North Platte, NE – Guests didn’t let the chilly weather and wind scare them away from FNBO for their 28th Annual Chili Cook-off on Friday, October 6, 2023.
Over 240 people joined together and raised almost $4,000 to benefit Mid-Plains United Way and their 11 partner agencies.
Guests were encouraged to bring extra cash to vote for their favorite chili, themed booth and pie in the face winner. The winner for Best Chili went to Scot Abstract for the second year in a row. Best booth went to Lashley Land Co. Local business leaders participating in pie in the face were Gary Person, Nelson Jett, Cooper Grabenstein, Brad Hisel and Jordan Boston. Cooper Grabenstein from FNBO won and the honor to pie him was auctioned off to Leland Poppe of First Interstate Bank.
The Chili Cook-off is the giving campaign kick-off event and one of the major fundraisers for Mid-Plains United Way. This year, campaign funds will be distributed to 11 partner agencies that provide vital services and programs to the residents of Chase, Custer, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Grant, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins, Red Willow and Thomas counties. 2023-24 partner agencies are Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center, Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska-Utilities, Community Connections Mentoring, Community Connections Substance Abuse Prevention, Guardians of the Children, L2 for Kids, Lutheran Family Services, Nebraska Youth Center, The Connection Homeless Shelter, North Platte Senior Center and Hope Esperanza.
“We are very grateful to everyone who braved the wind and came out to the Chili Cook-off today. Thanks to you we raised a record amount to support our community’s greatest needs.,” said Haven Smith, the executive director of Mid-Plains United Way. “Thank you to FNBO for hosting us and thank you to our teams, Pie-in the-Face challengers, Eagle Radio, Husker Radio, the Flatrock Irregulars and Kwik Stop for helping to make today a success.”
Some of the participants in this year’s Chili Cook-off include Rockabilly Rebelles, Dayspring Bank, WCDHD, Lutheran Family Services, Great Plains Health Quality Dept., Scott Abstract, First Interstate Bank, Trego-Dugan Aviation, Lincoln County
Board of Realtors, Walmart Distribution Center #7018, First National Bank, Lashley Land, Guardians of the Children, and NuStar Energy.
For more information, please call 308-532-8870 or email [email protected]. About Mid-Plains United Way
Mid-Plains United Way is a nonprofit organization that unites community resources to fund and support non-profits that improve education, health and financial stability in the region. Mid-Plains United Way is committed to diversity and inclusion and strives to create a strong and caring community for everyone. For more information or to donate online, please visit the Mid-Plains United Way website.