Chili cook-off brings community together

Celebrating its 10th year, a chili cook-off hosted by The United Way of Jefferson & North Walworth counties took place on the November 14.

This event was held after the holiday parade in the Fort Atkinson Municipal Building. Not only were people able to get food but also to meet Santa Claus.

Admission for this event was only $3. The $3 allowed people to eat a bottomless amount of chili. Soda and hot dogs were also available.

The United Way has a strong presence right here in the community. Through fund raising, grants, community building and working with partner agencies, United Way is committed to the improving the quality of life in Jefferson and North Walworth Counties by addressing communities’ most pressing issues.  The chili cook-off is one fundraising event that helps the United Way achieve these goals.

“The United Way helps people that are in need; they also have helped organizations like the Battered Women. There is just a whole lot of groups in this community that they help,” Superintendent and strong United Way supporter Dr. James Fitzpatrick said.

In the case of the chili cook-off, it is not to help anybody’s lives, but to make the holiday parade even more enjoyable. When done looking at the floats, one could go in and get a cup of chili. The money is used for the funding of many events. The funds raised are not designated to any certain goal, but are applied to the general fund. The event is not intended to raise money, but this event has brought in a decent amount of money every year.

“Our organization provides the event as a community event, fun and family oriented, that follows the Fort Atkinson Holiday Parade.  Think of the event in terms of a ‘friend-raiser’ not just a ‘fundraiser’,” Dan McCrea said.

This cook-off offered prizes for the winners, awarded by the judges this year consisting of Becki Sell, Shane Sparks and Scott Lastusky. They had to arrive at the municipal building at 5:30 P.M. and begin testing 16 chili recipes. Ten were “traditional” recipes, and six

were “specialty” types of chili. Prizes were awarded for the People’s Choice, Specialty, and Traditional.

One of the winners was Joe Murn. He was chosen for the best traditional recipes.

“This was my first year joining the chili cook off. My girlfriend heard about it and thought I should join,” Murn said.

When asked about his secret recipe, consistent cook-off participant Jeffrey Schemm, who has cooked in this event for nine years and won awards seven out of those nine times, stated that he does not follow one specific recipe.

“The recipe changes every year, you got to tweak it every time, or it won’t win every year,” Schemm said.

United way encourages people of every age to participate in this event.  High school student Casey Wellmitz from Whitewater contended in this event.

“I saw this cook-off in the paper, and I want to become a chef when I get older, so I have been wanting to do this for awhile. I used my grandma’s recipe,” Wellmitz said.

Even outside of the city people are finding out about these events, ending the Tenth Annual Chili Cook-off with more contenders than last year, and competition coming from all over.