Meat and beans, tomatoes and spices — fall often calls for the comfort of a warm bowl of chili.
With that in mind, Journey Nature School (JNS) hosted their third annual Chili Cookoff fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Kirkmont Center in Zanesfield.
The six competitors were kept busy during the three-hour event, serving a variety of chili creations to 150 hungry attendees. As a result, the school raised almost $3,300 toward student programming.
“Many people support us again and again,” MacKenzie Myers Fitzpatrick, JNS program director, said. “We feel very loved and connected to the members of our community.”
This year, JNS saw three cookoff participants return—Brewfontaine (2023 crowd favorite), Wild Oats GF Bakery (2023 most creative) and Smokin’ Bandits (2023 honorable mention). And they welcomed three new competitors—The Morning Riot, R Smokehouse food truck and Chefhouse Ohio.
After all the votes were tallied, Smokin’ Bandits won crowd favorite, Brewfontaine earned the most creative award and honorable mention went to R Smokehouse.
Competitors donated their chili and clearly listed all their ingredients for those with allergens. Desserts were donated as well.
“We try to be as low waste as possible, so most of the containers we used are compostable or reusable,” Fitzpatrick added.
The event also included live music from Bob Lucas with JNS students, John Whitehead and Tucker Munz. And, midway through the cookoff, everyone was treated to a live professional lumberjack show with Grant Foreman. A silent auction of exclusive items brought in additional funds for the school.
To find out more about JNS, an immersive preschool alternative and homeschool supplement, visit journeynatureschool.com.
