North Platte, NE, September 26, 2023 – Guests didn’t let the chilly weather and wind
scare them away from FNBO for their 28th Annual Chili Cook-off on Friday, October
6, 2023.
Over 240 people joined together and raised almost $4,000 to benefit Mid-Plains
United Way and their 11 partner agencies.
Guests were encouraged to bring extra cash to vote for their favorite chili, themed
booth and pie in the face winner. The winner for Best Chili went to Scot Abstract for
the second year in a row. Best booth went to Lashley Land Co. Local business leaders
participating in pie in the face were Gary Person, Nelson Jett, Cooper Grabenstein,
Brad Hisel and Jordan Boston. Cooper Grabenstein from FNBO won and the honor to
pie him was auctioned off to Leland Poppe of First Interstate Bank.
The Chili Cook-off is the giving campaign kick-off event and one of the major
fundraisers for Mid-Plains United Way. This year, campaign funds will be distributed
to 11 partner agencies that provide vital services and programs to the residents of
Chase, Custer, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Grant, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith,
Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins, Red Willow and Thomas counties. 2023-24
partner agencies are Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center, Community Action
Partnership of Mid-Nebraska-Utilities, Community Connections Mentoring,
Community Connections Substance Abuse Prevention, Guardians of the Children, L2
for Kids, Lutheran Family Services, Nebraska Youth Center, The Connection
Homeless Shelter, North Platte Senior Center and Hope Esperanza.
“We are very grateful to everyone who braved the wind and came out to the Chili
Cook-off today. Thanks to you we raised a record amount to support our
community’s greatest needs.,” said Haven Smith, the executive director of Mid-Plains
United Way. “Thank you to FNBO for hosting us and thank you to our teams, Pie-inthe-Face challengers, Eagle Radio, Husker Radio, the Flatrock Irregulars and Kwik Stop for helping to make today a success.”
Some of the participants in this year’s Chili Cook-off include Rockabilly Rebelles,
Dayspring Bank, WCDHD, Lutheran Family Services, Great Plains Health Quality
Dept., Scott Abstract, First Interstate Bank, Trego-Dugan Aviation, Lincoln County
Board of Realtors, Walmart Distribution Center #7018, First National Bank, Lashley
Land, Guardians of the Children, and NuStar Energy.
For more information, please call 308-532-8870 or email unitedway172@gmail.com.
About Mid-Plains United Way Mid-Plains United Way is a nonprofit organization that unites community resources to
fund and support non-profits that improve education, health and financial stability in
the region. Mid-Plains United Way is committed to diversity and inclusion and strives
to create a strong and caring community for everyone. For more information or to
donate online, please visit the Mid-Plains United Way website.
