The first of what will be many fundraisers hosted by the VFW Auxiliary Post 3772 to support the Central Missouri Veterans Monument Foundation was a “Chili Cook-off” Saturday, Jan. 25.
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The first of what will be many fundraisers hosted by the VFW Auxiliary Post 3772 to support the Central Missouri Veterans Monument Foundation was a “Chili Cook-off” Saturday, Jan. 25.
“It was a good day!” says an excited Raymond Legg, who saw an encouraging turn-out. Legg is the foundation’s treasurer. He and foundation President and VFW Post 3772 Commander, Russ Davis, were there to oversee the afternoon.
Almost 200 people came through the VFW during the 3-hour event to eat, compete and show our local veterans their support.
“Mexico always gets behind the veterans whenever someone tries to do something for them, so that’s good,” says Davis.
The panel of chili connoisseurs there to judge was Missouri Veterans Home Assistance League President, Brian Pursifull, Audrain County Eastern District Commissioner, Leslie Meyer, owner of Bucky’s Sit or Get, Becky Pehle, city council member Chris Williams and Director of News and Sports at Kwwr/Kxeo, Mathew Pilger
A total of 20 teams competed, and even more chili filled the tables; Davis brought a couple batches himself.
“I like hot stuff,” says Davis, whose spicy chili was two-thirds chorizo and a pound of hamburger. “I smoked all of it, then I put the chili together, and I smoked the chili for about three hours.”
First place was awarded to Bent Barrel Projects, second place went to Brothers Keeper, and third place was Martinsburg Fire Department. The people’s choice award went to Realty 365 LLC’s “Cluck Cluck Chicken Chili”.
Contestants and community taste-testers alike paid a $3 entry fee. Additional concessions were sold at the VFW bar across from the bake sale table, which was full to the brim with sweet treats for a little post-meal pick me up. The VFW also collected funds from their iconic “horse races”, a Thursday BINGO night staple, brought back for a little extra fun.
If you missed Saturday’s chili, don’t worry. The crock pots hadn’t even had the chance to cool before the Central Missouri Veterans Monument Foundation was cooking up plans for the next.
“We will be doing another chili cook-off next year, given how successful this one was,” says Legg.
Until then, the foundation has at least one more fundraiser on the books and plenty more in the works.
“We have a corn hole tournament scheduled for April 26,” says Davis.
The monument is still a ways off from being built since being backed by city council in November of last year.
“The city says we can’t actually start until they get the road changed and we have all the money in hand,” explains Davis.
But that isn’t to say they haven’t made some great progress since then.
“We’ve got a lot of things, but it has been coming together really, really good,” says Davis.
Legg ventured to guess the Central Missouri Veterans Monument Foundation raised between $2,000 and $3,000 from this chili cook-off, which is a great start.
For more information on the foundation and upcoming events, visit the Central Missouri Veteran Monument Foundation Facebook page or email centralmoveteransmonument@gmail.com.
