Chili Challenge on March 1st, 2020, Raised $104,000 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 2020, 64 teams competed for the Chili titles and local businesses donated items for the silent and online auctions. $104,000 was generated to help provide support to UCP’s programs.
34th Annual UCP Chili Challenge Awards
Missouri State Champion:
1st Pioneer Material-Josh Weaver
2nd Nestle Purina II-Tony Walker
3rd CBIZ-Heidi Walker
Amateur:
1st Pioneer Material-Josh Weaver
2nd CBIZ-Heidi Walker
3rd The Boys Are Back-Blaine Higgins
4th Fletcher Contracting-James Fletcher
5th Red Hot Chili Peppers-Jeremy & Marie Kingsley
Professional:
1st Nestle Purina II-Tony Walker
2nd Biggins Sports Bar & Grill-Tracy Arthur
3rd Downey & Bennett Chili Connection-Stacy Downey
4th Nestle Purina III-Lisa Weil
Commercial Sponsor:
1st Pioneer Material-Josh Weaver
2nd Nestle Purina II-Tony Walker
3rd CBIZ-Heidi Walker
4th Fletcher Contracting-James Fletcher
5th Biggins Sports Bar & Grill-Tracy Arthur
All Beef – Sponsored by American Angus:
Nestle Purina-Lisa Weil
Best Decorated Booth:
1st Auto Pride Car Wash, Ty Clark
2nd Downey-Bennett Chili Connection, Stacy Downey
3rd CBIZ-Heidi Walker
Heart of America People’s Choice Awards:
1st Nestle Purina, $45,552.00
2nd Sisters Three, $11,500.00
3rd The Boys Are Back, $2,627.00
4th CBIZ, $959.27
5th American Family Insurance, $801.00
6th Gray Manufacturing, $793.55
7th Clarios, $588.99
8th Auto Pride Car Wash II, $582.25
9th McGlothlin’s, $420.00
10th Biggins Sports Bar & Grill, $395.00
11th Choices of St. Joseph, Inc., $229.00
12th Sealed Air, $190.00
13th Claudia’s Kitchen, $81.50
14th Red Hot Chili Peppers, $76.00
15th Knights of Columbus I, $75.00
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 2020 People’s Choice award winner, St. Joseph’s Nestle-Purina, brought in more than $45,000 for UCP’s programs! In an equally remarkable effort, Sisters Three raised over $11,000 and The Boys Are Back raised over $2,600, as well as CBIZ with $950 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.