Chili Fest raises a more than $30,000 for United Way
Caleb A. Gallegos/News-Sun
Now that Lea County has had it’s fill and the food is settled, United Way has put a fork in this years 32nd Annual Chili Fest while raising $30,578, and still counting.
The money goes towards United Way’s campaign goal this year to reach $1.2 million.
Devon Energy was crowned this year’s Chili Fest Peoples Choice winner. Devon raised $10,503.
Britney Embry, United Way Campaign and Event coordinator, said this year’s Chili Fest exceeded her expectations passed her goal of $20,000.
This year for starters Embry and United Way kicked things off with a “Food-Truck Friday,” where different food trucks used the Event Center’s parking lot to help the United Way in its campaign. With games, food, karaoke and live music, Embry said Food-Truck Friday was a great way to get people excited about Chili Fest.
“We kicked it off Friday with kinda of like a kickoff party, and we just wanted people to know more about Chili Fest and to come out Saturday,” Embry said. “The people we had, the reviews we got, it was amazing.”
For those who might be watching their figure, or maybe just wanted to make some room for all the food, Embry said this year United Way started Chili Fest off with “Project Heartburn” a 5k individual and team race.
“Starting at 8 a.m. with the 5K all the way to the end with the awards, we had so many people there, there were so many great reviews and it was just an amazing event to help kickoff Campaign,” Embry said.
With still being in the process of totaling all the donations made over the weekend Embry said Saturday alone Chili Fest was able to earn $30,578.
“My goal going into this was $20,000, and not even having the grand total and knowing that we’ve passed that already is an extraordinary feeling,” Embry said. “The community really came together and made this happen.”
This year’s first “Touch-A-Truck” event, where the community got a chance to see unique vehicles like S.W.A.T. units, fire engines, ambulances, tractors and semi-trucks — with a chance to get inside of all the vehicles for in-person experience, was a huge success.
“The one thing we really got a lot of feed back on was the Touch-A-Truck, which was our first time. So this is something we’re definitely going to bring back next year and hopefully help that event grow,” Embry said. “I see it happening in bigger cities but nothing local, so I was like we’re going to try it and I couldn’t be more happier with the outcome.
“We got tagged in a lot of pictures from our Hay Maze. People said they absolutely loved the car show and then a lot of people told us to definitely bring back the Project Heartburn 5K. So it was great to hear that everybody liked something that was going on.”
And as for the main course, the cook-off, Embry said everybody seemed to love the food, and adding new categories to this year’s event was a big hit.
“Everybody loved the food. We decided to add a few more categories this year, which were a big hit,” Embry said. “We were excited that everything that we kinda tried, turned into being a success.”
This year the ones who served up the most happy customers were Devon Energy. Winning the award for People’s Choice and bringing in $10,503, Devon redeemed their last year loss to Chevon where they lost by $10.
“We definitely have to give a shout-out to Devon for winning People’s Choice, which is voted on by who sold the most. And with Devon, they alone brought in $10,503 for us,” Embry said. “Its funny because last year they lost by $10 so this year they made sure not to lose.”
Continuing friendly rivalries, Embry said United Way’s next event planned will be Battle of the Projects. Where on Oct. 12 United Way will host two different events: Day of Caring and Battle of the Badges.
Embry explained for Battle of the badges the fire department, police department and the Sheriff’s Office will gather in the parking lot of Albertson’s Market and battle it out to see which department can make the best burger by seeing who can sell the most.
And using strength in numbers, Embry said for the Day of Caring brings together volunteers to tackle the needs of nonprofits in the community.
“Any of the nonprofits that have projects that need done like maybe clean up, painting, repairing a fence — I bring all the volunteers together and we send them out to go and help those nonprofits,” Embry said.
“We always say that we live in a great community, but this event just proved that. They came together and learned about United Way’s mission, and they got to meet all the nonprofits in our community and in our county that are truly making the deference.”
Winners:
People’s Choice – Devon Energy
Ribs
1st – Mewbourne Oil Company
2nd – Costal Chemicals
3rd- Chevron Permian
Chili –
1st Place – Chevron Permian
2nd Place – Lea County Sheriff’s Office
3rd- Lea County State Bank
Open/ Side
1st – Lea County State Bank
2nd – Chevron Permian
3rd- Chevron
Chicken
1st – Mewbourne Oil Company
2nd – Chevron Permian
Brisket
1st – Lea County Sheriff’s Office
2nd – Mewbourne Oil Company
3rd – Chevron Permian
Dessert
1st – Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital
2nd – Albertsons (Hobbs NM)
3rd- Chevron Permian
Drinks
1st- Lea County State Bank
2nd – Rig Water Coffee Company
3rd- Sugar & Boards