NEWBERRY – The time is right for healthy, homemade chili this weekend in downtown Newberry. The City of Newberry’s sixth annual Healthy Chili Cook-Off will be held Saturday, February 2 in Memorial Park. The event will take place from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Nine teams are set to compete in this year’s competition, said Mary Alex Kopp, tourism and events manager for the City of Newberry.
What makes this chili healthy? At a minimum, the event requires that competitors use four kinds of vegetables, two varieties of beans and if teams are making a meat chili, the meat must be at least 90 percent lean.
“We don’t allow any premade chili mixes or packets to be used to reduce the sodium content of the chili and other chemical additives,” Kopp said.” We are looking for quality, from scratch chili to win, and to educate people that your favorite dishes can be healthy as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.”
For just five dollars, chili lovers are able to sample a taste of each competitor’s recipe. They are then asked to vote in three categories: best booth decoration, most original chili and best overall chili. Kopp said under the best overall category, that a first, second and third place winner will be chosen.
Voting for each team will close at 1 p.m., so getting to the event early is encouraged, so taste-testers have the opportunity to vote for their favorites.
Each of the winners will receive a trophy, with the third place overall also receiving a $50 cash prize, second place with $75, and a $100 cash prize for the first place winner. The team voted to have the best booth decoration also wins a $25 cash prize.
Money from all ticket sales raised will go back into the community, Kopp said, with this year’s proceeds going towards a class project at Newberry College.
“We had a unique opportunity this year,” Kopp said.
The city was approached by a professor at Newberry College this year, looking for a way to get her students involved in the Newberry community. Students will be responsible for running the ticket booth at this year’s event, Kopp said, and the proceeds earned from the event will be used for their class project, to be given back to the community in some capacity.
“They want it to be a project that’s food-based within the community,” Kopp said. “It’s a semester-long project that is community oriented.”
New to this year’s event, is the addition of another type of aerobics activity. Kopp said from 11 a.m. until noon, Stagemakers, led by Lane Joiner will hold a children’s movement class followed by a traditional Zumba class led by local instructors for all ages from noon until 1 p.m.
“We encourage those with little ones to come early so that they can participate in the kids portion,” Kopp said.
The Blood Connection will be back again at this year’s event and will set up starting at 10 a.m., giving people a chance to donate prior to the event. They will remain in the Memorial Park area until 1:30 p.m.
Kopp said for those interested in registering for a time to donate prior to Saturday can visit www.thebloodconnection.org and search for Newberry under their events. However, appointments do not have to be made to donate.
Anyone that donates blood Saturday will receive a $20 Walmart gift card, Kopp said, courtesy of The Blood Connection, as well as their chili sample ticket for free to the event.
Saturday’s event will once again house a health fair, organized this year by Carolina West Clinic of Chiropractic. Several groups will be represented along with them in the fair to include Anytime Fitness, Newberry Yoga, Your CBD Store of Newberry, Carolina Soapworks, Stagemakers and Young Living Oils.
“Carolina West Clinic of Chiropractic contacted us last summer and were interested in doing a health fair and we’re excited to partner with them on this event,” Kopp said.
Costco will be a sponsor of this year’s event and provided free bottles of water and will also have an information booth set up in Memorial Park.
Meet the Competitors
Back again in this year’s competition will be the winners of the Miss Newberry and Miss Teen Newberry scholarship competition. The team will be preparing a roast chicken chili, that they’re calling the Queen of Hearts Chili.
Joy Ride, LLC will also be returning this year, Kopp said. Last year, the group won third place in overall best chili and “were excited to return again.”
Chili Bob’s will be returning this year with a similar recipe as last year, along with Two Beans and a Pot with their bison chili.
Last year’s most original category winners, Carolina West Clinic of Chiropractic will also be joining the competition this year.
Teal Ness and her team will have the only vegetarian chili option this year, Kopp said. The group competed in the 2015 competition and is back to join in on the fun this year.
Last year’s best overall chili winner, Bear Arms Crossfit will once again have their lean turkey/beef chili.
“Last year’s compliment of their chili was that it was a good, classic chili recipe,” Kopp said.
Carolina Gardens of Lexington, a retirement facility in Lexington, will also return this year with their team as well as their group of supporters.
“They get in a bus together and head to Newberry and have a great time,” Kopp said.
The group prepares during the month of January, Kopp said with the retirement center testing out different chili recipes and allowing everyone to vote to pick their favorite for the city’s chili competition. Last year’s recipe was a Sweet Heat Chili, she said.
Last but not least, new to this year’s competition is Megan Achelpohl, with her team, Cumin Get It. Their team will be preparing a Southwest turkey chili and is excited to join in this year.
“Folks may recognize Megan as she has sold her pottery at our Oktoberfest event for the past couple of years and is local to the area,” Kopp said.
Kopp said she was excited to see what this year’s competition would bring and for the variety of chili recipes represented in this year’s competition.
“We encourage folks to come around 11, walk around, try some chili sample, take a break to visit the health fair and then try some more,” she said.