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MITCHELL – Mitchell’s VFW is hosting their third annual chili cookoff Saturday, Oct. 1.
The cookoff will be held in the parking lot of 2nd and Rowley, behind the VFW Post 2750. Chili cups are $5 each and other food and refreshments will be available and a bouncy house will be set up in the Tickled Pink parking lot for kids.
So far, 10 cooks have signed up for the contest in the hopes of taking home the first place trophy.
A live auction begins at 10 a.m. and judging begins at 11, followed by a live program featuring an honorment of Lorrie and Barry Volk, veterans and members of the VFW who passed away this year, as well as a silent auction. Chili tasting starts at noon and ends at 4 p.m., with the announcement of the winners of the chili contest and the silent auction following shortly after.
“We originally developed the idea of a chili cookoff a few years back so we could fundraise in order to start renovations on the upstairs portion of the VFW building,” Marty Christenson, head of the project, Underscore Master and retired Army Colonel who served over 33 years, said.
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The upstairs, once complete, will be a museum dedicated solely to honoring veterans, sharing their stories and displaying historical war pieces collected by members and others in the community.
“We’re currently finishing setting up the gun display,” Christenson said on the current renovation status. “Next on the agenda will be working on the uniform and picture displays.”
The event has been held every year since 2019, and Mitchell's VFW hopes to continue to have the chili cookoff even once renovations have been completed.
“This event is a great way to honor the veterans in our community,” Christenson said. "It brings everyone together."
