UCP hosts 39th annual Chili Cookoff

The United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Missouri hosted the 39th annual Chili Cookoff to offer St. Joseph residents the chance to taste some chili and help support a good cause.

The annual Chili Cookoff has been the UCP’s only fundraiser for nearly four decades and has raised over $2 million in that time.

St. Joseph residents come by the hundreds to taste chili, dance, interact and support disabled children and adults in the Northwest Missouri region.

Employees at Nestle have participated for over twenty years not only to show off their chili cooking skills but also to show their continuous support for UCP.

“We’re a real big advocate for UCP, Nestle is,” Nestle employee and cookoff participant Ashley Fox said. “We also do it like throughout the year so we try to help out as much as we can.”

Fox said her favorite part of the chili cookoff has always been interacting with and meeting new people.

“I kind of like just meeting new people, this year seems a lot more teams (are participating) this year,” she said.

There were plenty of people to interact with considering the over 60 teams participating in the competition and thousands of chili enthusiasts making their way through the tastings.

The chili cookoff also included several vendors and a silent auction to sweeten the day full of spice.

Those who wish to support UCP of Northwest Missouri outside of the chili cookoff can learn more about the organization and its mission on UCP’s website at ucpnwmo.org.